The first eviction diversion program in Oakland County began operations May 1 at the 50th District Court in Pontiac
The program is a voluntary effort to help landlords and tenants resolve disputes over unpaid rent without court judgments that damage tenant credit ratings.
The Oakland County office of Legal Aid and Defender Association Inc. (LAD) collaborated with the court, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Community Housing Network, and other charitable groups in Oakland County to develop the program.
LAD’s Macomb County office operates a similar program at 37th District Court in Warren. The Macomb and Oakland programs are modeled on the one at 8th District Court in Kalamazoo.
“A landlord who wants to keep a good tenant who has fallen on hard times can began an action under the program in the court when filing for an eviction for nonpayment of rent,” Kelly Bidelman, managing attorney of LAD’s Macomb and Oakland offices, said.
The case is placed on the court’s eviction docket, Community Housing Network arranges for the tenant to meet with community agencies that can help pay the back rent, and the LAD attorney negotiates a conditional dismissal with the landlord’s attorney.
“I applaud our community partners for bringing the program to Pontiac and for helping at-risk families remain in their homes,” Oakland County 50th District Court Chief Judge Cynthia Walker said.
The judge said she hoped Pontiac landlords “who own decent properties will embrace this type of collaborative effort. This is a great program for tenants as well because they won’t end up with a judgment and the negative impact to their credit history.”
For additional information on the program, contact Bidelman at 248.253.1548 or KBidelma@ladadetroit.org.
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