
On Tuesday, April 14, Alexandria City Councilmember Canek Aguirre introduced a resolution to the City Council to freeze rents, mortgages and negative credit reporting: “No resident who has lost income should be required to pay rent during this public health emergency, nor should they accumulate debt for unpaid rent.” The City Council unanimously approved the resolution. Across the United States and around the world, the good news is that governments at all levels are enacting bills that freeze rents and mortgage payments as well as banning evictions. The bad news is that eviction notices are still going out and, even worse, evictions are still ongoing, in the very places where they have been banned. We have to talk about evictions and try to understand what’s going on.
First, the good news, from the past week or so. On Tuesday, in California, the San Jose City Council voted to extend a local moratorium on residential evictions until May 31, along with other renter protections. (Earlier in the month, California’s state legislature passed an eviction freeze that will last until 90 days after California’s state of emergency is lifted. While that in itself would be good news, better is that the legislature’s action took an earlier moratorium, by the Governor, and gave it sharper teeth and more muscle.) On Thursday, Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington, expanded and extended Washington’s eviction moratorium, and added additional protections. In Massachusetts, on Friday, the state legislature passed legislation that would ban evictions and foreclosures, and sent that on to the Governor to sign. On Friday, David Ige, Governor of Hawaii, declared a moratorium on evictions; and Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan, extended Michigan’s eviction moratorium until May 15.
In India, on Friday, the Indian state of Maharashtra “asked landlords to postpone rent recovery from tenants for at least three months … [and] not to drive tenants out of their homes if they fail to pay rents during the current period.” On Monday, the South African government reiterated the national suspension of evictions during the national lockdown. Finally, in the United States, that national government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, aka the CARES Act, which precludes being served with an eviction until July 25, 2020, along with a few other protections. With all these bans and moratoria, everything should be fine, right? Wrong.
On Thursday, Pro Publica reported that in at least four states – Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas and Florida – landlords continued to file eviction notices, despite the national ban, and suffered no negative consequences. What’s that you say about ignorance of the law being no excuse? Not when it comes to evictions, apparently. In California, in violation of both federal and even stronger state laws, landlords are threatening to evict and are evicting tenants. While both are illegal, actually evicting tenants means local law enforcement actually arrive at the residences and forcibly remove tenants. In Michigan, a landlord sent seven-day eviction notices to 80 tenants and explained that he had to, so as to “fulfill fiduciary responsibilities” to lenders. The law of lenders supersedes the law of both Michigan and the United States. The same story in Louisiana, Arizona, Missouri. Despite local and national legislation, across the United States, people are being evicted.
Likewise, in South Africa, despite a national moratorium on evictions, local jurisdictions have sent in police and special forces, colloquially know as Red Ants. to evict residents, most egregiously perhaps in Durban and Cape Town where they entered informal settlements, destroyed shacks, and `removed’ entire populations. Why does that sound familiar?
What is the investment in evictions? There’s the financial investment, but there’s more. In this period where staying at home, whatever that home looks like, can mean staying alive, what `inspires’ police and their avatars, who are just people like you and me, to render individuals, families, communities homeless, to turn fellow human beings into raw material for the global manufacturing of death and destruction? While the excuses and explanations are manifold and easily available, they all fall short when you put them face-to-face with the people who actually do the deed. What is our investment in evictions that, despite everything we know and think we know and feel and think we feel, we let them go on, a little dissipated in volume and velocity, perhaps, but as lethal as ever?
(Credit for Everett Shinn, Eviction (Lower East Side): Smithsonian American Art Museum)
Federal Moratorium Extended, but Eviction Filings Continue https://evictionlab.org/moratorium-extended-evictions-continue/
Report estimates that evictions could cost Oregon as much as $3.3 billion https://www.pdx.edu/news/report-estimates-evictions-could-cost-oregon-much-33-billion
Tom and Chloe Botz Serve Eviction Notices After Two Deaths At Hillside Villa by Jacob Woocher https://knock-la.com/tom-and-chloe-botz-serve-eviction-notices-after-two-deaths-at-hillside-villa-74a475122f54
Disabled war vet faces eviction from southwest Detroit house as landlord raises rent by double https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/disabled-war-vet-faces-eviction-from-southwest-detroit-house-as-landlord-raises-rent-by-double
When the Eviction Bans End, How Many MORE Renters Face Eviction than in Good Times? How Much Worse is it Now? https://wolfstreet.com/2021/02/09/when-the-eviction-bans-end-how-many-more-renters-face-eviction-than-in-good-times-how-much-worse-is-it-now/
