News

The Milwaukee County Circuit Court has received a grant from the National Center for State Courts' (NCSC) Eviction Diversion Initiative to strengthen eviction-diversion efforts and improve housing stability across Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee County Circuit Court was selected through a competitive application process by an advisory council led by the NCSC.

The grant will help the circuit court and its partners in Milwaukee County government to build on eviction-diversion efforts undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic, said District One Chief Judge Mary Triggiano, Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

Each court will use the grant funding to hire dedicated staff to implement holistic, sustainable, and community-driven strategies for resolving legal problems. Successful eviction diversion programs provide landlords and tenants with the time, information, and resources necessary to resolve their housing problems without prolonged litigation.

In July 2021, the court engaged a facilitator to organize a Housing Consortium composed of judges, commissioners, and clerks from the court system, landlord representatives, legal services providers, rental assistance providers, and local funding partners. The court has also been working collaboratively with Milwaukee County decision-makers to improve the eviction process and to increase housing stability, Triggiano said.

Courts will benefit from ongoing peer learning opportunities, a national evaluation led by Stout Risius Ross LLC, and intensive technical assistance provided by NCSC as they implement eviction diversion and court reform strategies that leverage community resources including legal aid and mediation services, housing and financial counseling, and rental assistance programs.

Milwaukee was among eight states and the District of Columbia to receive support through the competitive grant process. States benefiting from the grant program also include Alaska, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Nevada, New York, and Tennessee.

Visit ncsc.org/eviction for more information about NCSC's Eviction Diversion Initiative.

About the National Center for State Courts

Headquartered in Williamsburg, Va., the National Center for State Courts is a nonprofit court organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. Founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, NCSC provides education, training, technology, management, and research services to the nation’s state courts.

Contact:
Chief Judge Mary Triggiano