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Instead of threatening eviction, however, Natasha’s building manager did something that, just a few years ago, wouldn’t have been an option in Philadelphia: She referred Natasha to Philadelphia’s Eviction Diversion Program (EDP), a collaboration between the City, legal support groups, housing counseling nonprofits, landlord advocacy organizations and others. It helps tenants at risk of being evicted go through mediation with their landlords to come up with a solution to keep people housed - and landlords paid.

(2023-01-31) The City of Philadelphia’s FREE Eviction Diversion Program (EDP) helps landlords and tenants resolve disputes and avoid going to court. EDP facilitates satisfactory and sustainable landlord-tenant agreements through mediation or supported direct negotiation.

The Durham Eviction Diversion Program is a partnership of our Durham office, Duke Law’s Civil Justice Clinic and the Durham Department of Social Services.

The program uses tenant education, legal advocacy and rental assistance to prevent evictions and increase housing security for low-income renters in Durham County.

The Orange County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is an income-based program aimed at helping Orange County’s most vulnerable tenants by providing financial assistance to tenants who are past-due on their rent as a result of financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This article examines the federal government’s role in promoting mortgage foreclosure mediation programs during the Great Recession and how this model can be applied to eviction programs. The researcher examines literature related to the Troubled Asset Relief Program and Home Affordable Modification Program, the role of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), and eviction research to suggest policy recommendations for developing strong eviction diversion programs.

Our Mission

PEDP combats homelessness caused by eviction through engaging in collobarative and innovative programming and services to benefit both tenants and landlords.

Our Vision

A community where unplanned, unforeseen financial hardship causes the least disruption to housing stability and neighborhood preservation.

The Eviction Diversion Program can be good for tenants because attending eviction court is often stressful and may end with you being evicted AND getting a judgment on your record. Many landlords also want to participate in the program to avoid paying costly attorney and filing fees, attending hearings and evicting tenants. In addition, some tenants may be eligible for Targeted Financial Assistance (TFA).

The Department of Planning and Development, or such other City department or office as the Mayor may designate, is authorized to continue operating a pre-filing residential eviction diversion program to facilitate dispute resolution between landlords and tenants or acquisition of rental assistance, if available. Landlords shall enroll in the eviction diversion program by completing an application or in such other manner as directed by the Department.

Between 2012 and 2018, Philadelphia averaged more than 25,000 eviction filings each year, according to data compiled by the Eviction Lab at Princeton University.

Between June 2022 and June 2023, the city recorded less than 15,000 filings.

One of the main reasons: Philadelphia’s mandatory Eviction Diversion Program.

June 26 2023 The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) today announced a Comprehensive Court Eviction Defense and Diversion (CCED) program in all court vicinages in New Jersey. Under the program, low-income households at risk of eviction can access legal services and experienced caseworkers, known as resource navigators, for a wrap-around defense against housing displacement. On the announcement, Network President and Chief Executive Officer Staci Berger issued the following statement:

City of Richmond Eviction Diversion Program

“The Legal Aid Society and tenant attorney groups are showing their true colors. Instead of working to reduce evictions, they want to perpetuate a system that encourages more eviction filings in housing court,” CHIP Executive Director Jay Martin said. “When 90 percent of housing court cases are brought by the housing provider for non-payment, and the groups opposing ways to reduce that number are tenant attorneys, it clearly shows they have no interest in lessening the hardship for their clients for fear of reducing their own need.”

Legislation passed by the council of the city of Philadelphia, including funding for eviction programs.

Under this program, if a tenant owes less than $3,000 in back rent, landlords must try mediation in good faith before eviction. If after 30 days the two sides cannot come to an agreement or a tenant has not shown up to mediation, the landlord can go to court to enforce the eviction. The result seems to be a boon for both parties: Tenants stay in their homes, while landlords are paid.

A COVID-Era program designed to keep people housed:

Purpose
- Divert court evictions and keep Kentucky renters housed.
- Allow landlords to receive payments for back rent for tenants allowed to remain in their units.
- Provide renters that are ultimately evicted the ability to acquire alternative housing.
- Avoid the sizeable and long-term public costs of mass evictions and homelessness.