Kansas

Dozens of Lawrence residents are being evicted after the end of the federal eviction moratorium. A Lawrence Journal-World review of eviction cases filed in Douglas County District Court found that 44 evictions were filed in August and 36 have been filed in September (as of September 25). Processing delays with the Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program and landlords refusing to accept ERA have left many tenants at risk for eviction. According to the executive director of the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, which is distributing KERA funds, taking advantage of the flexibilities provided by the Treasury Department – including the use of self-attestation – is speeding up the processing of rental assistance.

Updated on October 5, 2021

The Wichita Eagle reports the new CDC eviction moratorium should cover renters in Sedgwick County and most of Kansas. Most counties in Kansas are experiencing “high” levels of COVID-19 transmission and would fall under the new CDC protection, according to the CDC’s map. The Wichita Emergency Rental Assistance Program has been slow to distribute aid – only distributing about $1 million two months after launching. 
Updated on August 30, 2021

Across Kansas, landlords are refusing to accept federal emergency rental assistance (ERA), putting thousands of tenants at risk for eviction. Multiple ERA programs in Kansas and Missouri require landlords to apply to the program and receive assistance on behalf of the tenant. Rent Zero Kansas has been urging programs to provide direct-to-tenant assistance.
Updated on July 15, 2021

The Wichita Eagle reports that despite state and federal eviction moratoriums, community aid and tenant advocacy groups say formal and informal displacements have continued in Kansas throughout the pandemic. Vince Munoz, an organizer for Rent Zero Kansas, said the eviction process was never completely halted by state or federal protections, leaving tenants in a constant state of uncertainty during the public health crisis and economic fallout.

February 22, 2021

The Kansas Housing Resources Corporation and the City of Wichita announced the state’s $200 million rental and utility assistance program. Wichita residents can apply for assistance through the Wichita Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Kansans living outside the Wichita city limits can apply through the Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance program.

February 22, 2021

A 32-bed quarantine shelter for people experiencing homelessness will open December 28 near Greenville. The shelter is partly funded through $157,000 in federal coronavirus relief from Greenville County. A $1.7 million state grant will pay for support services, staff, food, and more.

January 15, 2021

KC Tenants organized a protest on October 15, calling on Jackson County Circuit Court Presiding Judge David Byrn to halt eviction hearings. About 100 tenants blockaded the county courthouse and shut down virtual eviction proceedings with online disruptions on October 15. KC Tenants and the ACLU filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Jackson County Circuit Court’s procedure for eviction cases, arguing it violates the CDC eviction moratorium.

October 19, 2020

Rent Zero Kansas is calling on County Commissioners to address the growing eviction cliff. The tenants group sent a letter to county commissioners demanding they suspend rent and mortgage payments, strengthen eviction and foreclosure moratoriums, ban utility cut-offs, and protect people experiencing homelessness by providing housing and expanding services.

October 14, 2020

Governor Laura Kelly signed an executive order on August 17 reinstating an eviction and foreclosure moratorium until September 15. Governor Kelly stated that she would renew the moratorium in two weeks if the federal government does not intervene.

A letter to the editor in the Great Bend Tribune urges Congress and President Trump to resume negotiations and enact a comprehensive relief bill that includes $100 billion in emergency rental assistance, enacts a national eviction moratorium, and increases the maximum SNAP benefit by 15%.

August 25, 2020.

A coalition of social service organizations in Lawrence are leading efforts to house people experiencing homelessness amid the coronavirus pandemic. These organizations, however, do not have the resources to shelter everyone who is experiencing homelessness.

No information at this time.

Federal, state, and local eviction moratoriums are rapidly expiring and the CARES Act supplemental unemployment benefits will end soon; at that time, millions of low-income renters will be at risk of losing their homes. The NLIHC estimates at least $100 billion in emergency rental assistance is needed to keep low-income renters stably housed during and after the pandemic. This tracker links to news reports of the growing evictions crisis in various cities and states. Check NLIHC's cumulative list of eviction updates.

The governor's eviction protections expired May 31. Eviction cases are being held remotely. 

August 1

In the third week of July, one in four adults in Kansas reported they had missed their previous housing payment or had little confidence they would make their next one on time, according to a weekly survey conducted by the Census. In the same survey, over seventy thousand renters reported they had not paid their previous rental payment. 

July 29

In the first week of July, 40,126 renters in Kansas reported that they had not paid their June rent, and an additional 6,208 reported deferring their rent payment. 

July 16