Resolution Systems Institute

Organization

Resolution Systems Institute

Project

RSI: Holistic Online Program for Evictions (HOPE)

Grant Amount

$172,000

Overview

This grant was a key part of the Foundation’s efforts to use ADR to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in innovative ways. HOPE’s goal was to stave off an anticipated wave of evictions by developing a model eviction mediation program, evaluating it and sharing the resulting guidance.

Overview

Resources for Communities

RSI started with the dispute system design necessary to meet the needs of tenants, landlords and the court. With almost all the tenants self-represented, staff used Zoom and the phone to direct tenants to resources such as legal aid and financial counseling partners and offered education about what they could expect in court. Once parties were prepared, the program conducted video mediation between tenants and landlords.

CASE STUDIES

Eviction Mediation Design and Implementation Report

Illinois’ 16th Judicial Circuit: Kane County, IL

Download the Report

Participant Experience in Eviction Mediation

Illinois’ 16th Judicial Circuit: Kane County, IL

Download the Report

Resolution Systems Institute’s mission is to strengthen access to justice by enhancing court ADR systems.

Building on the Foundation’s leadership grant, RSI could continue to operate the program beyond the Foundation’s initial funding. RSI also leveraged the grant to obtain other funding for mediator trainings and mediator payments.

Comprehensive Evaluation of Eviction Mediation Program

This evaluation examines an eviction mediation program’s performance during its first year, including program use, services provided, mediation outcomes and participant experience. Among other results, it found that 74% of mediations resulted in an agreement that avoided eviction.

Eviction Mediation Special Topic

The Special Topic is a central hub for everything courts need to know. It includes key program development considerations, and sample forms and notices other programs can emulate. It has aggregated the best available studies on eviction mediation, and other essential tools.

Testimonial

"Definitely wanted the renter out, but with the mediator’s assistance we had a change of mind."

"Both sides were able to express their opinions or concerns. Whenever over talking occurred, the mediator was able to redirect and have one of the parties put their microphone on mute while the other party spoke. Overall, I thought it was a fair process."

"The mediator listened to both sides and gave everyone the opportunity to speak and discuss the issues related to the case. In the end an agreement was reached."

Assessing, Learning and Sharing

HOPE was about more than supporting one mediation program. HOPE also studied the experience, learned from it and shared that learning far and wide. An implementation report, two participant experience reports and a comprehensive evaluation were conducted. RSI also blogged regularly about the project and created a special topic on eviction mediation in its resource center.