Keeping individuals, families housed amid an “eviction tsunami”

Consumer Action's first webinar of the year couldn't have come at a better time: The Jan. 26 virtual event focused on the looming threat of an eviction crisis, which populations are most impacted by evictions, and how eviction moratoriums and financial assistance programs can help tenants remain housed. Bridgett Simmons, staff attorney with the National Housing Law Project (NHLP), and Sam Gilman, co-founder of the COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project, led participants through the timely topics before offering them a wealth of helpful resources relevant to both federal and state evictions policies and moratoriums. (The free webinar, produced and presented as part of our COVID-19 Educational Project, can be viewed online here.)

Citing a January 2021 report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Simmons explained that an estimated 14 million renters are behind on their rent and could potentially be evicted after the expiration of the Center for Disease Control’s national eviction moratorium (which runs through March 31, but may be extended again). She also pointed to research revealing that the lifting of state eviction bans in 2020 led to hundreds of thousands of additional COVID-19 cases, due to displaced people moving into shelters or homes with family or friends, thereby increasing exposure. Besides the risk of catching COVID, Simmons described how difficult it is for evicted tenants to secure future housing, and emphasized the current shortage of affordable housing.

Citing a report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Rental Homes, Simmons explained that only 36 affordable and available rental homes exist for every 100 extremely low-income renter households (those whose income is at or below the poverty guideline, or 30% or less of their area median income). According to the report, the U.S. suffers from a shortage of 7 million rental homes that are both affordable and available to extremely low-income renters. Simmons encouraged participants to check out the NLIHC report to view data about the need for affordable housing in their particular states.

Simmons shared some good news too: In addition to the recent eviction moratorium extension, the Biden Administration is expected to support another extension (which must be passed by Congress) through September 2021. Simmons directed attendees to NHLP's website to learn about federal, state and local moratoriums, and also recommended this helpful map of state eviction moratoriums, along with this map of COVID-19 emergency rental assistance programs.

Next, Gilman, of the COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project, issued a dire warning: Unless we do more to stop it, we are facing an eviction tsunami. Gilman went on to describe how the current level of housing insecurity has evolved from a history of inequity and deep housing unaffordability that is disproportionate in Black and Brown communities. He displayed U.S. Census data showing that more than one in four Black families, and one in four Latino families, are behind on rent.

Gilman explained that although housing moratoriums keep roofs over the heads of those who are housed temporarily, they can pose "payment cliffs" at the end of the moratorium periods, when mortgages and rents come due. Moratoriums generally don't waive rent, and most don't turn rent debt into "non-evictable" civil debt. Rental assistance, however, can help tenants avoid the remaining risks of eviction: Gilman pointed to rental assistance programs in Illinois, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Washington for their best practices.

Gilman shared several resources to help advocates and consumers learn more about moratoriums and rental assistance programs, including how these programs might be improved and/or better administered at the federal and state levels:

• The Eviction Lab at Princeton University has been tracking evictions that have occurred despite the moratoriums. It also offers news and information to help consumers understand their rights under the CDC moratorium.
• NHLP’s write-up on recent federal legislation authorizing $25 billion in rental assistance can serve as an example for policymakers, and those educating them, on how to create relief packages/funding for moratoriums.
• A joint report by the Aspen Institute and the COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project details best practices for the distribution of rental assistance, and highlights states that incorporated innovative programs in the first wave of rental assistance distribution.
• NLIHC’s Best Practices For State and Local Emergency Rental Assistance Programs is an excellent “how to,” recommending, in particular, that program administrators “create simple, accessible application processes to deliver rental assistance efficiently and effectively to those tenants most in need.”
• The COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project's regularly updated tabulations of U.S. Census Bureau data on the number of renters (households and individuals) who are behind on rent (by state) and at risk of eviction is very helpful for media and advocacy purposes.
• A report reveals the impacts of utility disconnection and eviction moratoriums on COVID-19 infection and deaths across U.S. counties.
• A comprehensive January 2021 report by the Urban Institute on Averting an Eviction Crisis summarizes the size and impact of the wave of evictions to come, and concludes that policymakers have not done enough to mitigate the problem.