Eviction Protection Grant Program (EPGP)

Eviction Protection Grant Program (EPGP) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Eviction Protection Grant Program (EPGP) funds experienced legal service organizations to provide free legal assistance to low-income tenants at risk of, or subject to, eviction. This program aims to bridge the legal aid gap in eviction cases and prevent homelessness.

**A First-of-its-Kind Federal Program Expanding Tenant Access to Eviction Legal Services** In 2021, HUD launched the Eviction Protection Grant Program (EPGP), a first-of-its-kind federal program designed to expand the reach of legal services to low-income tenants at risk of, or subject to, eviction. Millions of families face eviction each year, whether through formal court processes or through extra-legal evictions.

Evicted tenants, especially children, face significant long-term consequences. Yet, most tenants do not have access to legal assistance that may help them reach more mutually beneficial resolutions with landlords or defend against illegal evictions. The Eviction Protection Grant Program (EPGP) aims to help fill this gap.

**Demand for Tenant Legal Services Far Outpaces Available Local Resources** The response to PD&R’s latest FY 2023/2024 NOFO competition set a new record, demonstrating the overwhelming demand for eviction legal services from state, local, and tribal governments and non-profits across the country. More than 230 applicants, a 91 percent increase from 2021, sought FY 2023/2024 EPGP funds.

Applicants meeting the technical and scoring requirements for funding consideration requested more than $234 million in support for legal services, outstripping available EPGP appropriations by nearly sixfold.

**Improving Tenant Outcomes and Building the Eviction Protection Evidence Base** EPGP is a vital resource for both tenant households facing eviction and the grant recipients that are able to expand access to legal services, form strategic partnerships, and conduct outreach.

Through this program, PD&R has also expanded the evidence base around eviction prevention, diversion, and relief programming as local, state, and federal policymakers consider new ways to support tenants and landlords and build new eviction systems and processes.

**_Providing Legal Assistance to Those Who Need It Most_** EPGP grantees have consistently demonstrated their ability to provide legal assistance to tenant households that reflect demographic characteristics similar to groups identified as experiencing a higher risk of eviction nationally.

**_Achieving Measurable Tenant-Stabilizing Benefits Through a Broad Spectrum of Legal Services_** Overall, 92 percent of tenant households with tracked outcomes data saw a measurable benefit after receiving EPGP legal services. These stabilizing benefits were most pronounced among tenant households that received extensive representation, regardless of their eviction risk status.

* More than 80 percent of tenant households that received extensive representation involving legal advocacy or court proceedings experienced preserved tenancy, prevented eviction filings, or negotiated settlements. Fewer than 5 percent experienced eviction or displacement. * Among tenant households that received other limited or brief legal services, 35.

1 percent had their tenancy preserved, 7 percent prevented eviction filing, and 6 percent negotiated a settlement. Approximately 13 percent reported an eviction judgment or displacement. * Other prevention or tenant protection benefits tenants achieved through EPGP include securing rental and non-housing assistance, waived back rent, sealed eviction records, additional days to move out, and delayed evictions.

* Grant recipients faced challenges when collecting outcome data for some tenant households due to the brief nature of some legal services and service delivery methods.

Together, EPGP grantees have successfully expanded access to eviction protection services in underserved communities, prevented evictions, negotiated agreements between tenant households and landlords, and helped prevent and mitigate the harmful effects of displacement and eviction.

With $40 million available FY 2023 and 2024 funds, HUD awarded new grants to 21 non-profit and governmental recipients to provide legal services to tenants across 16 states. Ten of these recipients serve rural areas, including 9 statewide programs covering Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Virginia.

Eleven others serve single- or multi-county local or regional metropolitan geographies. Together, new recipients offer a full spectrum of legal services to low-income tenants at risk of or subject to eviction, including representation, advice, alternative dispute resolution, court navigation, education and outreach, as well as collaborative eviction prevention work.

In FY 2021, PD&R launched the Eviction Protection Grant Program to support families recovering from the public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first of its kind for the Department, the Eviction Protection Grant Program funds experienced legal service organizations providing legal assistance at no cost to low-income tenants at risk of, or subject to, eviction.

With rising rents, record inflation, and economic uncertainty in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, these services come at a critical time for families across the country and offer a unique demonstration opportunity for the Department and broader eviction diversion initiatives.

PD&R announced inaugural awards to 10 legal service providers totaling $20 million in November 2021 and quickly expanded the program to an additional 11 grantees in May 2022 with another $20 million in FY 2022 funds. In January 2025, PD&R announced $40 million in FY 2023 and FY 2024 awards to 21 recipients serving tenants in 16 states.

The goal of EPGP is to increase housing stability for low-income tenants at risk of or subject to eviction by funding eviction prevention and protection work. Legal assistance provided through grantee projects may help achieve the following outcomes for low-income tenants: * Help tenants avert eviction and prevent eviction filings.

* Help tenants exercise and enforce their housing and civil rights and ensure the legal process during eviction is fair. * Increase tenant access to, and participation in, non-adversarial resolutions outside of the court system. * Help tenants avoid the harmful consequences of eviction and gain access to stabilizing resources.

**Program Services and Beneficiaries** EPGP grantees provide a variety of legal services to low-income tenants facing eviction, including: * education and outreach and "know your rights" campaigns * legal information hotlines and legal advice * housing court navigation * legal representation (including in landlord negotiation/mediation) * mass eviction response and prevention * fair housing defense related to eviction * service provider referrals and benefits assistance * self-help technology like online form builders for responding to eviction notices * collaboration with courts, judges, and others to create and promote eviction diversion programs Beneficiaries served by the program must meet all three of the following criteria: (1) be a tenant, (2) be low-income, and (3) be at risk of or subject to eviction.

In January 2025, PD&R announced $40 million in FY 2023 and FY 2024 awards to 21 recipients serving tenants in 16 states.

The program’s initial 21 grantees funded in FY 2021 and FY 2022 served tenants in 19 states, implementing a total of 11 statewide eviction protection programs as well as 12 local and regional programs: | Geneva, NY | Legal Assistance of Western New York (LSC) | * Legal Aid Society of Rochester * JustCause | 14 counties in Western New York: * Allegany County * Cattaraugus County * Chautauqua County * Chemung County * Livingston County * Monroe County * Ontario County * Schuyler County * Seneca County * Steuben County * Tioga County * Tompkins County * Wayne County * Yates County | | Oklahoma City, OK | Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma (LSC) | * Fox Strategies | 16 counties in Northeastern Oklahoma: * Adair County * Cherokee County * Craig County * Creek County * Delaware County * Mayes County * Muskogee County * Nowata County * Okmulgee County * Osage County * Ottawa County * Rogers County * Sequoyah County * Tulsa County * Wagoner County * Washington County |