MBA RIHA Study Reveals Progress, but 5 Million Renters and Homeowners Missed December Payments https://www.mba.org/2021-press-releases/february/mba-riha-study-reveals-progress-but-5-million-renters-and-homeowners-missed-december-payments
NMHC Rent Payment Tracker Finds 79.2 Percent of Apartment Households Paid Rent as of February 6 https://www.nmhc.org/research-insight/nmhc-rent-payment-tracker/
A patchwork of protections has so far prevented the “tsunami” of evictions that housing advocates fear. But in many cities, the number of filings is growing. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-11/renters-are-falling-through-eviction-ban-loopholes
The CDC’s Eviction Moratorium Was Supposed to Protect Renters. They’re Still Winding Up Homeless. https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkd8ky/the-cdcs-eviction-moratorium-was-supposed-to-protect-renters-theyre-still-winding-up-homeless
Judge grants eviction against St. Peters woman too sick from COVID-19 to be allowed in courthouse https://ux-prod.ksdk.com/article/news/investigations/st-charles-county-eviction-granted-while-tenant-too-sick-with-covid-for-court/63-e987cd6d-e162-4298-9124-62f479674b76
Local renter shares fear of eviction after complaints of mold in apartment https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/local-renter-shares-fear-of-eviction-after-complaints-of-mold-in-apartment/
Legal loopholes allow CA landlords to force tenants out even during eviction moratorium https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/california-eviction-moratorium/509-67bf3db0-f877-4450-a6e4-ac6ff0674ce9
Just ‘days to move,’ thousands face threat of eviction even with moratoriums in place. Here are some resources. https://www.8newsnow.com/i-team/i-team-just-days-to-move-thousands-face-threat-of-eviction-even-with-moratoriums-in-place-las-vegas-nevada-henderson/
GoFundMe CEO: Hello Congress, Americans need help and we can’t do your job for you https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2021/02/11/gofundme-ceo-congress-pass-covid-relief-desperate-americans-column/4440425001/
Coronavirus cost them their jobs. Government relief meant they could pay the rent. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/arlington-thrive-rental-assistance-mccartney/2021/02/14/428b73c4-6caa-11eb-9ead-673168d5b874_story.html
Loopholes in CDC’s eviction moratorium are leaving some mobile home dwellers homeless https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/mobile-home-dwellers-hit-even-harder-when-facing-eviction-n1257497
Evictions going strong in Metairie, even as Orleans curbs them during pandemic https://www.nola.com/news/courts/article_962c0786-6d82-11eb-a274-af23ceffbce1.html
The inside story of how Pennsylvania failed to deliver millions in coronavirus rent relief https://www.post-gazette.com/news/social-services/2021/02/15/inside-story-how-Pennsylvania-failed-to-deliver-millions-coronavirus-rent-relief-pandemic/stories/202102150073
Evictions piling up now that state moratorium has ended https://www.wwlp.com/news/i-team/i-team-evictions-piling-up-now-that-state-moratorium-has-ended/
There’s loop-holes for landlords under the state’s eviction moratorium during the pandemic https://www.kitv.com/story/43351356/theres-loopholes-for-landlords-under-the-states-eviction-moratorium-during-the-pandemic
More Rent Assistance Is Coming In Virginia, But Evictions Continue | DCist https://dcist.com/story/21/02/16/more-rent-assistance-is-coming-in-virginia/
Thousands of Western Pennsylvania tenants facing eviction despite moratorium https://www.wtae.com/article/thousands-of-western-pennsylvania-tenants-facing-eviction-despite-moratorium/35525011
‘The need is enormous’: Moratorium not stopping evictions in WI https://wkow.com/2021/02/17/the-need-is-enormous-moratorium-not-stopping-evictions-in-wi/
Eviction is big business for this law firm. Tenants say it buries them with unfair fees. https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/02/18/senex-eviction-virginia/
Study reveals impact of evictions on people with mental health disorders https://phys.org/news/2021-02-reveals-impact-evictions-people-mental.html
In-Depth: Cleveland tenants left concerned about eviction warning notices https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/in-depth/in-depth-cleveland-tenants-left-concerned-about-eviction-warning-notices
Addressing Milwaukee’s Eviction Crisis https://www.gmtoday.com/health/addressing-milwaukee-s-eviction-crisis/article_594776d9-6600-5565-8f49-1900a3d1c516.html
What’s needed in response to COVID-19 crisis – CommonWealth Magazine https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/whats-needed-in-response-to-covid-19-crisis/
Eviction crisis could cost Oregon billions https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/opinion/2021/02/20/guest-opinion-eviction-crisis-could-cost-oregon-billions/6783169002/
Here Are Five Examples of Miami’s Affordability Crisis http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/five-examples-of-miamis-housing-and-affordability-crisis-11871734
How many Americans are unemployed? It’s likely a lot more than 10 million https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/02/19/how-many-americans-unemployed/
How Utahn’s views on a moratorium on evictions in pandemic, but survey shows https://www.deseret.com/utah/2021/2/20/22289806/poll-nearly-half-of-utahns-say-the-state-should-have-a-moratorium-on-evictions-in-pandemic-covid-cox
