Las Vegas, NV (KXNT) - A coalition of local and state leaders today unveiled a plan to help Southern Nevadans facing an eviction during the next few weeks and months.
A tenant who receives an eviction notice should promptly file a response with the local Justice Court identified on the notice and select mediation in their response. Responses may be filed online or via email with some courts. Tenants may also file responses in person at court or at one of several community outreach events Legal Aid Center will host next month.
Tenants who need assistance with their response, or other steps in the process should contact Legal Aid Center at (702) 386-1070.
Filing a response with the court will trigger additional review by Clark County, which will have a case worker reach out to the tenant, guide them through the County’s CHAP rental assistance program application, and connect them with other resources if necessary. Similar assistance for qualifying tenants not facing eviction will be expanded soon too.
As with other CHAP applicants, tenants facing eviction will be required to provide financial and other documentation and fall under strict income limits. For example, an eligible household of four could make up to $60,000 a year. For more information about CHAP visit CHAP.ClarkCountyNV.gov. The CHAP applications for households facing eviction will be reviewed by a special team of staff dedicated to the eviction prevention program.
The Southern Nevada Eviction Prevention Program is a partnership between Clark County, Supreme Court Chief Justice James Hardesty, local justice courts, the state and local cities, and Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada. The program could help qualifying households prevent a pending eviction by paying up to 12 months of back rent and providing legal advice, mediation between tenants and landlords, and other services as needed.
“With the state’s eviction moratorium expiring at the end of the month, it was important for us to come together to help struggling families keep a roof over their head,” County Commission Chairman Marilyn Kirkpatrick said.
Already this year, more than 400 households facing eviction have received $3 million through CHAP to bring them current with their rent.
Landlords who participate in the eviction prevention program receive the back rent owed to them in return for agreeing to drop the eviction proceedings and promising not to evict the tenant for non-payment of rent for the following 60 days. Landlords also have the legal right to refuse to participate in the program and move forward with eviction proceedings.
During the past year, the County’s CHAP program has provided more than $107 million in housing or utility assistance to about 24,000 households in Southern Nevada. With additional funding recently provided by the state, County and local cities, there is about $160 million now available for rental assistance, which is expected to be enough to help 40,000 more households.