Maricopa County is launching a new eviction-prevention pilot program aimed at helping renters in some of Phoenix’s hardest-hit neighborhoods avoid losing their homes as housing costs across the Valley continue rising. County leaders announced the initiative in partnership with the City of Phoenix as officials search for ways to reduce the growing number of eviction filings throughout the region.
According to ABC15, the new Eviction Diversion Pilot Program will specifically focus on Phoenix ZIP codes experiencing the highest numbers of eviction cases. Officials say the goal is to intervene earlier before renters are displaced and potentially pushed into homelessness.
County leaders said Maricopa County justice courts have processed more than 80,000 eviction filings annually for the past three consecutive years. Officials described the numbers as a major warning sign as homelessness and housing instability continue increasing throughout the Valley.
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Kate Brophy McGee said the program is intended to address what officials describe as a growing eviction crisis affecting thousands of families every year. McGee explained that the pilot was modeled after a successful eviction diversion system used in Texas and is designed to provide what she called “a hand up, not a hand out.”
The pilot program focuses heavily on collaboration between tenants, landlords, the courts, and social service organizations. Officials say the system is designed to identify struggling renters earlier and help coordinate solutions before formal eviction proceedings result in families losing their housing.
Nicole Newhouse, executive director of the Arizona Housing Coalition, told ABC15 that many renters throughout the Valley are living dangerously close to eviction because of rising costs and financial instability. She explained that many households are only one missed paycheck or unexpected medical emergency away from losing their homes.
Newhouse said the diversion model works by bringing all parties together and helping ensure rent gets paid while creating a more stable path forward for renters facing financial hardship. She explained that the process allows courts, landlords, and tenants to work collaboratively instead of immediately moving toward eviction.
County officials also emphasized that eviction is often costly for landlords as well. Newhouse told ABC15 that many landlords would prefer avoiding eviction if possible because the legal process, vacancies, repairs, and tenant turnover can ultimately cost more than resolving unpaid rent issues through mediation or financial assistance.
Under the proposed program, eligible renters could receive assistance covering overdue rent payments. Participants would also gain access to additional support services, including resource navigation, referrals to community assistance programs, mediation opportunities, and alternative dispute-resolution options intended to keep people housed.
Officials explained that landlords must voluntarily choose to participate in the pilot program. The initiative will also involve follow-up monitoring to help ensure cases are resolved successfully and households remain stable after intervention services are provided.
Supervisor Steve Gallardo said the initiative reflects growing concerns from residents struggling to afford rent and basic living expenses throughout the Phoenix area. Gallardo said the goal is to bring everyone to the table and determine whether families can remain housed whenever possible.
Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington also voiced support for the partnership between Maricopa County and the City of Phoenix. Washington said evictions do more than remove people from housing, explaining that they can destabilize employment, education, health, and entire neighborhoods. She argued that preventative intervention programs are significantly more effective and cost-efficient than responding after people become homeless.
The program’s development funding was included in Maricopa County’s tentative fiscal year 2027 budget. County Human Services Director Tamara Bridwell said preventing avoidable evictions benefits tenants, landlords, neighborhoods, and the court system simultaneously.
Some important details surrounding the pilot program are still being finalized. Officials have not yet announced who will qualify, how long support will last, what income requirements may apply, or exactly when applications will open. ABC15 reported that implementation timelines are still being developed.
The need for housing assistance programs continues growing throughout Arizona as rent prices remain at historic highs. According to the Arizona Housing Coalition, rental prices across the Valley have reached all-time highs in recent years.
Housing advocates say rising rent costs continue outpacing wage growth throughout Arizona, leaving many residents financially vulnerable. Organizations such as St. Vincent de Paul have reported eviction filings in Maricopa County are now significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Research cited by homelessness prevention organizations suggests that one-time emergency financial assistance can dramatically reduce the chances of households becoming homeless. Housing advocates say relatively small financial interventions often prevent much larger long-term social and economic costs associated with homelessness.
County officials said additional details regarding implementation plans, participating partners, and long-term evaluation metrics for the pilot program will be announced in the future as the initiative moves closer toward launch.
Source: ABC15 Arizona
