A new pilot program in Bucks County is set to provide low-income families with emergency assistance as organizers launch a matching fundraising campaign.
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The nonprofit Bucks County Opportunity Council is launching its Eviction Prevention Pilot Program to help up to 25 households avoid losing their homes.
The program combines emergency rental assistance, legal guidance, and personalized case management designed to help families increase their income and regain stability.
Organizers are working to secure $150,000 in total funding for the pilot program, the Bucks County Opportunity Council said.
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To support the program, local philanthropists Gene and Marlene Epstein, working through the Gene and Marlene Epstein Humanitarian Fund, have issued a matching challenge to the community.
Between July 20 and Aug. 3, every dollar donated will be matched up to $50,000.
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“That means together we can give families not just a second chance, but a path toward long-term stability,” Gene Epstein said.
Bucks County ranks sixth in Pennsylvania for eviction filing rates, with 14 renter households facing eviction filings each day, according to the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania. The highest percentage of these filings occurs in the Bensalem Township area.
Erin Lukoss, CEO of the Bucks County Opportunity Council, emphasized the broader impacts of displacement on households.
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“Avoiding eviction means avoiding trauma…homelessness, missing work, changing schools,” Lukoss said. “The well-being of everyone in a household is affected when facing eviction.”
Preventing eviction before it leads to homelessness remains a critical challenge for low-income residents. Funds from the campaign are designated to prevent home loss, connect tenants with legal support, aid employment and income growth, and build stronger communities across the county, according to the nonprofit.
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Through their contribution and matching challenge, the Epsteins hope to inspire community members to contribute to the initiative.
Donations can be made directly to the Bucks County Opportunity Council through its online DonorPerfect form. The fundraising campaign runs through July 31.
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More information is available by contacting Joe Cuozzo at 215-345-8175 ext. 204 or via email at jcuozzo@bcoc.org.
