Northwest Neighborhoods CDC Expands Eviction Diversion Initiative with Support from Enterprise Community Partners

Northwest Neighborhoods CDC (NWN) is expanding its Eviction Diversion Initiative with the support of a Section 4 Capacity Building Grant from Enterprise Community Partners. Launched as a pilot in January 2024, the initiative helps tenants avoid eviction through supportive, trauma-informed strategies—offering individualized solutions such as payment plans, application assistance, and mediation for neighbor disputes.

With this new funding, NWN is scaling up the program to reach more residents and deepen its impact. The grant will allow the organization to dedicate additional staff time toward resolving tenant issues, strengthen collaborations with external service providers, and enhance staff training to better navigate complex housing regulations. Together, these efforts will help Northwest Neighborhoods create more responsive and sustainable support systems for residents facing housing instability.

“This grant is a critical step in moving our Eviction Diversion Initiative beyond its pilot phase into a fully developed program,” said Bridget Kent Márquez, Executive Director of Northwest Neighborhoods CDC. “It provides the resources we need to dedicate focused staff time, enhance our tools, and strengthen partnerships—all essential to building a more equitable, innovative and responsive approach to housing. At its core, this work is about keeping families safely housed and supported through challenging times.”

“At Northwest Neighborhoods, we believe eviction prevention is foundational to housing stability,” said Dr. Anna Perlmutter, President of the NWN Board. “This program isn’t just about responding to a crisis—it’s about restoring dignity, building trust, and keeping our neighbors housed. With this new grant, we can continue meeting families where they are—with compassion, persistence, and real solutions that work.”

Enterprise is a longtime supporter of Northwest Neighborhoods and is also a key partner of Karam Senior Living, a new affordable senior housing community that broke ground in early June. With Enterprise’s continued investment, NWN is not only expanding the Eviction Diversion Initiative today—it is also preparing to embed this tenant-centered management model into future communities like Karam when they open.

"Eviction diversion is one of the most immediate and effective ways we can keep families stably housed and prevent the long-term harm that displacement causes, said Ayonna Blue Donald, Ohio Market Leader, Enterprise Community Partners. “We’re proud to support Northwest Neighborhoods in scaling this work—investing in tenant-centered strategies is essential to keeping families housed and communities strong.”

For more information about Northwest Neighborhoods CDC and the Eviction Diversion Initiative, visit nwneighborhoods.org.