News Story (NATIONAL, Ohio)
Tiffany Cusaac-Smith, Marc Ramirez, Sarah Taddeo
USA Today
December 24, 2020
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Tags: CDC Eviction Moratorium, COVID-19, Housing, Housing: Eviction
Organizations mentioned/involved: Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
DETAILS
A study by global investment firm Stout estimates up to 14 million households could already be close to eviction, with a rental shortfall of more than $24 billion – a number compounded by the economic fallout of the pandemic, which has put many out of work and at risk of displacement for the first time in their lives. The situation has been particularly dire for Black and Latino households, which are disproportionately affected by job loss and infection rates.
“The vulnerability is much greater, and that’s the real issue,” said Abigail Staudt, managing attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland’s housing law practice. “We have an unprecedented number of people who are housing-unstable.”
The CDC eviction moratorium was supposed to protect these Americans so long as they met certain conditions. But critics say the order’s vague wording has led to inconsistent implementation and allowed determined landlords to find loopholes.