“The intention of the change in our online searches is to reduce barriers for anyone trying to secure reliable housing,” said Dayton Municipal Clerk of Court Mark Owens. “An eviction search often does not tell a complete story, especially when using information from more than three years ago.”
Franklin County Municipal Court made the same change earlier this year.
Owens also said he is exploring a program to allow people to expunge certain eviction cases from their records.
Dayton Municipal Court’s online system previously produced eviction records dating back to the 1990s. All eviction records still will be available at the clerk of court’s office.
Affordable housing advocacy groups say they fear that evictions are going to surge because of mass unemployment and other economic hardship stemming from the pandemic and lockdown.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey indicates that more than 536,000 Ohioans say they are worried they will not be able to afford rent next month.
Many Ohioans have not received any jobless benefits yet, and some residents still have not received a federal stimulus check, according to Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio.
During this public health emergency, safe and permanent housing is very important, especially to efforts to prevent exposure to infection, officials say.
The city of Dayton recently approved new rules on the amount of late fees landlords can charge, which also is supposed to help out low-income renters. The city now requires landlords to provide receipts to renters who pay rent with cash or money orders, which officials say should help renters in court during eviction cases.
People facing eviction can contact the United Way of the Greater Dayton Area by calling 211.
Citizens who have eviction hearings scheduled can call Community Action Partnership’s legal clinic at 937-341-5000, ext. 904, and leave a message including the hearing date. they may also contact Legal Aid at 937-228-8088.
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