As housing costs continue to strain household budgets, a Jacksonville program aimed at preventing evictions is offering a lifeline to families facing short-term financial hardship.
‘It can really save so many lives’: A look inside the Jacksonville program preventing evictions and homelessness Read full article: ‘It can really save so many lives’: A look inside the Jacksonville program preventing evictions and homelessness Body camera video from the Putnam County Sheriff's office shows deputies responding to a fight at Palaka Junior-Senior High School.
Read full article: Fights erupt at Palatka Junior-Senior High after field trip focused on mental health A circle of family, neighbors, and strangers gathered Wednesday night for a candlelight vigil honoring 2-year-old A’hmari Robinson, who was shot and killed over the weekend on Jacksonville’s Westside.Mom was holding 2-year-old son when her boyfriend fatally shot him during argument ‘about a phone’: arrest report Read full article: Mom was holding 2-year-old son when her boyfriend fatally shot him during argument ‘about a phone’: arrest reportDuval County schools warns families about unsanctioned ‘senior skip day’ at Jacksonville BeachThe city’s Eviction Diversion Program has helped more than 400 households with up to three months of back rent– As housing costs continue to strain household budgets, a Jacksonville program aimed at preventing evictions is offering a lifeline to families facing short-term financial hardship.provides rental assistance to qualifying tenants in Duval County, helping them catch up on rent, utilities and energy bills with the goal of keeping people housed.“It was amazing,” Bell said. “It was just a right-on-time, very fortunate, very blessed situation.” Bell said she fell behind on rent after missing work due to health issues. Without paid time off, her income dropped, and late fees quickly piled up. “When you have no PTO, of course you don’t get paid,” she said. “There were times when I could not pay the full balance in rent.” Her experience reflects a broader reality for many Americans. A widely cited 2019 report from financial firm Charles Schwab found that nearly 60% of Americans were living paycheck to paycheck or at risk of financial instability.“You’re wondering day to day, is this going to be the day that you’re going to be evicted?” she said. “You get that whole sunken, helpless feeling.” The Eviction Diversion Program, administered in part through Jewish Family & Community Services and Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, works with both tenants and landlords to prevent evictions before they happen. “We work directly with landlords trying to prevent evictions from going through, trying to help tenants stay in their homes,” said Brooke Golzbein, an eviction coordinator with the organization. Golzbein said the program has helped more than 400 households so far and reports a success rate of more than 80%. Eligible tenants can receive up to three months of back rent, with the program focusing on those who have experienced a one-time financial setback but previously maintained consistent payments.“They paid off that balance, and they also paid the deposit and the first month’s rent in the new place,” she said. “It was more than I could have ever thought of.”“I have no idea what my life would be like,” she said. “I don’t even want to think about it.” The need for programs like this remains high. Golzbein said tens of thousands of eviction filings are made in Duval County each year. “We have so many evictions filed every year, over 14,000 to 15,000,” she said. “It’s only going to keep growing if we don’t step in now and help people maintain what they already have.”“It can really save so many lives on so many levels,” she said. Residents seeking assistance through Jacksonville’s Eviction Diversion Program must live in Duval County and demonstrate a recent financial hardship after previously keeping up with rent. Eligible households must also include a child, senior, veteran or disabled adult.Tiffany comes home to Jacksonville, FL from WBND in South Bend, Indiana. She went to Mandarin High School and UNF. Tiffany is a former WJXT intern, and joined the team in 2023 as Consumer Investigative Reporter and member of the I-TEAM.Ciara joined the News4JAX team in 2018 and now works as the Special Projects Producer where she specializes in issues surrounding Social Justice. Ciara’s passion for creating meaningful stories for her hometown of Jacksonville has earned her multiple awards.Voices of the 904 Ep 2. - Her creative lens turned a studio into a space elevating Jax's identityViral video of Dasaun Williams’ takedown prompts new use of force questionsUSS Donald Cook departs Mayport as Operation Epic Fury continuesDevelopers break ground on affordable housing project in St. AugustineEnd the month off right with this lineup of events from March 26-29Pearl Street Square to bring apartments, restaurants, beer gardens & jobs to Downtown JacksonvilleBurden of failing roof lifted for Jacksonville veteran through volunteer projectAccused shooter in death of 2-year-old boy denied bondGardening in a new light. Some recommended updates for healthier seedlings.Powerful winds, worsening drought threaten Jacksonville areaJSO arrests 21-year-old man accused of fatally shooting 2-year-oldFormer JEA chief of staff tells City Council committee employees are ‘scared for their job’
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