More Than 14% of Renters Are at Risk of Eviction

When the national eviction moratorium ends at the end of the month, more than 10 million Americans are at risk of eviction. That equates to about 14% of renters. A larger 26% of Americans are having trouble paying their usual expenses, according to May data from the Census Bureau. Since the moratorium was enacted 10 months ago, it has cut eviction filing by half, reports CNBC. Congress’ $45 billion in rental assistance has still not been distributed, and one lawyer says the moratorium should not be lifted until the money has been disbursed.

“If you bail out the renter, that means you bailed out the landlord,” he said.

Heather Jordan has been approved for rental assistance in Missouri, but it could take weeks for the money to reach her landlord, who has already moved to evict her.

“If you’ve got the moratorium in place, it allows you the time to get the landlord paid,” said Jordan, 48, who fell behind on her $1,475 rent after she lost her sales job shortly before the coronavirus pandemic. Her wife is disabled and can’t work.

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