Particle.news

Maricopa County and Phoenix Launch $800,000 Eviction Prevention Pilot

The program will deliver one-time payments of up to $3,200 to renters in four high-risk ZIP codes while officials collect data to decide if it should continue or expand.

Overview

  • County leaders made the pilot active on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 with an $800,000 budget to deliver one-time rental aid to at-risk households.
  • Eligible households may receive up to $3,200 to cover as much as two months of unpaid rent as a direct payment to property owners.
  • The pilot is limited to four Phoenix ZIP codes — 85008, 85040, 85041 and 85042 — chosen for high eviction rates so the program can be evaluated in target neighborhoods.
  • To qualify tenants must show lawful presence and financial hardship while owners must submit a rental agreement, a tenant ledger, a W-9 and agree that the payment fully satisfies arrears.
  • County officials say they designed the pilot with input from the Arizona Multihousing Association and will follow up with renters and landlords to collect outcomes data that could reduce court filings and future eviction records.