Safe, stable, and affordable housing is the foundation for thriving communities, but the cost of renting or buying a home has increased faster than local wages, putting affordable housing out of reach for many people. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated this situation as many people lost their jobs or had to quit for safety or child-care reasons.

While eviction moratoriums provided much-needed relief for many households experiencing income loss due to COVID-19, the lack of sustained and proactive tenant protections has left thousands of renters navigating uncertain, unstable, and traumatic living conditions. When a landlord files an eviction against a tenant, the tenant will have an eviction on their record that cannot be removed. This creates a permanent barrier to future housing access that impacts families’ lifelong well-being. After an eviction, renters often end up in housing needing repair with conditions that threaten their health and safety. Children miss significantly more school and are at risk for developmental delays, decreased academic achievement, anxiety, and depression.

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https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/iowa-view/2021/11/01/eviction-data-can-help-limit-housing-instability-unevictia/6198518001/

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