The evictions crisis is coming. We have barely begun to face it.

[Zorro]

Opinion by Karen Attiah

The United States is dancing on the edge of an eviction crisis, and so it is darkly fitting that this is the time of year when we recount the story of a family of color desperately seeking shelter.

As the story of the Christmas Nativity goes, Joseph and a very pregnant Mary could find no room at an inn, and so they had to resort to a stable, where Mary gave birth to her baby. Those of us who celebrate Christmas find deep meaning in the notion that the King of Men — the one who would grow up to be the savior of mankind — was born homeless, his parents refugees from the wrath of Herod.

But, of course, homelessness is nothing to celebrate, and much of the way we mark the holiday bears little resemblance to the spirit of the story. Holiday advertisers are relentlessly encouraging lucky Americans to buy more stuff to fill their homes, even as millions of other Americans risk having their stuff put out on the street.

Many millions, actually. After Dec. 31, when a federal evictions moratorium is set to end, more than 30 million people in the United States could be in danger of losing their homes. Nearly 12 million Americans — disproportionately Black people and other families of color — will be an average of almost $6,000 behind on rent and utilities by the new year. That’s an increase of 3 million people in a month. Millions of others are falling significantly behind on their mortgages.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/12/19/evictions-crisis-is-coming-we-have-barely-begun-face-it/

[Irish_Dem]

1. Where will they go? If they move in with friends and relatives Covid rates will increase.

What is wrong with our congress?
People staying put is a public health issue.

[MichMan]

2. Don't see how landlords are ever going to be able to collect any past due rent payments

[Demovictory9]

4. they know... they've said that once a tenant gets months behind... not likely to get caught up

[Chemisse]

3. Any plan to address this needs to consider the landlords.

An evictions moratorium places a heavy burden on property owners who rent out housing. The article says half the housing units in the US are owned by individuals, not big companies.

Making it okay to not pay rent for many months seems like a kind gesture, but it's akin to telling all grocery stores - large and small - to give away half their food to poor people so they won't go hungry. Nobody would mandate such a thing because the stores need to be able to make a profit to survive. And yet it's okay to do this to landlords?

I can't imagine how they have been impacted by having their income slashed over a long period of time. They still have legal obligations to provide a safe place to live, make repairs, plow the snow, etc.

I own a home that I am renting to my son until I retire and move back there. It has been tough, but he has made rent payments when he can, about half the time. I'm still making mortgage payments on the home and pay taxes, insurance, and upkeep. I had to take out a $15K loan to replace the septic leach field this summer.

If any help is to be offered in January, rather than direct payments to families (or in addition to), the government could send out rent vouchers.

[angstlessk]

6. Agree 100% Give money to employers, but not landlords?

I recon landlords don't have enough cash to contribute to repugs?

Landlords should be made whole, more than Maserati buying arsholes!