ARPA Highlights - Eviction Diversion
Eviction Prevention Program ARPA Funding: On August 23, 2022 the County Board approved the 58th District Court's request for $2 million in ARPA grant funding over 3 years to support the Ottawa County Eviction Prevention Program, in partnership with Good Samaritan Ministries. The funding works to enhance and stabilize programming that was perfected throughout the COVID-19 pandemic through the initial infusion of various federal aid initiatives; a program that has already shown to be effective in addressing a housing instability crisis for area residents. The request is for $2M over a 3 year period, FY23-FY25.
Good Samaritan Ministries officially launched the Ottawa County Eviction Prevention Program in December of 2022, working with tenants, landlords and the courts to keep people in their homes.
The program is a continuation of work done at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic with support from federal, state and local agencies. As the pandemic-era partnerships came to an end, Good Samaritan began work on building a sustainable, long-lasting prevention program.
The program works with tenants and landlords to offer repayment programming and support services to prevent evictions. In the first two days after the program launched, 24 households began the screening process.
To qualify for OCEPP, a person must rent in Ottawa County, have a household income at or below 50 percent of the area’s average median income, have received a "Notice to Quit" or court-ordered summons, have a written or verbal lease agreement in place and not owe more than $3,000 to the property owner.
Good Samaritan said the funding will “enhance and stabilize programming that was perfected” during the pandemic. It's intended to serve a “growing population of low-income, rent-burdened residents of Ottawa County."
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NEED: According to recent Census data, 7.9% of residents in Ottawa County live below the poverty line, and the average rental rate in the County is $932/month, the highest of the surrounding counties. Using federal COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) Program funds, the 58th District Court and Good Samaritan organized an Eviction Prevention Program. In the first six months of the program, tenants from 369 different local businesses across several industries were kept housed.
Without the infusion of ARPA funds, the program would have ended once CERA Program funds were exhausted.
SERVES: All Ottawa County renters and landlords operating rental housing in the County.
IMPACT: Prevention programming and support services have shown to be highly effective in stabilizing housing for low- income residents. Stable housing is also critical for employers to retain a stable workforce.
ARPA dollars are allowing the program to develop an improved system that is privately funded and self-sustaining based off tenant repayment plans. This will ensure it will continue to help individuals and families avoid eviction.
