Michigan’s EDP
https://www.michigan.gov/mshda/0,4641,7-141-5555-533463–,00.html
An interesting program, but I’m not sure how well it is received by housing providers as they must forgive 10% of the back rent. If anyone has a contact with apartment associations there we should ask, otherwise I’ll cold email them.
A “must read” the diversion pilot final report:
https://nationalcenterforstatecourts.app.box.com/s/n7w8zu89tbayfjr0qz6h7mn6nrg0x6qh/file/679673021905
The National Center for State Courts has a bunch of info on EDPs. The link below is a starting point.
Generally speaking, an eviction diversion program offers tenants with legal assistance largely supplied by Legal Aid services and financial assistance provided by local governments and nonprofit organizations. Some programs also include financial literacy education for tenants. Programs require the voluntary participation of both landlords and tenants. The focus of these programs is to help tenants and landlords avoid evictions where possible.
https://www.ncsc.org/information-and-resources/info-and-res-page-card-navigation/trending-topics/trending-topics-landing-pg/eviction-diversion-programs
The one common flaw in many of the existing EDP programs is they require an eviction to be filed. There are advantages to both renter and housing provider if diversion occurs prior to filing. Perhaps they feel requiring a filing would reduce fraud, or maybe it is because they were initiated in the courts and therefore are from the courts’ perspective. But requiring an eviction to be filed also reduces benefit. (costs, conflict, court resources)
Looking at pages 7-9 of the diversion pilot final report linked above, the heading should not be “You have been sued by your landlord.” but “Are you behind on your rent?”
Ultimately though the goal needs to be portable housing vouchers, i.e. FodShare for Housing, as the need has existing long before COVID.
