Website offers help to renters facing eviction
Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic has partnered with the city of Indianapolis to create a special website to help Hoosiers around the state who are behind on rent and facing eviction.
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Indiana providing rental assistance during virus outbreak
Indiana’s Rental Assistance Portal is accepting applications for a program that provides eligible renters with up to six months in rental assistance to help cover past due and ongoing monthly payments.
Settlement program offers alternative to eviction
As the uncertainty continues over how many struggling Hoosiers could be evicted in the coming months, the Indiana Supreme Court is trying through the new Landlord and Tenant Settlement Conference Program to prevent housing loss and all the bad ramifications that can ensue by inviting landlords and tenants to first have a conversation.
Agreement settles complaint against student housing provider
A conciliation agreement with a provider of student housing is being hailed as expanding housing opportunities for families with children and opening access to more than 12,830 rentable units, including some at college campuses in Indiana.
State dishes out $14M to landlords through rental assistance program
The state has paid $14 million to landlords so far through its rental assistance program, officials announced on Wednesday.
CDC directs halt to renter evictions to prevent virus spread
The Trump administration has issued a directive halting the eviction of certain renters though the end of 2020 to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Renters covered through the executive order must meet four criteria in eviction cases.
Settlement program aims to reduce eviction filings
The Indiana Supreme Court is launching a new mediation program to help stem the anticipated flood of evictions by facilitating settlement agreements between tenants facing eviction and landlords trying to collect rent.
Legal aid attorney Copsey remembered for housing legacy
Orville Copsey, Jr., an Indianapolis attorney whose work helping many elderly and disabled clients stay in their homes earned him the nickname “St. Orville,” died Aug. 4. He was 88. “We have lost a true gem in our legal community,” one attorney said in tribute.
Meeting tenants’ legal needs in looming eviction cases could cost billions
As Indiana’s moratorium on evictions is set to end in a week, legal aid providers are estimating the national price tag for helping tenants facing the prospect of losing their places to live will top $2.5 billion.
Man who allegedly targeted Black neighbor with swastika, slurs charged with hate crime
An Indiana man, allegedly angered by the removal of a tree, is charged with a hate crime for attempting to intimidate an African American neighbor because of his race, the U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday.
Indiana eviction, utility shutoff moratoriums end next week
Indiana residents who have struggled to pay rent or utility bills during the coronavirus pandemic have one more week before the state’s protections against evictions and utility shutoffs end, despite a recent analysis that found that more than 40% of the state’s renters are unable to pay their rent.
Moratorium extended as landlords, tenants encouraged to avoid evictions
As Gov. Eric Holcomb extended the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures until mid-August, Indiana state courts increased their calls for residents and property owners to start trying to work out agreements that will keep families in their homes.
Affordable housing nonprofit qualifies for charitable tax exemption, Tax Court says
A Columbus-based affordable housing nonprofit qualifies for charitable purposes exemptions for several years of its operation, the Indiana Tax Court ruled on Monday, rejecting arguments posed by the Bartholomew County assessor.
Holcomb urges virus safety steps, not tougher rules; will extend eviction moratorium
Indiana will keep its current coronavirus restrictions in place for at least most of August, with Gov. Eric Holcomb choosing Wednesday to encourage compliance with safety measures amid continued concerns about recent growth in the state’s COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Holcomb also said he would briefly extend a moratorium on evictions that was scheduled to expire this week.
Task force issues recommendations for handling increase in eviction cases
In anticipation of state courts being overwhelmed with landlord-tenant cases once the pandemic moratorium on evictions is lifted, a task force assembled by the Indiana Supreme Court released recommendations Wednesday that encourage payment plans and alternatives to forcibly removing residents from their homes.
Courts, attorneys fear wave of COVID evictions
A moratorium on evictions of families in federally subsidized housing is set to end July 25, and Indiana’s moratorium prohibiting evictions is set to end July 31. Advocates warn a wave of evictions is coming that could leave many Hoosiers without a place to live, but because of how these cases are tracked, they lack data to how big that wave will be and when it will arrive.
Marion County rental assistance program available to residents Monday
Marion County residents can begin applying for rental assistance beginning next week, Indianapolis officials said Wednesday. The coronavirus housing relief effort is expected to be among the largest in the nation.
Holcomb announces $25 million in relief for renters
Indiana will use $25 million in federal relief funding to help Hoosiers struggling to pay rent due to the impact of coronavirus outbreak, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Wednesday. The governor also extended through July a moratorium on evictions that had been schedule to expire at the end of June.
Expert: Attorneys are families’ best defense in coming eviction storm
While still unknown how many families will lose their place to live once the moratoria on evictions are lifted in Indiana and other states, a leading housing expert says the best treatment is providing attorneys to represent those families in court.
Feds award 4 Indiana groups $141K for counseling on housing
A federal agency has awarded four Indiana groups a combined $141,000 for counseling to help individuals and families avoid foreclosure and make better home-buying and rental choices.