Indiana House Republicans’ agenda includes effort to absorb disgruntled Illinois counties
House Republicans also introduced a slew of bills addressing trademark issues such as education, housing and health care.
Housing
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‘Greatly underestimated’: In 2024, agencies continue looking for data, solutions for eviction issues
With eviction filings showing no signs of slowing down with the start of a new year, Indiana Legal Services has continued to help Hoosier tenants with their efforts to seal prior evictions that could prevent them from finding new housing.
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New tool shines light on Indiana evictions: Advocates hope data can be used to address housing crisis
SAVI, a program of The Polis Center, a research unit in the Indiana University Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at Indianapolis, hopes a new dashboard it’s developed will give people a look at comprehensive statewide eviction data.
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‘Veritable menu of options’: IU McKinney student’s report attracts housing advocates’ attention
Most school projects are produced for an audience of one: the professor who assigned the work. But Jacob Purcell, a 2L at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, has just published a rental housing report that’s intended for a much wider audience.
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No place like home: Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana uses education, advocacy and enforcement to fight housing discrimination
Ten years ago, the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana opened its doors in Indianapolis to help Hoosier tenants and homeowners keep their anchors. The small agency, which covers an area of 24 counties and 2.5 million people, educates, advocates and enforces the laws and regulations that prohibit housing discrimination.
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Articles
Housing advocates seek consumer protections in land contracts
Signing a land contract for a house carries risks for buyers that they wouldn’t encounter with conventional alternatives.
Lugar Tower resident files new complaint alleging unsafe living conditions at apartments
A new lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a resident at Lugar Tower Apartments demanding that professional security be restored at the facility during daytime hours to protect residents.
Muncie real estate companies agree to remedies after AG investigation
A refund may be coming soon to tenants of a pair of Muncie-area real estate companies.
Indianapolis Housing Agency commits to ‘rectify’ living conditions at apartment complex
The Indiana Attorney General’s Office has obtained a legal commitment from the Indianapolis Housing Agency to rectify living conditions at a downtown apartment building, the AG’s office announced Aug. 14.
Fair housing report highlights issues with out-of-state investors in Indianapolis, surrounding areas
Homeownership by out-of-state investors is becoming more prevalent in the Indianapolis area and Indiana has become a top state for new single-family “build-to-rent” communities, according to a report released by the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana.
Indy to test state law in nuisance enforcement effort
Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration is seeking a stronger approach to force property and business owners to discourage behavior that compromises public safety.
Eviction filings 50% higher than pre-pandemic in some cities as rents rise
After a lull during the pandemic, eviction filings by landlords have come roaring back, driven by rising rents and a long-running shortage of affordable housing.
FHCCI releases new report on tenant screening barriers
The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana has released its newest report, “The State of Fair Housing in Indiana – No Way Home: Tenant Screening Barriers to Housing,” which documents the struggles and barriers for area residents in securing rental housing.
Notre Dame Law grads working on housing issues, expungement relief through public interest fellowships
Two 2023 Notre Dame Law School graduates are beginning their post-grad careers as Thomas L. Shaffer Public Interest fellows, addressing housing issues and providing expungement relief in Chicago and rural Kentucky.
State settlement programs sparsely used as eviction alternative
Indiana’s landlord and tenant settlement program is voluntary, with both sides needing to agree to participate in a conference. That’s resulted in a lot of conference requests, but only a small amount of actually mediated resolutions.
FHCCI, Rainbow Realty reach $750K settlement in rent-to-own housing lawsuit
The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana and Rainbow Realty Group Inc. have reached a $750,000 settlement in a dispute over an allegedly predatory rent-to-own program.
State’s poorest renters hurt most by affordable housing shortage, report says
Sixty-one percent of Hoosiers in extremely low-income households can’t find an affordable rental, instead spending more than half of their income on housing with little left for food or other necessities, according to a newly released analysis.
Indianapolis company sees significant opportunity in modular housing
A 2-year-old company on the east side of Indianapolis has its sights set on tackling central Indiana’s affordable-housing problem through modular construction.
City seeks developer input on former Oaktree Apartments site in Indy
Developers have until Jan. 31 to respond to the request for information on the 19-acre former Oaktree Apartments site at the corner of 42nd Street and Post Road in Indianapolis.
Legal help kiosks being deployed across state to aid households facing eviction, foreclosure
At the Lawrence Township trustee’s office Tuesday afternoon, court officials and community leaders unveiled the first of 120 civil legal help kiosks that will be deployed to individuals trying to navigate the legal system themselves.
Task force recommends crackdown on bad landlords, more funding to ease housing woes
An interim study committee examining solutions to Indiana’s housing crisis has approved a lengthy list of recommendations for future legislation.
Judge angry but grants oral arguments in rent-to-buy housing case
Some Indiana plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging a rent-to-buy housing business will get a second chance to argue their claims in federal court, but the judge has indicated there will be little patience for weak arguments or uncivil behavior.
Indianapolis reaches $200K settlement over Towne & Terrace housing complex
A nine-year battle between the city of Indianapolis and the not-for-profit homeowners association that oversees a troubled housing complex might be heading toward a resolution in the form of a $200,000 agreement.
Split 7th Circuit allows racial housing-discrimination claims to proceed against individuals but not Kokomo HOA
A Black couple subjected to racist harassment from their neighbors may proceed to jury with their racial housing discrimination claims, a split 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled. A dissenting judge, however, argued that a nexus between discriminatory treatment and an adverse housing action was lacking in their claims.