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Lessons of the pandemic: What Pa. can do to reduce future evictions [1]

['More From Author', 'October', 'Capital-Star Guest Contributor']

Date: 2022-10-02 10:30:51+00:00

By Kehinde Akande

Eviction creates crises for families and individuals. Before the pandemic, most families in need of rental assistance did not receive it. But, during the pandemic, renters got a short reprieve from the possibility of eviction, and short-term emergency rental assistance (ERAP) and, in Philadelphia, eviction diversion programs were put into place to keep people in their homes and safe.

By providing financial help, these programs also reduced food insecurity and mental stress for families.

While many policy analysts feared that the pandemic would lead to an eviction tsunami after the eviction moratorium was lifted, thanks to aggressive but not overly costly programs, those fears were not fully realized. Wolf signs $912M COVID-19 relief plan with aid for renters, restaurants These programs showed how relatively low-cost interventions created stability and safety for families that could have positive effects for them, their communities, and our economy. Pennsylvania should build on these policy innovations to reduce evictions in the future, offering support to families in need and threatened by eviction on a permanent basis.

From January of 2020 through May of 2022 about 156,155 evictions were filed in the courts in Pennsylvania, placing families in imminent threat of displacement from their homes, jeopardizing their sense of safety and security. Unemployment created by the pandemic made it impossible for many families to pay their rent. During the duration of the moratoria eviction filings were noticeably reduced in the state. Eviction moratoria, while not reducing evictions completely, helped provide an opportunity for measures, resources and services which have helped many families remain in their homes.

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[1] Url: https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/lessons-of-the-pandemic-what-pa-can-do-to-reduce-future-evictions-opinion/

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