In 2026, SoWe, a resident-driven initiative of Tenfold in Southwest Lancaster City, will pilot a new eviction prevention program.
At the organization’s public board meeting Monday evening, the board approved $50,000 out of its 2025-26 fiscal year budget for a new eviction prevention program. The program in collaboration with Tenfold and the office of Magisterial District Judge Adam J. Wikonis, plans to be more strategic in preventing evictions.
According to Director, Amos Stoltzfus, the organization’s current rental assistance program “is not sustainable.” Currently, the money the organization has set aside for rental assistance, which can help with back rent or security deposits is underutilized. Marketing the assistance creates a problem because staff would become “inundated with requests.” People are coming to the organization to late in the eviction process, for the organization to help. The organization also requires applicants who receive assistance to meet with a financial counselor at Tenfold, to examine whether they can provide a sustainable budget for next months rent. “Most of them do not have sustainable budget.” Said Stoltzfus.
“Piloting an eviction diversion program, will allow us to be more strategic in how we use those funds to intervene earlier in the eviction process.” Said Stoltzfus.
Sotlzfus detailed how this new program will allow the organization to “walk alongside households” for longer periods of time. Instead of giving them coverage for one month, the organization can do it for multiple months while gradually decreasing the amount of aide. This would help fewer households but would allow the organization to have a more sustainable impact.
