Boston— Connected Communities Foundation announced promising early results from its Coordinated Eviction Prevention (CEP) program, a pilot initiative aimed at helping residents at risk of eviction maintain housing stability. The program is funded through a grant from Massachusetts General Hospital and operates in partnership with WinnCompanies, Urban Edge, Madison Park Development Corporation, Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation, Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, and Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation.
The CEP program provides residents behind on rent a structured pathway to stay housed. Participants repay an affordable portion of delinquent rent over six months while receiving financial coaching, connecting with community resources, and bringing other lease obligations into compliance. Upon successful completion, the remaining balance is forgiven through grant funding and debt write-offs.
Since its launch in February 2025, 45 residents have completed the program as of October, representing a 73% completion rate. These participants received nearly $200,000 in rent forgiveness, approximately four times their combined tenant portion of monthly rent, while strengthening financial habits and maintaining stable housing.
“Every family completing the program is an eviction prevented,” said Mai Dang, president of Connected Communities. “Families finish with a zero-rent balance, stronger financial skills, and a clearer path forward.”
The program also produces broader social benefits. With the estimated social cost of an eviction at $10,000 per household, the 45 households served through October represent $450,000 in avoided social costs, delivering a 125% return on investment relative to the $200,000 invested in debt forgiveness.
Edward Chien, director of economic mobility for Connected Communities, highlighted the program’s design: “The CEP program strengthens communication and accountability between residents and property management, combining repayment, coaching, and debt forgiveness to achieve measurable outcomes.”
The program is operated in collaboration with a consortium of community development corporations (CDCs). Urban Edge serves as the lead grantee and oversees the program, while Connected Communities manages day-to-day operations across participating CDC portfolios. Emilio Dorcely, CEO of Urban Edge, added, “Every eviction avoided is both a financial and human win. The program keeps residents in their homes and strengthens neighborhoods.”
Looking ahead, the CEP program aims to serve approximately 300 households in 2026, eliminate $1 million in delinquent rent, and reduce evictions by 50%. Connected Communities is seeking additional funding to support program expansion and continue its impact on residents and communities.
“This initiative demonstrates the power of collaboration between property owners, operators, and funders to deliver social impact solutions with measurable results,” said Dang. “Programs like CEP not only help families stay housed but also strengthen the long-term stability of communities.”
Connected Communities Foundation is a nonprofit organization that helps owners of multifamily properties implement collaborative strategies with measurable, positive outcomes for residents of low-income and affordable housing. As one of the nation’s largest providers of housing-based supportive services, the foundation focuses on community engagement, economic mobility, education, employment, health, and housing.
