In October, the Jacksonville, Florida City Council’s Neighborhoods Committee heard from facilitators of the city’s Eviction Diversion Program, who reported on the program’s outcomes. The Jacksonville Eviction Diversion Program, established in January 2024, operates by providing landlords with payment for up to three months of past-due rent to avoid filing an eviction or to withdraw a filing against an eligible household that has applied for assistance through the program. The program’s primary goals are to reduce evictions and keep participants housed for at least six months. Melanie Patz, CEO of United Way of Northeast Florida, one of the organizations implementing the program, shared that of the 383 families that participated in the program since its inception, 84% remained stably housed six months after receiving assistance. Melanie added that the program has saved the city roughly $5.2 million in spending programs supporting unhoused individuals, compared to the $1.8 million spent by the program thus far.
The Jacksonville Eviction Diversion Program was made possible through a partnership among the city, the circuit court, and three nonprofit organizations, including the United Way of Northeast Florida, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA), and The LJD Jewish Family & Community Services (JFCS). United Way of Northeast Florida is a community advocacy organization providing support for households with financial insecurity, particularly those considered “asset limited, income constrained, and employed (ALICE),” and who make more than the poverty guidelines but less than what is required for affording basic needs. JALA is a non-profit law firm that provides low-cost legal assistance to low-income households across 17 counties in Northeast Florida. JFCS is a Jacksonville-based non-profit organization that provides a variety of education, financial assistance, and counseling programs for families and seniors.
Read More at National Low Income Housing Coalition
