For many renters across the United States, access to affordable housing was precarious long before the coronavirus. Now, with millions freshly out of work, an inability to pay rent could amplify an already massive shock to the economy.
While some protections, such as a pause on eviction proceedings, have been instituted, they don’t cover everyone, and they exist as a hugely uneven patchwork of policies that vary widely across jurisdictions. In many places, cash-strapped renters need to prove that coronavirus is the reason they can’t pay rent. They’re also expected to repay that rent once the emergency orders are lifted, possibly even right away.
CityMetric’s Adam Sneed spoke with housing advocates who say they fear the end of the coronavirus emergency will be the start of an eviction emergency.
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