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.
Housing
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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.
Study finds increasing rents, shrinking vacancy in Marion County rental units
Renters in Marion County have seen rent increases, on average, of $200 to $300 per month since the beginning of the pandemic, squeezing tenants while wages have increased at a much slower pace, according to a new study from the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana.
Supreme Court order: Indiana courts must use Odyssey tool in eviction proceedings
The Indiana Supreme Court has amended its requirements on state courts handling eviction proceedings to reflect changes in the court process and resources available to tenants and property owners.
ILS project shifting to preventing homelessness: Expansion of veteran housing program gets to root causes
With federal and state grant money, Indiana Legal Services Corp. is expanding its assistance to focus on the root causes of housing loss so more low-income veterans can get help staying in their homes without having to wait for the eviction notice to arrive.
Justices: Gary Housing Authority’s taking of private property upheld, but property owner entitled to damages hearing
Although the Gary Housing Authority can proceed with its administrative taking of privately owned property, the property owner will get a chance to make its case for damages after the Indiana Supreme Court ordered the entry of summary judgment for the owner as well as a damages hearing.
Eviction case turns into constitutional challenge
All Darleana Johnson wanted to do was stay in her house on Solomon Avenue.
Central Indiana fair-housing group reaches settlement in senior-living lawsuit
The Indianapolis-based Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana and 11 partner organizations have reached a settlement with a New York-based property owner in a lawsuit over disability-access issues at 50 different senior-living properties, including three in central Indiana.
Indiana landlords sue over eviction moratorium, seek more that $500K in damages
Seventeen Indiana landlords have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Eric Holcomb, seeking more than $500,000 in damages for unpaid rent and loss of property value caused by the moratoriums placed on evictions during 2020.
US inflation reached a new 40-year high in June of 9.1%
Surging prices for gas, food and rent catapulted U.S. inflation to a new four-decade peak in June, further pressuring households and likely sealing the case for another large interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve, with higher borrowing costs to follow.
2 Indiana courts receive funding to tackle eviction problem
Indiana is among eight states receiving grants in connection with the launch of the National Center for State Courts’ Eviction Diversion Initiative, which is focused on strengthening efforts to prevent evictions and improve housing stability.
Housing court seeks to find alternatives to eviction
Every Wednesday and Thursday, the docket is filled with landlord-tenant cases. But since October 2021, the Lawrence Township Small Claims Court has been implementing a housing court model that provides additional services to try to prevent or lessen the impact of the loss of a place to live.
Ripple effect of evictions impacts more than tenants
As bad as the stigma may be, the ripple effect created by an eviction petition is much worse. The loss of a home can throw a displaced family into a downward spiral that leads to health problems, loss of employment and poor performance in school. All of this, in turn, harms the larger community.
Exhibit traces history of housing discrimination in Indiana
Based on the belief that eliminating discrimination starts with education, the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana in partnership with the Indianapolis Public Library has developed an interactive exhibit that details the history of practices and tactics that barred certain groups from homeownership.
Citizens Energy teams with city, state leaders to announce trio of lawsuits aimed at ‘bad actor’ apartment owners
The city of Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita’s office and local utility Citizens Energy Group on Wednesday announced a trio of lawsuits targeting the owners of several dilapidated apartment complexes.
Citizens Energy sues apartment complexes for $1.3M in unpaid bills
Citizens Energy Group has filed suit against the owners of three Indianapolis apartment complexes over more than $1.3 million in unpaid utility bills, alleging they defrauded both the energy giant and residents.