The Berrien County Board of Commissioners is applying for a grant to help the local court system process eviction cases. Speaking to commissioners Thursday, Berrien County Judge Donna Howard said the county handles around 2,300 evictions each year, and they take up a great deal of staff resources. She says the stresses caused by evictions affect everyone.
“It odes affect children who are going to school when they don’t have a place to stay, or are not sure where they’re going to stay,” Howard said. “How are they supposed to perform? The Boys and Girls Club can only do so much with helping our students have a good breakfast in the morning and those types of things.”
Howard said the Eviction Diversion Initiative grant from the National Center for State Courts would allow the county to bring in a facilitator to help manage all of those cases and connect tenants with resources that could keep them in their homes.
“If they’re supposed to go to five different places because there are so many community resources out there, it’s hard to coordinate that.”
Howard said the local court staffing shortage has added to the problem. Commissioners approved the grant application. The grant would be for two years, and would come at no cost to the county. It totals $112,000. Judge Mabel Mayfield told commissioners she believes with the facilitator in place, a significant change will be seen.
