The Eviction Diversion Initiative, which supports tenants at risk of losing their homes, is expanding to more housing courts across the city and state.
What began as a small pilot program to prevent evictions in Brooklyn and Long Island will soon reach tenants across New York City and beyond.
The Eviction Diversion Initiative brings holistic support to tenants at risk of losing their homes. The Center first launched the program in 2022 in two locations—Brooklyn Housing Court and Suffolk County District Court. Now, in partnership with the Unified Court System, we’re expanding its reach to housing courts in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens, as well as Rochester and Syracuse upstate.
Evictions can be devastating, but it’s possible to mitigate their harm and in some cases prevent them altogether. Too often, evictions occur when barriers like fear, confusion, or lack of information prevent people from even appearing in court. What’s more, unpaid rent is often rooted in complex problems like poverty, disruptions of public benefits, or health emergencies.
These realities demand responses grounded in care, coordination, and resources that address both immediate needs and long-term challenges. By addressing those issues proactively, the Eviction Diversion Initiative turns housing court into an opportunity to strengthen—not undermine—housing stability.
“Over the past four years, we’ve seen that there are many points in the housing court process where the right support can change the outcome,” said Viviana Gordon, Director of Housing Justice Initiatives. “This work is about meeting people at some of their most vulnerable moments with compassion and helping them understand their rights and options when they might otherwise feel powerless.”
The program grew out of a national pilot with the National Center for State Courts to help courts respond to evictions with community-based interventions. By bringing together government agencies, legal service providers, and community organizations, the Initiative helps tenants maintain safe, stable housing. A national evaluation found that the model led to fewer evictions, increased court appearance rates, and greater trust in the justice system.
Over 3,500 Suffolk County tenants in 600 households have gotten access to crucial information and resources through the Initiative.
“We’re excited to expand this approach in partnership with the court system to reach more communities across the state,” said Gordon.
In Brooklyn Housing Court, the program helps tenants at risk of eviction due to administrative issues with their housing subsidies. Since its launch, more than 300 residents have received support with resolving subsidy issues, getting rental assistance, and addressing other barriers to housing stability.
In Suffolk County, the Initiative empowers tenants with information about the court process, legal services, and other resources before they appear in housing court. Over 3,500 Suffolk County tenants in 600 households have gotten access to crucial information and resources through the Initiative.
Besides reaching more courts, the program’s expansion will also increase staffing at the Brooklyn and Suffolk County sites.
“For many families, arriving in housing court is one of the most stressful and vulnerable moments in their lives,” said our CEO Courtney Bryan. “The Eviction Diversion Initiative demonstrates what’s possible when courts partner with community organizations to respond to that moment with compassion, dignity, and practical solutions that reduce the harms of eviction and help people stabilize their housing.”
The Eviction Diversion Initiative is one of many programs at the Center that works to build housing justice through local problem solving. Our community justice centers in Red Hook and Harlem have supported thousands of tenants with staying housed, getting crucial repairs, and asserting their rights in court. All of those programs work by building bridges between residents, courts, landlords, and service providers in an often fragmented field.
“At the Center, we’ve worked with the court system for over 25 years to embed problem-solving practices and expand procedural justice in housing court,” said Senior Director of Housing Initiatives Jessie Yager. “Bringing this approach into more central housing courts is an exciting advancement for access to justice in New York.”
Amid a complex and nationwide housing crisis, investing in local solutions can stop preventable evictions that destabilize families and communities. With the Eviction Diversion Initiative’s expansion, more tenants will be able to count on those solutions to stay safely housed.