Indiana Courts to Launch Eviction Diversion Programs
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Two Indiana courts have received funding from Virginia-based nonprofit National Center for State Courts to launch eviction diversion programs. The NCSC says the funding will help the two locales improve housing stability for Hoosiers.
The Allen Superior Court in Fort Wayne and the Lawrence Township Small Claims Court in Marion County received the grants from the NCSC’s Eviction Diversion Initiative following a competitive application process.
The judges say the pandemic aggravated an already-serious problem of evictions.
“Building a dedicated Eviction Diversion Initiative will benefit tenants and landlords, keep more people in their homes, and diminish the profound impact on lives that can result from a loss of housing, ” said Judge Jennifer DeGroote of Allen County.
Each court will use the grants to hire staff to implement holistic, sustainable, and community-driven strategies for resolving legal problems. NCSC says successful eviction diversion programs provide landlords and tenants with the time, information, and resources necessary to resolve their housing problems without prolonged litigation.
“Developing a dedicated Eviction Diversion Initiative evolved out of necessity, resulting from long time eviction challenges. The loss of shelter impacts every other aspect of one’s life,” said Judge Kimberly Bacon of Marion County.