https://www.record-eagle.com/news/local_news/eviction-homelessness-threatens-many-in-michigan/article_8131d446-725a-11eb-9f30-af9a276e5e6b.html | Eviction, homelessness threatens many in Michigan
Union City landlord charged with evicting tenant who was out of the country: police https://www.nj.com/hudson/2021/02/a-bergenline-avenue-landlord-charged-with-unlawful-eviction-of-tenant-who-wasnt-home-police.html
Dane County woman fights eviction during moratorium https://wkow.com/2021/02/21/dane-county-woman-fights-eviction-during-moratorium/
Judge Denies Pro Bono Firms’ Request to Halt Traffic, Eviction Hearings in LA County Court https://www.courthousenews.com/judge-denies-pro-bono-firms-request-to-halt-traffic-eviction-hearings-in-la-county-court/
‘I thought it was going to break me’: Covid’s brutal toll on working mothers https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/24/covid-toll-working-mothers
Ruling overturning CDC eviction moratorium injects confusion into housing market https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/02/26/cdc-eviction-moratorium-struck-down-texas-judge/
On first day of lifted eviction stay, Albany schedules over 200 hearings https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/On-first-day-of-lifted-eviction-stay-Albany-15982793.php
Eviction Cases Can Proceed For Tenants Who Didn’t File Hardship Forms During Pause https://gothamist.com/news/eviction-cases-can-proceed-tenants-who-didnt-file-hardship-forms-time
Lawsuit challenges New York eviction ban’s constitutionality https://therealdeal.com/2021/02/26/lawsuit-challenges-new-york-eviction-bans-constitutionality/
Family’s home search amid eviction highlights region’s lack of affordable housing https://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/familys-home-search-amid-eviction-highlights-regions-lack-of-affordable-housing/article_0708164c-9327-5f37-8da0-82e301042691.html
You can lose your kids, home and freedom without ever seeing a lawyer. It’s a profound injustice. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/02/26/noncriminal-cases-right-to-lawyer-representation/
Despite moratorium, some eviction cases moving forward https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/despite-moratorium-some-eviction-cases-moving-forward/article_c6226422-c573-52a8-9041-bff76d78c5f3.html
Loophole in eviction moratorium lets landlords evict tenants https://www.3newsnow.com/news/coronavirus/omaha-landlord-exploits-loophole-in-cdc-eviction-moratorium
Whitefish tenants receive eviction letters after new owner purchases property https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/whitefish-tenants-receive-eviction-letters-after-new-owner-purchases-property
County works to fix evictions mess https://www.kold.com/2021/03/03/county-works-fix-evictions-mess/
Phoenix tops all US cities with highest number of eviction filings https://www.abc15.com/news/business/phoenix-tops-all-us-cities-with-highest-number-of-eviction-filings
Falling through the cracks: pandemic exacts heavy financial toll on Georgians https://ajc.com/news/falling-through-the-cracks-pandemic-exacts-heavy-financial-toll-on-georgians/
Maryland Landlords Find Way To Get Around Eviction Moratorium | DCist https://dcist.com/story/21/03/11/landlords-in-maryland-are-exploiting-a-loophole-to-evict-renters-during-the-pandemic-advocates-say/
Evictions Continue During Pandemic Despite Rental Assistance, Eviction Moratorium https://www.wksu.org/economy/2021-03-11/evictions-continue-during-pandemic-despite-rental-assistance-eviction-moratorium
Rising Rents, a High Eviction Rate and Disinvestment Complicate Akron’s Housing Picture https://www.wksu.org/podcast/wksu-news-presents/2021-03-15/rising-rents-a-high-eviction-rate-and-disinvestment-complicate-akrons-housing-picture
How some renters can still be evicted despite coronavirus rules aimed at protecting tenants https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_0ef50424-836d-11eb-977d-dffca9c1c32b.html
My Family Has Covid, and We’re Days Away From an Eviction https://www.thenation.com/article/economy/covid-eviction-housing/
An eviction avalanche hits Newark https://www.theridernews.com/an-eviction-avalanche-hits-newark/
‘I can’t afford my home’ | Millions at risk of eviction as federal protections are set to expire https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/federal-protections-housing-eviction-money/275-e49bd1f5-f245-4ae0-9a6d-b59609bba701
NLIHC Released Today “The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes” https://nlihc.org/news/nlihc-released-today-gap-shortage-affordable-homes
Kentucky Has Millions To Stop Evictions. Some Landlords Won’t Take It https://www.wkms.org/post/kentucky-has-millions-stop-evictions-some-landlords-won-t-take-it#stream/0
Fear looms as eviction protections set to expire https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2021/03/23/fear-looms-as-eviction-protections-set-to-expire/
NY’s Second Round Of Rent Relief Only Distributes $7 Million Of $60 Million Available https://gothamist.com/news/nys-second-round-rent-relief-only-distributes-7-million-60-million-available
Facing eviction: Distressed tenants wait in vain for help from the R600m Covid-19 residential rent relief scheme https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-04-22-facing-eviction-distressed-tenants-wait-in-vain-for-help-from-the-r600m-covid-19-residential-rent-relief-scheme/
New data shows who, exactly, got evicted the most during the pandemic https://www.motherjones.com/crime-justice/2022/04/eviction-coronavirus-racism-california/
Eviction filings in Texas’ major cities reach new highs since pandemic began https://www.texastribune.org/2022/04/15/texas-evictions-pandemic-rent-relief/