By GREGG MONTGOMERY
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
The Indiana Supreme Court has issued an order to quickly start a program to more rapidly and effectively get federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds to landlords and tenants.
All justices signed off Monday on the order from the Indiana Supreme Court.
The order created the Indiana Eviction Task Force to come up with the program. Robert R. Altice Jr., judge with the Indiana Court of Appeals, will head the group. Members will be Jennifer DeGroote, Allen Superior Court; Kimberly Bacon, Marion County Small Claims Court; Magistrate Kathleen Belzeski, Lake Superior Court; Brandon Beeler, Indiana Legal Services Inc.; Christine Hayes Hickey, Rubin & Levin law firm; Jacob Sipes, Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority; Patrick Price, Indiana Office of Management and Budget; and Brandon Spaulding, Indiana Apartment Association.
The group must create an interim report by Oct. 18 and a final report by Jan. 17, 2022. The final report is to include findings and recommendations for the program.
The federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program was created as a response to the coronavirus pandemic. The program received $25 billion from a law passed Dec. 27, 2020, and $21.55 billion from a law passed March 11.