GRASSROOTS EFFORT TO HELP CURB EVICTIONS EXPANDS TO MAUI COUNTY

News Release from Hawaii Judiciary, June 21, 2016

Wailuku, Maui- Tenants and landlords are being pointed to resources designed to prevent disputes from escalating to eviction. A grassroots effort called STAE (Steps to Avoid Eviction) is a campaign aimed at equipping tenants and landlords with more information about available resources to ensure that landlords get paid the rent they are owed and tenants are not evicted. The Hawaii State Judiciary partnered with the Legal Aid Society, Maui Office, and the Maui County Bar Association to put together the attached informational brochure.

“By the time the landlord-tenant cases come to court, it is frequently too late to address the root of the problem,” said District Court Judge Adrianne Heely. “There are a lot of resources and organizations that landlords and tenants may not be aware of. That’s why we wanted to provide as much information to both parties, so problems can be addressed in a more timely and effective manner.”

The STAE initiative began on Oahu last year led by First Circuit District Court Judges Hilary B. Gangnes and Michael K. Tanigawa. It also included representatives from the city and state; University of Hawaii’s William S. Richardson School of Law, Students for Public Outreach and Civics Education; Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Hawaii; Legal Aid Society of Hawaii; Helping Hands Hawaii; Catholic Charities Hawaii; Mediation Center of the Pacific; and volunteer attorneys.

“I’d like to thank Judge Heely and Judge Kawano for their desire to help the community and for seeing the need to expand this program to Maui County,” said Chief Judge Joseph Cardoza. “I also want to extend my appreciation and thanks to the city and state agencies, non-profit organizations, and community partners whose support has made this initiative possible."

The informational brochure will be available at Maui’s Self-Help Center and online at:

http://www.courts.state.hi.us/special_projects/stae.

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