Greenville County could launch Housing Court program, to lower eviction numbers

Introduction

Greenville County’s eviction rate is 3 times higher than the national average. It’s a problem that’s skyrocketed since the pandemic as the affordable housing crisis continues. Soon a new court program might lower the number of families faced with eviction.

Addressing the Crisis

“A lot of times lower income people don’t have the resources to really defend themselves and landlords take advantage of that,” said Councilman Ennis Fant. On Tuesday he presented the new Housing Court resolution to county council. “Every month, 24 out of 100 renters have eviction papers filed on them, which goes on their record, making it very difficult for them to rent somewhere else or even buy a house,” he explained.

Proposed Solution

He’s been working with Magistrate Court judges to launch a Housing Court program similar to Richland and Charleston counties. Before the program started in 2019, North Charleston had the highest eviction rate in the country–among states that track it. Eviction filings have dropped there 31 percent since the launch. Greenville has now taken that top spot according to Eviction Lab.

Expected Impact

“We want to reduce our eviction rates from 24% to 8%,” Fant said. The court would provide free legal representation to tenants under a certain income level facing eviction and resources to those who are evicted. It’ll be housed in a central location like Country Square or Halton Road.

Positive Outcomes

“It cuts down on homelessness, it cuts down on people being evicted, landlords get their money,” said Fant. Greenville would be the 3rd county in the state to start this program—many others are expected to follow soon. Fant hopes to have the resolution adopted by council in June.