Admittedly, I avoided talking about this for the last almost 16 months because for the most part, the Federal Government made the right call stepping in and blocking the evictions of people who lost their jobs or couldn't work because of the COVID-19 Pandemic both when it first broke out and since.
The Supreme Court blocked the CDC's reccommendation that the ongoing Eviction Moratorium be extended for at least another month on the grounds it doesn't have the authority to do so BUT Congress can and should act to continue or renew it. Assuming Congress does not swiftly act--and honestly that's exactly what most are expecting--we're looking at millions of renters looking at being served eviction notices soon.
There is a second reason I avoided commenting on this until now worth keeping in mind. One unintended consequence of the Eviction Moratorium is it also blocked property owners from evicting dangerous people and those who were using their apartment to commit illicit or illegal activities. I have been in touch via email, Skype and Zoom with five such property owners for the last 14 months. They are in three states--Massachusetts (Worcester and New Bedford), Ohio (Columbus and Cinncinnati) and Georgia (Atlanta) who are in such nightmare scenarios.
They and other property owners in similar situations mostly feel unheard inregards to the Eviction Moratorium. Most are afraid to speak up for fear of public backlash which you can understand. Four of the five property owners have unruly tenants who are basically squatters for lack of a better term to describe it: Some of their tenants were either unemployed before the lockdown or became unemployed after the lockdown. In the 5th case tentants caused severe stuctural damage to an aparment and the property owner is now paying money out of pocket to both have the tenant put up in a motel and have the apartment repaired.
In three cases there is domestic abuse or it's suspected. Due to the Eviction Moratorium, all they can do is call the police for now. When the cops asked them why they haven't evicted them in the beginning, they had to remind the cops they can't because of the Eviction Moratorium.
There are a lot more situations like this natonwide than people think. Even worse is even if they wanted to sell the property, they can't because in all their cases there are apartments that require repair work and other maintenance most might not be willing to take on. They're eating the costs for now but say they are exploring options to recover some of financial pain.
All five Property Owners have said most of their tenants--I forgot to say this before but they all own multi-unit buildings--are responsible people who like them have just been dealing with the effects of the Pandemic like everyone else in the country. Combined, they're forgiving the rent for 8 tenants who were behind before the lockdown and 6 more who they know are will still be unemployed after the Eviction Moratorium ends. They don't have to but these are tenants who they don't want to see on the streets.
On that note. They have each lost tenants to COVID-19, the one in Georgia losing the most at 9 so far. Some lived alone and in those cases, they would call the police to do a wellness check only to find the tenant dead in their apartment. Two have also had a tenant commit suicide in their apartment, likely from severe emotional stress. Three tenants have given birth since the Pandemic began and four more are pregnant now.
Whenever things on the Pandemic front eventually stabilizes, people will look back and hopefully realize more could have and should have been done to get a handle on the housing crisis that was already out of control decades before the Pandemic even happened.
Will Congress Act? Time will tell.
As for homeowners. The Eviction Moratorium ending affects you, too. Most of you may not have been aware but a Moratorium was placed on homes that either had been or were in danger of Foreclosure. Banks and Realtors were barred from serving Foreclosures on homes they otherwise would have done due to non-payments.
...Unless Congress acts, Foreclosures will resume after this month.
I know most Renters are and have been closely watching the news in regards to the Eviction Moratorium but most Homeowners may not be. I do anticipate millions of people being impacted once the Eviction Moratorium expires and sadly, it would be more than fair to expect the homeless rate in this country to surge with the millions of evictions and foreclosures to come. .
The only thing that can stop this outcome is Congress and right now, the chances of that happening is slim to none.
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