evictionprevention

Eviction prevention is a set of policies, programs, and practices designed to reduce the risk of tenants being forced from their homes by eviction. It encompasses legal protections, financial assistance, and dispute resolution mechanisms intended to keep households stably housed. The term is sometimes written as eviction prevention, eviction-prevention, or in narrower contexts as eviction-prevention services.

Causes of eviction and risk factors vary but commonly include job loss or income disruption, rising rents, high housing cost burdens, medical expenses, disputes with landlords, and insufficient access to legal representation. Evictions can lead to homelessness, housing instability, and disrupted education and employment, creating a cycle that is difficult to exit without targeted intervention.

Approaches to prevention typically combine several elements. Financial assistance such as rental subsidies, arrears payments, and utility support can help households stay current with housing costs. Legal aid and tenant clinics provide information and representation in eviction proceedings. Early dispute resolution, including mediation, aims to resolve issues before they escalate to filings. Housing navigation and case management connect tenants with long-term resources, while broader policy tools may include rent stabilization, tenant protections, and predictable, timely access to emergency housing for those in crisis.

Policy contexts differ by jurisdiction and are funded by government, nonprofit, and philanthropic sources. Effectiveness depends on timely delivery, targeting to the most at-risk households, administrative efficiency, and coordination among landlords, tenants, and service providers. Common challenges include funding gaps, complex eligibility rules, and administrative delays.