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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 24, 2020

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
media@dallascityhall.com

Office of Equity and Inclusion partners with Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas to provide eviction assistance

DALLAS –  The City of Dallas Office of Equity and Inclusion in partnership with Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas is establishing an eviction assistance initiative consisting of education, training and legal representation to Dallas residential rental tenants who are negatively impacted by COVID-19 and unable to pay rent to remain in their homes.

“We share the community concern about evictions when the moratoria are scheduled to end in December,” said Chief of Equity and Inclusion Liz Cedillo-Pereira. “We look forward to collaborating with community partners to ensure Dallas residents in need of assistance are served to the best of our abilities.”

The nonprofit Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas offers free civil legal help to low-income residents in 114 Texas counties throughout North and West Texas. Through this City of Dallas initiative, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas will provide renters services such as advice and brief services, full legal representation, outreach and community education and referrals to partner agencies.  

“Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas looks forward to collaborating with the City of Dallas on this important initiative,” said Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas Chief Executive Officer Maria Thomas-Jones. “Together we’ll address the eviction crisis with the goal of keeping families housed and educating tenants and landlords on their rights and responsibilities.”

To qualify for assistance, you must reside in the city of Dallas, have been negatively impacted by COVID-19, and meet Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas' financial eligibility guidelines. Applicants will be screened for ZIP code and financial eligibility. Each applicant's household income must be at or less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level Standards to receive services. Eligible Dallas residential tenants can apply for assistance starting Monday, Nov.30, by calling the Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas hotline at 1-888-529-5277 or by visiting Legal Aid's website www.lanwt.org.

For resources available to non-Dallas residents, visit:

• Dallas County's Tenant Hotline webpage at dallascounty.org/covid-19/tenant-hotline.php; or
• Collin County’s CARES Assistance at collincountytx.gov/cares/; or
• Denton County’s United Way Denton at unitedwaydenton.org/covidrelief; or
• Legal Aid’s COVID-19 resource website at lanwt.org/covid-19.

For additional City of Dallas COVID-19 information and resources, visit dallascityhall.com/covid19 or call 214-670-INFO.

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