Cleveland Housing Court and Cleveland Public Library are teaming up to bring the court to the community.
On Monday, July 18, a grand opening celebration will be held at 9:30 a.m. for the new Neighborhood Housing Court Kiosk at the South Branch located at 3096 Scranton Road in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood. Library executives, Cleveland Housing Court Administrative Judge W. Moná Scott, and a host of dignitaries will be in attendance.
The computer kiosk is solely for the use of Clevelanders who need to appear before Cleveland Housing Court without traveling downtown. Use of the kiosk will be on a walk-in basis starting at 10 a.m.
“We want to make it easier for the public to attend hearings,” said Cleveland Housing Court Administrative Judge W. Moná Scott. “Eviction hearings often have no-shows due to lack of transportation and childcare or fear of missing work. The Neighborhood Housing Court Kiosk program will alleviate those concerns and help to bridge the digital divide.”
“Cleveland Public Library is the gateway to city services. We are determined to make sure every Clevelander has access to the resources and tools needed to enhance their lives,” said Felton Thomas, Jr., Executive Director and CEO of Cleveland Public Library. “The Neighborhood Housing Court Kiosk program is just another example of the Library’s efforts to open doors and create opportunities for our community.”
South Branch is the first of four Cleveland Public Library locations to feature the Neighborhood Housing Court computer kiosks. The program will eventually spread to the Mount Pleasant, Carnegie West, and Glenville branches. “We chose these neighborhood locations because they have some of the highest eviction rates in the city,” remarks Judge Scott. Cleveland Housing Court purchased the computer kiosk equipment using a technology grant from the Ohio Supreme Court.