Guilford County extends eviction mediation contract to spend ARPA funds

Guilford County commissioners on Jan. 15 approved a one-month extension to the county’s contract with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Center for Housing and Community Studies, ensuring remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds can be spent on eviction prevention work. The amendment moves the contract expiration from Dec. 31, 2025, to Jan. 31, 2026, and does not increase the overall contract amount or require new county dollars.

County staff said the short extension is necessary to avoid leaving an estimated $65,000 in ARPA funding unspent at the end of the original contract term. Federal rules governing ARPA prevent the county from reassigning those dollars to unrelated programs, so extending the TEAM Clinic contract allows UNC-Greensboro to complete eligible work and draw down the remaining balance.

The TEAM Clinic has operated in Guilford County since July 2021, providing courthouse-based eviction mediation, landlord outreach and housing stability services in Greensboro and High Point. The program works inside small claims court locations to help tenants and landlords resolve disputes before eviction judgments are entered, often by arranging mediation or referring residents to rental assistance and legal resources. As part of the contract, UNC-Greensboro subcontracts with Legal Aid of North Carolina to provide legal representation for individuals facing eviction in small claims court.

Originally funded with Emergency Rental Assistance dollars, the TEAM Clinic moved to ARPA support in a later contract term. The most recent ARPA contract began July 1, 2024 and was scheduled to end Dec. 31, 2025. Mid-December reviews by county and UNC-Greensboro staff projected the potential unspent balance, prompting the recommendation for a one-month extension so eligible work can be completed under ARPA rules.

The amendment also permits internal adjustments within the existing contract budget to better reflect actual costs, such as shifting funds between salary and contractual services, which county staff say will help UNC-Greensboro maintain its subcontract with Legal Aid without altering the total contract price. County documents identify Natalie Craver, assistant county manager for Successful People and director of Health and Human Services, as the responsible county official for the agreement.

For residents facing housing instability, the extension maintains access to mediation, legal guidance and referral services through January 2026 without tapping additional local revenues. County staff note that after ARPA funds are fully expended, local funds will be used to support the program for January through June 2026, signaling a near-term transition in funding responsibility that commissioners and county managers will need to address in upcoming budget discussions.

The short-term fix preserves eviction prevention capacity at the courthouse while the county plans next steps for sustaining the TEAM Clinic beyond the ARPA window.