General Information
The Eviction Legal Defense Fund (Fund) was established by the General Assembly in 2019 to expand the availability of legal assistance for low-income persons who are experiencing an eviction or are at immediate risk of an eviction. In Fiscal Year 2021/22, the State Court Administrator’s Office awarded grants totaling $1.94 million to six nonprofit legal services organizations in Colorado. In Fiscal Year 2022/23, seven organization received grants totaling $1.97 million.
Annual grant funding is allocated to qualified organizations based on a geographic, need-driven formula that considers the number of forcible entry and detainer filings (i.e., eviction actions) in each county or city and county across the State. If there is more than one qualified organization within a county or city and county, funding is allocated in proportion to the number of clients served by each qualified organization or its predecessor in the preceding grant award year.
All grants are awarded on a cost-reimbursement basis and must be used for the purposes set forth in Section 13-40-127(3), C.R.S. Grantees are also subject to quarterly and annual reporting requirements.
Qualified Organizations
To be qualified, the organization must:
- Have demonstrated experience and expertise in providing full service civil legal services to indigent clients, with preference given to organizations currently serving low-income clients at no cost rather than reducted cost
- Be based in Colorado
- Be exempt from taxation pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
- Obtain more than 20 percent of their total funding from sources other than grants from the Fund
Grant Uses
Grant funds shall only be used for the services listed below:
- Providing legal representation to indigent tenants for resolving civil legal matters related to an eviction or impending eviction. Such representation may include representation in any forcible entry and detainer proceeding or action for monetary damages related to nonpayment of rent or other lease violation, legal assistance prior to the filing of an eviction, or any other judicial actions in which legal representation is necessary to protect the interests of an indigent tenant
- Establishing clinics designed to educate and assist indigent tenants in eviction proceedings, including providing information related to the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants
- Providing legal information and advice to indigent tenants
- Referring clients to appropriate persons or agencies that provide assistance with issues related to housing
- Providing mediation services for disputes between a landlord and tenant that could prevent or resolve the filing of an eviction.
- Indirect costs are allowed at the organization’s federally negotiated indirect cost rate up to 10%. If the organization does not have a negotiated indirect cost rate, indirect costs are allowable using the 10% de minimus indirect cost rate per federal regulations.
- No other indirect or administrative costs will be allowed. That means that the organization’s expenses of doing business that are necessary for the general operation of the organization are not allowable grant expenses.
Grant Applications
Information regarding the 2023/24 (7/1/2023-6/30/2024) application will be available in March 2023
2022/23 Grant Awards
Submit Questions and General Inquiries to:
EvictionLegalDefenseFund@judicial.state.co.us
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