During the most recent national call on coronavirus, disasters, housing, and homelessness, nearly 600 participants learned about new research estimating the amount of back rent that will be owed by the end of the year, litigation surrounding the CDC eviction moratorium, and the impacts of COVID-19 on housing providers.
Jennifer Schwartz of the National Council of State Housing Agencies and Neil Steinkamp of Stout discussed the findings of their study, Analysis of Current and Expected Rent Shortfall and Potential Evictions in the US. The report found renters will owe $25-$34 billion in back rent and more than 8 million households could be subject to an eviction filing when the CDC eviction moratorium expires on December 31.
Eric Dunn of the National Housing Law Project provided updates on the cases filed in U.S. District Courts in Atlanta, Memphis, and Columbus seeking orders declaring the CDC moratorium unconstitutional. Linda Morris and Sandra Park of the Women’s Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) discussed the K.C. Tenants v. David M. Byrn Complaint. The lawsuit alleges that Jackson County Circuit Courts implemented an order that is in direct violation of the CDC eviction moratorium by subjecting tenants to intrusive and potentially retaliatory evidentiary hearings. In Jackson County, landlords have challenged tenants’ CDC declarations in the majority of pending eviction cases.
Denise Muha of the National Leased Housing Association and Mary Donovan shared the results of a survey, Impacts of COVID-19 on Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Providers, which found rental income has declined due to COVID-19 for roughly nine out of every ten housing providers. Increased operating costs and decreased rental income related to the pandemic impact housing providers, renters, service providers, and communities.
We heard field updates from the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness and Empower Missouri. Jasmine Boyle discussed the unique geopolitical environment in Anchorage and how it has impacted the organization’s response to COVID-19 outbreaks among people experiencing homelessness. Sarah Owsley shared Empower Missouri’s strategy for advocating for individuals experiencing homelessness as the weather gets colder in the state, and shared problems with the implementation of the CDC eviction moratorium in Missouri.
NLIHC’s Sarah Saadian discussed COVID-19 relief and disaster supplemental bills and highlighted new disaster response legislation. The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act of 2019 (S. 2301/H.R. 3702) improves and permanently authorizes the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program and the Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act (S. 1605/H.R. 2914) fixes title documentation issues.
NLIHC hosts national calls on coronavirus, disasters, housing, and homelessness every week. On today’s call, we will discuss the impact of the pandemic on Latino and formerly redlined communities, get updates from the field, and more. Register for today’s call (Tuesday, October 13 at 2:30 pm ET) at: https://tinyurl.com/ru73qan
Watch a recording of the October 5 call at: tinyurl.com/y4th7u6b
Access presentation slides at: tinyurl.com/yxdvqdun