A new Durham County eviction diversion program—the first of its kind in the state—will help tenants who are behind on rent work out payment plans with their landlords in lieu of eviction. For tenants, avoiding eviction can make the difference between homelessness and staying housed. In 2015, Housing for New Hope, a Durham-based nonprofit, cited eviction as a top cause of homelessness among its clients. For landlords, avoiding eviction is a cost-saving measure. Court costs for eviction cases have been reported to run as high as $200, and attorney fees can cost even more.
To see eviction data for Durham County and the rest of the state, visit the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency’s interactive State of Housing web map.
