{"id":16815,"date":"2021-05-18T09:00:40","date_gmt":"2021-05-18T13:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-537697-2997182.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=16815"},"modified":"2022-10-09T06:24:41","modified_gmt":"2022-10-09T10:24:41","slug":"vacated-eviction-moratorium-puts-millions-of-renters-at-risk-of-homelessness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-537697-2997182.cloudwaysapps.com\/vacated-eviction-moratorium-puts-millions-of-renters-at-risk-of-homelessness\/","title":{"rendered":"Vacated Eviction Moratorium Puts Millions of Renters At Risk of Homelessness"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Renters across the country find themselves at sudden risk of becoming homeless after a federal court overturned the Center for Disease Control\u2019s (CDC) eviction moratorium.<\/p>\n

In early May, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich vacated<\/a> the moratorium on a technicality. The order was issued in response to a lawsuit<\/a> filed by the Alabama Apartment Association. The suit asked the court whether the CDC could enforce the ban under the Public Health Service Act, which outlines the CDC\u2019s authority.<\/p>\n

Friedrich ruled that the Act does not grant the CDC that authority. The judge immediately issued a hold while the federal government worked out a solution. She caveated that there was \u201cno doubt\u201d the agency acted in good faith when it issued the moratorium. However, her ruling put the millions who remain behind on their rent payments at-risk of experiencing homelessness.<\/p>\n

The nation\u2019s increasing vaccination rate has brought with it a glimmer of hope that \u201cnormalcy\u201d can be reclaimed along with narratives of economic prosperity drawing near. In response, several states have moved to shut down unemployment benefits and rental assistance payments.<\/p>\n

These policy decisions put over 11 million renters who are behind on payments at-risk of losing their home.<\/p>\n

As of this writing, 11 states have ended federal unemployment benefits ahead of their Sept. 6 expiration date. The aid provided a weekly $300 payment on top of any state benefits, and was made available to self-employed and gig workers.<\/h4>\n

Many of the state governors have said the move is in response to labor shortages in their states. Critics, however, have their doubts.<\/p>\n

Peter Ganong, an assistant professor of public policy at the University of Chicago, said<\/a> the picture is much more complicated than the politicians are painting it. He said the country needs more time to digest the data that\u2019s been generated during the pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe labor market is undergoing a massive readjustment right now,\u201d Ganong said. \u201cLet\u2019s wait for data rather than making policy based on anecdotes.\u201d<\/p>\n

But, waiting much longer could result in more people sleeping on the streets as landlords regain the power to evict tenants in arrears.<\/p>\n

President Joe Biden supports expanding<\/a> Section 8 housing vouchers to reach more than 200,000 more families. The expansion is projected to cost $5.4 billion. However, it will reach many people who are at-risk of experiencing homelessness once the moratorium officially ends.<\/p>\n

While Section 8 certainly provides housing solutions for many low-income families, it also has its flaws.<\/p>\n

The biggest impediment<\/a> for people seeking vouchers is the information gaps in the process. It also requires people to prove they are generating income before applying. Another impediment is that many landlords are not accepting<\/a> housing vouchers.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, several states like Arizona, Kansas, Alabama, and North Carolina do not have laws in place that prohibit source-of-income discrimination. Similarly, more than 100 localities lack the same laws, the organization found.<\/p>\n

Preventing Evictions<\/h3>\n

On May 7, the U.S. Treasury Department released<\/a> new guidance on the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program that has become a lifeline for so many. The changes were designed to ensure the benefits reach the lowest-income families first, a group that struggled to receive benefits under previous editions.<\/p>\n

The updated guidance also departs from previous program iterations in four key ways:<\/p>\n