The Center for Civil Justice (CCJ) is pleased to announce that the Flint Genesee Homeless Court Program is ready to launch. The Homeless Court Program helps people experiencing homelessness reconcile their offenses with accomplishments in program activities to resolve low-level misdemeanor offenses, traffic fines and warrants to remove legal barriers to housing and self-sufficiency.
In 2019, CCJ, with the assistance of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Homelessness and Poverty, held a forum to introduce the idea and explore the interest and need from the community for a homeless court program.
“From the beginning, the response from all of the partners was positive and we immediately started the planning process,” said Kelly Bidelman, Executive Director of CCJ. “Steve Binder, the founder of homeless court and ABA Liaison, and Jayesh Patel, founder of Detroit’s homeless court program, Street Outreach Court Detroit, were instrumental in sharing best practices, forms and documents—anything we needed. Judges Larry Williams and Kristina Robinson Garrett invited folks from our community to observe Street Outreach Court Detroit and offered their assistance as well.”
The program partners include the 67th District Court, the Genesee County Prosecutor, Sheriff and Commission, the City of Flint Law Department, various parking enforcement agencies, Flint/Genesee Continuum of Care and its many shelters and service agencies.
Essence Wilson, chair of the Flint/Genesee Continuum of Care, explained “The shelters work with each guest on an individualized action plan to obtain the skills and support they need to access permanent housing. Those working on treatment-oriented diversionary activities are recognized for their hard work, transformation and overcoming hardships with a referral to the program.”
“Treatment-oriented diversion programs work as evidenced by the many specialty courts that we have in Genesee County,” said 67th District Court Judge G. David Guinn.
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton agreed and added that “We anticipate being able to resolve charges that people experiencing homelessness face just because they are living on the streets, such as trespassing, public consumption of alcohol or sleeping in a doorway. We can replace jail time and fines with participation in life skills or job training.”
Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson who recently made national news for removing his riot gear and walking with Flint protestors in a peaceful march for racial justice, is on board. He cites the potential savings for the community. “If someone is arrested, there are costs for the arrest, warrant, jail time and police officer time. For a person experiencing homelessness with no ability to pay, it doesn’t make sense to take a hardline approach.”
Flint’s program will be unique to its counterparts across the country. When Genesee County Deputy Friend of the Court Tony McDowell heard about the program, he offered to provide relief of state-owed child support arrearages and resolving bench warrants for participants. McDowell said that “by helping waive state owed arrears for those with no ability to pay and resolving warrants, we hope to be able to help families have one less hurdle and make it a little easier for them to succeed.”
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