A Sheriff With A Heart?

Hamilton Ohio Sheriff Puts Up Barriers to Foreclosure

I believe that Sheriff Jones was the Butler County law enforcement officer who wants a huge federal crack down on those huddled masses seeking to breath free in the United States, but he seems to have a heart with regard to foreclosures. This story of his effort to stem the tide of foreclosures was picked up across Ohio. If Sheriff McFaul gave a similar order in Cuyahoga County, we would see this massive migration to the shelters. See, unlike in most other communities, we still have guaranteed access to a shelter bed. There would be a large number who would be forced to show up at the Community Women's Shelter or 2100 Lakeside in order to save their home. The staff would have no choice, but to turn all these new people away. We can figure out what to do with 30-60 extra people showing up on one night, but this would result in 400-600 people showing up at the shelters. The former home owner would then go back to the Deputy Sheriff to report that they had no where else to stay. The two entry shelters have been full for the last month, and even though we do not typically get those home owners facing foreclosure at the shelters, they would be forced to go to shelter. Usually home owners have some funds and stay with family and friends or rent an apartment before they fall into the shelters. If the rule was that the only way to stay in your home, you had to go to see if the shelters are full there would be this huge line formed at the two shelters. We also might see large number sleeping in cars, which is not a huge problem locally at this time.

HAMILTON, Ohio -- An area sheriff has ordered deputies to ignore eviction orders when people have nowhere else to live. Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said evictions in winter weather and during an economic recession are heartless and those cases should be sent back to the courts and resolved some other way. Jones on Tuesday ordered deputies to ensure that people have shelter before they're forced out of their homes. “It doesn’t cost much for me to be compassionate, and I’m not going to cause somebody to die because I wasn’t compassionate,” Jones said. He also sent a letter to Gov. Ted Strickland asking him to issue a state order to stop forced evictions for at least the winter months. “There has to be some attention drawn to somebody that’s going to be thrown out of their houses that doesn’t have anywhere else to go,” Jones said. The sheriff could face court action if a bank or landlord challenges his refusal to honor a court-ordered eviction. Jones said he would face any consequences of his order.

It may not be the best solution, but at least it is the government trying to do something to help keep people from being homeless.

Brian
Posts by Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless staff and Board.