News Flash

A group of community organizations convened by the Human Relations Department has created an Eviction Diversion Packet with information and resources to help residents facing eviction. 

The packet is available in English and in Spanish and is posted at CityofWS.org. Printed versions the packets are available by calling 336-734-1227.

The packet is designed to help both tenants and landlords, says Wanda Allen-Abraha, the human relations director. “With the eviction moratorium ending, we wanted to create something that lists the resources immediately available, with the goal of helping keep people in their homes,” Allen-Abraha said.

“The packet also includes information about related resources,” Allen-Abraha said, “because eviction is often accompanied by other quality of life challenges, such as food insecurity, the need for clothing, utilities assistance, etc.” 

The packet was a joint effort by the Eviction Diversion Network, an ad-hoc group of organizations that has been meeting to collaborate on how they can proactively best serve landlords and tenants in light of the end of the eviction moratorium put in place last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The network also has established an eviction diversion mediation program, Allen-Abraha said, through a partnership of the city, Legal Aid of North Carolina, the Wake Forest University School of Law & Community Law Clinic, and the Forsyth County Court system.

 “We are continuing to analyze and consider best practices from other communities, nationwide, to identify other ways that we can provide assistance and an alternative to the expense of court,” Allen-Abraha said.

 In addition to the Human Relations Department, network members include representatives of Forsyth County Department of Social Services, Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court, the Winston-Salem Community Development Department, the Winston-Salem Police Department, Wake Forest University School of Law, the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem, the Winston-Salem Regional Association of Realtors, the United Way, the Experiment in Self Reliance, the Piedmont Triad Apartment Association, Financial Pathways of the Piedmont and Legal Aid of North Carolina.