Heavy Weights In Lakewood For Eviction Diversion

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Jim O'Bryan
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Heavy Weights In Lakewood For Eviction Diversion

Postby Jim O'Bryan » Thu Sep 16, 2021 5:36 pm

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From left to right, Lakewood Municipal Judge Patrick Carroll, US Senator Sherrod Brown and Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor.

This afternoon US Senator Sherrod Brown, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, and Lakewood Municipal Court Judge Patrick Carroll had a news conference in Lakewood to make sure the word got out about the State of Ohio Eviction Diversion Programs.

The reason it was in Lakewood is that the Chief Justice wanted to call attention to the great work and programs Lakewood Judge Patrick Carroll had already implemented. Chief Justice O’Connor and Senator Sherrod Brown used the inspiration from Judge Carroll’s work on mediating evictions to make sure to get the word out to all of Ohio.

If You Are A Renter Two IMPORTANT Things To Know.

1) There are Billions of dollars available in rent relief.

2) If you are in the court system, DO NOT MISS COURT!

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Let’s start with number 2, it is easier to understand. As Judge Carroll put it, “If you do not show up in court with an eviction, or credit problems we cannot help you. There are programs available and mediation for those that show up. Miss court and you will lose the case. I would go farther and say, the City of Lakewood has programs for everything from meals on wheels to paint programs to loans and grants, all sorts of assistance. If you do not show up, they cannot help you.

Back to the first one. As Sherrod Brown put it, “There was over $46 Billion dollars allocated nationwide for COVID rent intervention. Most of it still available. But you have to apply.” In Ohio, and Lakewood there are many places to get help with mediation and past due rents.

Start with calling Lakewood Community Service Center. Phone: 216-226-6466 (During COVID-19, our licensed social workers are here from 10:00am – 4:00pm Monday through Friday to help by phone. Please call 216-226-6466 and select Extension 2 or 3.)

Or online here:
https://www.lcsclakewood.org/what-we-do/housing-assistance They can help.

This afternoon I spoke with the Lakewood Community Service Center’s Executive Director Trish Rooney about the programs. She mentioned that since the programs had started, they were able to help over 780 Lakewood families stay in their homes through the Cares Act. Now they are using ARPA funding and have gone through about $285,000 in 8 weeks. But because of the pandemic they expect that number to climb to $40,000 - $50,000 a week in relief. Average time from first meeting to being approved or turned down is about 8 days.

You can also call the courts for information on mediation and programs available.

If your eviction is now moving quickly into the legal system, call Legal Aid 24/7/365 at, 888-817.3777 or online at [url]lascleve.org[/url]. While legal aid is always busy, they also always have the time to talk about your legal problem As Chief Justice O’Connor underlined, “It is always better to go into mediation with your landlord before an eviction is sought, than after it gets into the court system.”

All three were speaking of the importance of the Ohio Supreme Court’s new publication, “Judicial Guide to Eviction Diversion Toolkit.” With hundreds of pages programs and important information in not getting evicted.

Download it here:
https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/JCS/courtSvcs/resources/evictionDiversionToolkit.pdf

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I would suppose the best part of this whole news conference was that all three of them understood just how bad eviction is for EVERYONE. The renter, the landlord, the family, the kids, the community, the schools, everything gets upended at a time when stability is desperately needed.

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Download it here: https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/JCS/courtSvcs/resources/evictionDiversionToolkit.pdf

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Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident

"The very act of observing disturbs the system."
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If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."
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