Ending the Eviction Moratorium Will be a Public Health Nightmare

Health experts warn mass eviction will be a disaster. Areas that will be the hardest hit have large unvaccinated populations.

A broken door with chipped paint bearing a sign that says “Eviction Notice.” Yesterday, the Supreme Court blocked the Biden Administration’s extension of the federal eviction moratorium, ruling that any such action had to go through Congress. (CanvaPro)

To the horror of tenant activists and millions of renters across the country, the Supreme Court just overturned the Biden Administration’s extension of the eviction moratorium. If Congress doesn’t take immediate action, more than 11 million could face a loss of housing in the coming months.

Right now, the situation looks grim. Tenants behind on rent are in arrears by about $3,700 on average. Federal rental assistance is supposed to fill that gap. However, due to a bottleneck in administrative capacity, funds allotted to state and local governments under the federal COVID-19 relief package aren’t making it to those in need.

To date, almost 90 percent of the $46.5 billion allocated under the federal Emergency Rental Assistance program remains unspent.

Meanwhile, coronavirus infections are surging and hospitalizations hit an eight-month high.

Since the pandemic began, tenant advocates and medical experts have insisted that the eviction moratorium isn’t just an economic issue — it’s a vital public health measure.