“The evidence strongly indicates that eviction is not just a condition of poverty, it is a cause of it”
In Muskegon County, the rate of eviction is 4 times higher than the national average!
In response, community leaders have come together to address this community issue, creating the Eviction Prevention Program (EPP). Started as a pilot project in 2018 supported by funding from the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, EPP gives families facing eviction the possibility of an “out”, the hope for stable housing - allowing children to remain near their school and friends, allowing parents the support of the community they know. Many of the neighbors in EPP come to the program after an unexpected, health-related event that caused a loss of income, forcing them into difficult choices such as paying rent or buying groceries to feed their families.
In partnership with local agencies such as DHHS, MOCAP, and Mission for Area People, as well as landlords who extend the eviction deadline for families in EPP, we have been successful in maintaining housing for over 75% of the families who enter EPP.
THE EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM OFFERS:
COMMUNITY RESOURCES - The EPP connects neighbors facing eviction to financial assistance and DHHS caseworkers, who help neighbors apply for state eviction prevention assistance, speeding up the process for those who qualify.
CASE MANAGEMENT - The EPP offers case management assistance to each neighbor in the program. This allows neighbors to connect to community resources that will help resolve their judgments. Case managers also advocate for neighbors in the EPP to various community organizations and provide neighbors with financial tools to better allocate funds towards their rent.
LANDLORD PERKS - Landlords in the EPP are regularly updated on the action plans of their tenants and the progress they have made. The EPP also walks with neighbors on how to maintain a home and avoid future evictions.
You’ve got to have a network that you trust above yourself. We always see ourselves less than what we are, and sometimes you have to trust the voices of those around you.