Tenant Eviction Defense pilot program available in Douglas County
Douglas County tenants facing eviction now have access to free legal consultation and representation through the Tenant Eviction Defense pilot program, which launched June 1.
The program is designed to assist participants in stabilizing their housing, preventing homelessness and promoting access to clean, safe and sanitary living conditions. It is supported by the Douglas County District Court Self-Help Center in partnership with Kansas Holistic Defenders and Kansas Legal Services.
The Self-Help Center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday inside the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, 111 E. Eleventh St. Staff can be reached by email at selfhelp@dgcoks.gov or by phone or text at 785-691-9448.
Self-Help Center Director Casey Forsyth said Douglas County tenants who receive an eviction notice should attend their court date and not ignore it. Attorneys will be available at tenants’ first answer hearings. Tenants may request assistance in person at the hearing or in advance by completing the Tenant Eviction Defense application on the county website at https://www.dgcoks.gov/form/eviction-defense-application.
So far, 37 individuals have been served through the Douglas County program.
Kansas Holistic Defenders Executive Director Sam Allison-Natale said the increased availability of attorneys has encouraged more people to attend their court dates and seek resources. “We’ve heard from tenants that the reason they showed up at court was that they heard help from attorneys would be available,” he said. “Hope can be a powerful motivator for people to not give up on what seems like a desperate situation and seek out the resources our community has available.”
Brynn Blair, managing attorney at Kansas Legal Services’ Topeka office, said a similar program has helped 250 tenants in Topeka during the past two years. “KLS is honored to have the local community’s support for this pilot program, and we look forward to helping low-income tenants access free legal services in Douglas County.”
In May, the Board of County Commissioners allocated $40,000 for the pilot program in 2026. For more information, visit dgcoks.gov/district-court/self-help.
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