Newark launches "HomeCourt" diversion program for people charged with nonviolent misdemeanors tied to homelessness

Newark City Council heard a detailed presentation on a new specialized court docket called HomeCourt — Housing Opportunities through Municipal Engagements — aimed at connecting people experiencing homelessness with immediate services rather than default criminal penalties.

Law Director Trish Moore told the council the program was designed to prioritize services: “there's always been an emphasis on service. Services first, we're not trying to throw people in jail for being homeless,” Moore said. Assistant Law Director Melanie Timmerman said HomeCourt is voluntary, will use the federal definition of homelessness to determine eligibility and will be offered to people charged with nonviolent misdemeanors; a prohibited-camping charge will create a presumption of eligibility.

HomeCourt will hold a regular docket every Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the small-claims courtroom on the fourth floor. Timmerman described the court as a specialized docket (not a traditional diversion program) in which eligible participants may enter a plea that is held in abeyance and accept a diversion term. “That sentence is held in abeyance, and, basically, an alternative sanction of diversion is ordered by the court,” Timmerman said. Diversion lengths will be set by the magistrate and are expected to range from about 30 to 180 days depending on the offense.

The program design calls for an intake and needs assessment by a program coordinator with a social-work background who will develop a treatment plan that becomes part of the diversion terms. The city secured the Licking County Health Department’s community navigator to serve as HomeCourt’s program coordinator, Timmerman said. Program participants will meet with the coordinator and service providers immediately after arraignment; partners on the slides Timmerman showed include Licking Memorial (nurse support), BrightView (substance-use referrals), Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (workforce eligibility), Mount Vernon Nazarene University MSW interns, and DoubleTree (providing boxed lunches and hygiene items at hearings).

Timmerman said participants who complete diversion and show engagement with services will have their cases dismissed and may later seek expungement. She noted the program team is developing a transition plan so participants remain connected after the court’s involvement ends. The team expects to form an advisory council, continue onboarding partners and aims for an April launch.

Public commenters and local service providers largely praised the plan and urged additional operational flexibility. Donald Gibson, director of the Community Drop-In, said trust is essential and asked the city to ensure those who already work closely with people experiencing homelessness are integrated into the assessment and service process: “You need those service providers who work with them. It needs to be, hey, you’ve been working with this person, so what’s up?” Gibson said. Resident Rochelle Bolin Smith pointed to models in Columbus that co-locate services and small housing units and urged more frequent shower access and closer integration of services with any short-term housing.

Council members and the mayor expressed support and thanked law staff and partner agencies. Multiple council members observed the program’s emphasis on immediate, on-site engagement at arraignment and praised the range of community partners that had volunteered services.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes, Feb. 18: Motion by Mr. Vertu, second by Mr. Hauser; outcome: approved (roll call: ayes) — procedural approval of minutes.

- Appointment: Mayor Hall’s appointment of Dan Hunt to the Health North Licking County Board Authority Board of Directors (term begins 06/01/2025, expires 05/31/2029). Outcome: approved (all in favor recorded as “Aye”). Motion/second not specified in the transcript.

- Resolution 25-05 (appropriating monies for current expenses of the municipal corporation): Motion to adopt by Mr. Marmey, second by Mr. Barker; roll call recorded as yes votes; outcome: adopted (roll call result recorded as 10 yes).

- Resolution 25-06 (expedited appropriation for current expenses): Motion to waive the two-day reading rule by Mr. Marmee, second by Mr. Barker (waiver approved by roll call). Motion to adopt by Mr. Marmee, second by Mr. Parker; roll call recorded as yes votes; outcome: adopted (roll call result recorded as 10 yes).

- Resolution 25-10 (authorizing the director of public safety to release a previously placed lien on 900 Jones Avenue, parcel number 05-4-192078-000): Roll call recorded as yes votes; outcome: adopted (roll call result recorded as yes by council members present).

Other ordinances and resolutions were placed on future agendas or held for the next meeting (for example, Ordinance 25-06, Ordinance 25-07, Resolution 25-07, 25-08, 25-09) and were not adopted during this meeting.

Why it matters

HomeCourt represents a shift in how Newark intends to handle low-level, nonviolent offenses associated with homelessness: rather than immediate prosecutorial or custodial remedies, the city plans to use the judicial process to connect defendants with case management, health and housing resources and to measure progress before final disposition. Prosecutors, court staff and community partners framed the program as a way to reduce barriers to housing and employment by connecting participants to services and, on successful completion, dismissing the case so participants can later pursue record relief.

What’s next

City staff said they will assemble an advisory council, finalize data-tracking arrangements and continue onboarding service providers. Officials asked council members to expect periodic reports on implementation. Timmerman said the team hopes to launch HomeCourt in April, contingent on partner readiness and final logistics.

(Article compiled from council presentation and public comment during the Newark City Council meeting.)