Foreclosures, Evictions, and Utility Cutoffs: Expiring Protections for People Facing Hardship During the Pandemic

Abstract

This spring, the Thurgood Marshall Institute published a comprehensive report and short brief on the housing challenges faced by homeowners and renters during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report and brief provided details on legislative measures related to foreclosures, evictions, and utility shutoffs that were enacted to protect and assist individuals impacted by the health crisis. As we enter into the fifth month of the pandemic in the United States, many of these measures have expired or are set to expire this summer. However, the economic impacts of the pandemic have not lessened, as millions of people across the nation continue to struggle to pay their mortgage, rent, and utility bills. Indeed, nearly 30% of owners and renters did not make their housing payments in May and June, and 32% of households missed their housing payments in July. Experts have warned of a coming housing apocalypse if additional measures are not taken to assist those affected by the pandemic. Widespread loss of housing will simply worsen the pandemic as families struggle with the loss of means to social distance, isolate, and ensure basic cleanliness through daily access to facilities to bathe, shower, and wash their hands.

Keywords: housing, housing inequality, Black homeowners, Black renters, foreclosures, evictions, eviction moratorium, shutoff moratorium, utility shutoff