Eviction diversion programs are demonstrating how courts, working in partnership with community organizations, can deliver more effective and sustainable solutions to housing instability. As eviction filings rise nationwide, these programs — many supported by the National Center for State Court’s Eviction Diversion Initiative (EDI) — are gaining traction as a practical response to the growing housing crisis.
Launched in 2021, EDI efforts help courts integrate community resources and problem-solving strategies directly into the judicial process. The initiative has already supported implementation in 24 state and local courts, improving outcomes for tenants and landlords while making court systems more efficient and accessible.
“EDI programs across the country have shown the power of court-based solutions to prevent or mitigate the harm of eviction,” said Samira Nazem, NCSC’s director of access to justice and EDI project director. “They also make the court system more navigable and responsive for all stakeholders.”
In New York, the EDI model continues to gain momentum. The New York Courts and the Center for Justice Innovation recently announced the expansion of eviction diversion programs to five additional courts. These programs build on earlier successes in Brooklyn Housing Court and Suffolk County District Courts — both shaped by NCSC’s original EDI framework.
State leaders point to the initiative’s effectiveness in addressing barriers to justice while improving stability for families and communities. The expansion reflects growing confidence in NCSC’s model as a scalable solution.
“The expansion of the successful Eviction Diversion Initiative into more New York communities will help eliminate barriers to justice, enhancing the safety and stability of families and entire neighborhoods,” said Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives Edwina G. Richardson.
NCSC’s influence is also evident in Nevada, where policymakers are investing heavily in court-based eviction diversion. In June 2025, Governor Joe Lombardo signed legislation allocating $23 million over two years to support these programs, including significant funding for Clark County and Reno. The state appropriation will fund staff positions to oversee the court-based programs in addition to creating a dedicated rental assistance fund accessible to landlords and tenants participating in the court program.
The need is acute. Clark County alone saw nearly 42,600 eviction notices filed in the past year. By advancing diversion strategies, courts are better positioned to manage caseloads while reducing the human and economic costs of eviction.
In Indiana, what started as a small pilot program in one small claims court, has expanded to a countywide program operating in all nine small claims courts in Marion County as well as the Marion County Superior Court. The program operates as a public-private partnership leveraging financial support from the City of Indianapolis, the Indiana Bar Foundation, and several local philanthropic organizations. The expansion builds off the success of the initial pilot, which reported that over 90% of filed eviction cases were dismissed or settled in the first year of the program.
NCSC’s EDI was made possible through grants from the Wells Fargo Foundation and Bank of America Foundation.
NCSC continues to refine and expand the EDI model, exploring its application to other high-volume dockets beyond eviction. By equipping courts with tools to address underlying issues, the organization is helping reshape how justice systems respond to complex social challenges — delivering measurable benefits for courts, communities, and the public they serve. For additional information, visit www.ncsc.org/our-centers-projects/eviction-diversion-initiative.
Launched in 2021, EDI efforts help courts integrate community resources and problem-solving strategies directly into the judicial process. The initiative has already supported implementation in 24 state and local courts, improving outcomes for tenants and landlords while making court systems more efficient and accessible.
“EDI programs across the country have shown the power of court-based solutions to prevent or mitigate the harm of eviction,” said Samira Nazem, NCSC’s director of access to justice and EDI project director. “They also make the court system more navigable and responsive for all stakeholders.”
In New York, the EDI model continues to gain momentum. The New York Courts and the Center for Justice Innovation recently announced the expansion of eviction diversion programs to five additional courts. These programs build on earlier successes in Brooklyn Housing Court and Suffolk County District Courts — both shaped by NCSC’s original EDI framework.
State leaders point to the initiative’s effectiveness in addressing barriers to justice while improving stability for families and communities. The expansion reflects growing confidence in NCSC’s model as a scalable solution.
“The expansion of the successful Eviction Diversion Initiative into more New York communities will help eliminate barriers to justice, enhancing the safety and stability of families and entire neighborhoods,” said Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives Edwina G. Richardson.
NCSC’s influence is also evident in Nevada, where policymakers are investing heavily in court-based eviction diversion. In June 2025, Governor Joe Lombardo signed legislation allocating $23 million over two years to support these programs, including significant funding for Clark County and Reno. The state appropriation will fund staff positions to oversee the court-based programs in addition to creating a dedicated rental assistance fund accessible to landlords and tenants participating in the court program.
The need is acute. Clark County alone saw nearly 42,600 eviction notices filed in the past year. By advancing diversion strategies, courts are better positioned to manage caseloads while reducing the human and economic costs of eviction.
In Indiana, what started as a small pilot program in one small claims court, has expanded to a countywide program operating in all nine small claims courts in Marion County as well as the Marion County Superior Court. The program operates as a public-private partnership leveraging financial support from the City of Indianapolis, the Indiana Bar Foundation, and several local philanthropic organizations. The expansion builds off the success of the initial pilot, which reported that over 90% of filed eviction cases were dismissed or settled in the first year of the program.
NCSC’s EDI was made possible through grants from the Wells Fargo Foundation and Bank of America Foundation.
NCSC continues to refine and expand the EDI model, exploring its application to other high-volume dockets beyond eviction. By equipping courts with tools to address underlying issues, the organization is helping reshape how justice systems respond to complex social challenges — delivering measurable benefits for courts, communities, and the public they serve. For additional information, visit www.ncsc.org/our-centers-projects/eviction-diversion-initiative.
