A report out of Princeton University a couple of years ago, showed Akron had the highest number of evictions in Ohio, but that may be about to change.

Just six months after getting underway in Akron Municipal Court, Judge Ron Cable says their new program designed to reduce the number of evictions appears to be working, with the number of evictions dropping considerably.

The cost of the pilot program, which encourages landlords and tenants to work out their disagreements through mediation, is being covered by a $240 thousand dollar grant from the National Center for State Courts, and Cable says  at least so far; there is no plan to ask Summit County to pay for it.

Three new employees; a Mediator, a Court Navigator, and a Housing Specialist, were hired late last year to help tenants facing possible eviction, find a way to avoid losing their homes. But, Cable says, if there is no solution other than for them to move out; there is someone on hand at the court who can help them find a new place to live.

The idea, he says, is to be fair to both tenants and landlords.

Listen now, as he talks about it, with Jeanne Destro.

Akron Municipal Court Judge, Ron Cable