Commission splits $40,000 pilot between Kansas Legal Services and Kansas Holistic Defenders

Douglas County commissioners voted 3–2 on May 13 to fund a seven-month tenant eviction-defense pilot, splitting $40,000 evenly between Kansas Legal Services (KLS) and Kansas Holistic Defenders (KHD). The decision follows weeks of debate about whether to honor a competitive RFP recommendation or to split the award to leverage existing local capacity.

Staff recommendation and fate of RFP: Assistant County Administrator Jill Jollicar told commissioners that a county scoring matrix had ranked Kansas Legal Services highest and that KLS offered an outcomes-reporting model staff found compelling. ‘‘We gave you all the scoring information and recommended Kansas Legal Services,’’ Jollicar said during her presentation.

Why commissioners split the award: Commissioners expressed competing priorities: some wanted to honor the RFP and select KLS for its reporting experience; others said KHD already staffs the local "answer docket" and that awarding the contract only to an external provider could duplicate services or disrupt an effective local intake system. Commissioner Reed proposed splitting funds so both organizations could deliver services and collaborate on data collection. The motion to award $20,000 to KLS and $20,000 to KHD passed 3–2.

Applicant positions and collaboration: Sam (KHD) and Brynn (KLS) told commissioners they prefer a cooperative approach. Sam described KHD’s existing weekly presence at the eviction answer docket and a triage process to prioritize full representation. Brynn said KLS has an established data-reporting practice in Topeka and that her office could adapt metrics for Douglas County, but both organizations acknowledged that a formal joint model would require additional planning time and self-help center coordination.

Public-comment themes: Supporters of KHD urged using the local infrastructure and avoiding duplication; others stressed the importance of clear outcome metrics and landlord engagement. Commissioners asked staff to ensure the pilot’s intake forms, conflict-resolution procedures and reporting templates align across both providers.

Next steps and oversight: Staff will execute contracts with both organizations for the FY2026 pilot amounts and work with the county’s self-help center to coordinate intake and data collection. Commissioners said they expect regular outcome reporting to evaluate whether to expand or redesign the program.