August 13, 2020 Meeting

We apologize for the inconvenience as we were experiencing technical difficulties for our August 13, 2020 meeting.  When we realized the issues could not be resolved in a timely manner, our meeting was recorded (please pardon the missing few seconds at the beginning of the video).    

Eviction Prevention Policy Seriously Questioned. 
Dale Miller, August 13, 2020

I’ve probably attended 50 or so webinars and conference calls of various kinds since the pandemic started.  They offered interesting statistics and a few useful policy recommendations at the edges, but none of them advocated a complete and fundamental change in policy—until now.

On Tuesday, August 11th, I attended a webinar put on by the website www.rethinkinghomelessness.org that completely upended our strategy on housing eviction prevention. It is widely believed that our country faces a very severe eviction crisis as moratoriums expire.  Most communities, like ours are using CARES Act and Emergency Solutions Grant money to provide rental assistance.  The provide assistance either on a first come, first served basis of by lottery to people who meet certain income requirements. Past due rent is then paid to landlords at 100% of the past due amount. Our program is first come, first served, and we will pay up to three months’ rent, either past due or forward, directly to the landlord.  We do have a second program that will provide longer term assistance to some families who need it.

Our presenters state that this strategy is totally wrong and will lead to an eviction disaster. First, if we pay landlords at 100%, we will not have nearly enough money to meet the need. Second, if we pay only or primarily past due rent, many people that we help will still end up getting evicted.  Third, the current court process that ends up with people’s property being put out on the tree lawn by the Sheriff does little to prevent evictions.

They propose the following alternative process: Create a partnership among the city, county, courts, Sheriff, foundations, and housing agencies, and landlords to create a new process is which families in need are identified, often long before normal court proceedings would start.

Rather than first come first served or lottery, target resources based on neighborhood, income level, occupation (prioritizing those hardest hit by the pandemic) and vulnerability to COVID-19. Offer landlords 60% of past due rent and 60% of the next five months’ rent if they will accept it as full payment.  They will make out better than if they evict a tenant who is already 5 months behind on rent getting no money back, then having to start over and find a new tenant, who may or may not be able to pay.

They also said that the Federal Government must put in an additional $100 to $150 Billion in assistance to really make this work.

This gives us much to think about.  I’m starting to circulate this information among local government and community leaders and trying to get them to think about it and take action.

The tape of the webinar and the slides may be seen at www.rethinkinghomelessness.org.