Mortgage News - Nearly 60% Reduction In Eviction Filings Resulted From Pandemic Policies

Nearly 60% Reduction In Eviction Filings Resulted From Pandemic Policies

Mortgage News June 26, 2023

A new study by The Eviction Lab found that prior to COVID-19, one in six renters faced eviction filings annually in high-eviction neighborhoods. During the pandemic, the risk dropped to one in twelve renters.

Job losses during lockdowns hit industries employing many renters, leading to eviction risks. To address this, policymakers enacted eviction moratoria, stimulus payments, expanded unemployment insurance, and emergency rental assistance. These policies reduced eviction filings by 57.6% in 31 cities analyzed.

The study examined eviction patterns and disparities in socio-economic, racial/ethnic, and gender factors. Eviction case records from major and smaller cities showed a decrease in filings, especially during the early months of the pandemic. The CDC eviction moratorium increased filing rates to around 50% of the historical average, which slightly rose after its invalidation by the Supreme Court.

Eviction filing rates varied greatly among cities due to differences in the implementation of federal moratoria and the introduction of additional local protections. In various cities, rates varied from 78.2% of the historical average in Las Vegas to as low as 15.2% in Austin.

The study found that tenants in Columbus, OH, faced a higher risk of eviction filings compared to New York. In Minneapolis-St. Paul, eviction filings decreased by 81.7% during the study period due to protective measures.

The research also revealed that the reduction in eviction filings was more pronounced in high-eviction neighborhoods, where the risk fell from one in six renters to one in twelve. The majority of avoided eviction cases (over 475,000) were in these neighborhoods.

Predominantly Black neighborhoods experienced the largest reductions in eviction filings. While the filing gap between majority-Black and majority-White neighborhoods narrowed during the pandemic, the risk of eviction remained higher in majority-Black neighborhoods than pre-pandemic levels.

The study reveals both the potential and limitations of public policies in reducing eviction rates. The combination of eviction process restrictions, income support, and direct ERA payments resulted in a substantial 57.6% decrease in eviction cases across 31 cities from March 15, 2020, to December 31, 2021.

This reduction was most prominent in high-eviction neighborhoods, particularly among lower-income and majority-Black communities. Despite these improvements, inequalities in eviction risk persisted both within and between cities. For instance, tenants in Minneapolis received better protection compared to those in Las Vegas. Lower-income neighborhoods still faced significantly higher eviction filing rates compared to more affluent areas, indicating the persistence of pre-existing disparities.

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Nearly 60% Reduction In Eviction Filings Resulted From Pandemic Policies

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