Spring - Klein Edition | October 2023

Government

BY MELISSA ENAJE

2 Harris County courts to study eviction diversion Two Harris County courts are aiming to ll two new full-time positions by the end of October focused on nding new ways, under Texas law, to strengthen eviction diversion e orts and improve

Harris County ocials adopt $2.7B budget Harris County will be operating scal year 2023-24 on a $2.7 billion budget, a $500 million increase from last year’s budget, after commissioners unanimously approved the amount on Sept. 19. Digging deeper According to ocials, the budget includes the most signi cant investment in public safety in the county’s history. • $119 million to law enforcement • $5 million to provide body-worn cameras to jail sta • $7.8 million in additional jail medical costs Other countywide funding includes $128 million for Harris County Flood Control District and $888 million for Harris Health.

Harris County eviction lings Since funding for county and city rental pandemic protections ended in 2022, eviction rates in Houston have skyrocketed.

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80K

housing stability. What happened

Funding for the new positions was awarded in September by the National Center for State Courts’ Eviction Diversion Initiative to Justice of the Peace courtrooms covering Harris County Precinct 1-2— represented by Judge Steve Duble—and Precinct 2-2, represented by Judge Dolores Lozano. The joint application by the two judges was one of 10 to be approved nationally for the funding. The courts cover northwest and far southeast Houston. Why it matters Since January, more than 57,800 eviction cases

*2023 DATA IS AS OF SEPT. 20

SOURCES: HARRIS COUNTY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS, JANUARY ADVISORS COMMUNITY IMPACT

have been led in Harris County, totaling more than $131 million in claims, according to consulting rm January Advisors. As of September, the county was on track to return to prepandemic historical averages for evictions. The approach With this grant, Duble said the two courts could connect people with social and legal services.

SPRING KLEIN EDITION