Good Samaritan launches eviction prevention program funded by ARPA

Mitchell Boatman, The Holland Sentinel
·2 min read

HOLLAND — A new housing program launched this month is working to prevent homelessness in Ottawa County.

More:Good Samaritan Ministries to run eviction diversion program

Good Samaritan Ministries officially launched the Ottawa County Eviction Prevention Program in December, working with tenants, landlords and the courts to keep people in their homes.

Good Samaritan Ministries officially launched the Ottawa County Eviction Prevention Program in December, working with tenants, landlords and the courts to keep people in their homes.
Good Samaritan Ministries officially launched the Ottawa County Eviction Prevention Program in December, 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.

The initiative is being supported by a $2 million grant of American Rescue Plan Act funding from Ottawa County. It was created in partnership with the 58th District Court, according to ARPA application documents.

Good Samaritan recently launched the Ottawa County Eviction Protection Program to help prevent homelessness in Ottawa County.
Good Samaritan recently launched the Ottawa County Eviction Protection Program to help prevent homelessness in Ottawa County.

The grant was approved during an August meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners. It will be used over the course of three years to support operation of the program.

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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In addition to the ARPA funds, the program expects revenue from donations and grants, public funding through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, participation fees from businesses and landlords, and rent reimbursement from tenants, paid over the course of several months.

Last year, the program helped keep 3,320 people from being evicted, the organization reported. Over the last two years, 98 percent of people receiving Good Samaritan services have remained housed.

Learn more at goodsamottawa.org or by calling 616-392-7159.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Good Samaritan launches eviction prevention program in Ottawa County