Due to elevated fire danger, the City of Phoenix has implemented Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. All consumer fireworks are prohibited within one mile of mountain preserves, desert parks, regional parks, conservation areas, national forests, and wilderness areas.
Vice Mayor Hodge Washington, Maricopa County Launches Eviction Diversion Program
PHOENIX — Maricopa County is funding a new effort to help individuals and families who have fallen behind on rent and face possible eviction. In partnership with the City of Phoenix, the Eviction Diversion Pilot Program will target Phoenix ZIP codes with the highest number of eviction cases. The goal is to find interventions that will keep more people in their homes.
“An eviction doesn’t just disrupt housing — it can destabilize employment, education, health, and entire neighborhoods. The data is clear: preventative measures such as eviction diversion are far more effective and cost-efficient than relying on after-the-fact interventions to address displacement and homelessness,” said Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington. “That’s why I’m grateful to partner with Maricopa County on this pilot program. By intervening early and supporting both tenants and landlords, we can address challenges before they escalate, help more residents remain safely housed, and reduce the risk of homelessness across our community.”
The pilot program will use key components from the nationally recognized Texas Eviction Diversion Program, which emphasizes early intervention and collaboration among courts, landlords, tenants, and community partners, and will include follow-up with residents to ensure cases have been resolved.
“For three straight years, Maricopa County Justice Courts have processed more than 80,000 eviction filings. That’s 80,000 individuals or families on the brink of homelessness each year, at a time when that population is already high,” said Chair Kate Brophy McGee, District 3. “This pilot, modeled after a successful program in Texas, aims to address our eviction crisis head-on with interventions that are sustainable and effective. They are a hand up, not a hand out.”
“I hear it all the time: people are struggling to pay the bills, struggling to pay the rent, struggling just to keep their family fed and clothed,” said Supervisor Steve Gallardo, District 5. “This initiative is about bringing everyone to the table—courts, landlords, tenants—and saying, look, how can work this out fairly, so that if there’s any possible way to keep people in their homes, we do?”
Key aspects of the program include:
- Collaboration with justice courts and participating landlords
- Early identification of households at risk of eviction
- Resource navigation and referral services for eligible residents
- Exploration of mediation and alternative resolution opportunities
- Data collection and program evaluation to assess long-term effectiveness and scalability
Development of the pilot program will be largely funded by Maricopa County, as evidenced by its tentative FY 2027 budget.
“Preventing avoidable evictions benefits families, communities, landlords, and the court system alike,” said Tamara Bridwell, Director of Maricopa County Human Services. “This pilot is designed to explore collaborative solutions that improve housing stability while supporting fair and efficient outcomes for all parties involved.”
Additional details regarding participating partners, implementation timelines, and evaluation metrics will be shared as they are available.
"I'd like to once again thank Maricopa County for their investment in the people of District 8," Vice Mayor Hodge Washington said.
