Milwaukee, Wisconsin (June 1, 2022) – 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.
