Four in 5 landlords use criminal background screening when evaluating tenant applications,101 and people with criminal records are often ineligible for public and supportive housing programs.102 These barriers disproportionately affect people of color and contribute to the cycle of housing insecurity and incarceration.103 Repealing these restrictions and practices while jointly adopting automated record-clearing programs, such as the Clean Slate Initiative,104 would help provide access to affordable housing and keep people lodged. However, housing discrimination policies that disproportionately affect people of color, such as barring people with criminalized records from renting or obtaining housing vouchers,7 are still legal; and other discriminatory practices, such as landlords showing families of color fewer rental options,8 still occur with little tracking or accountability. Beyond these packages, other legislation focused specifically on housing has been introduced, including the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act,46 the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act,47 and the Protecting Renters from Evictions and Fees Act.48, In September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) enacted a national halt on residential evictions for nonpayment of rent,49 which required renters to sign a declaration form stating that they meet certain eligibility criteria.50 This action came with the following CDC acknowledgement: Housing stability helps protect public health because homelessness increases the likelihood that people may move into close quarters in homeless shelters or other settings. doi: 10.1007/s11524-011-9584-3. For details, start with the rental assistance programforyour state, tribe, or localarea. A past due utility or rent bill or eviction notice, Proof that you live in unsafe or unhealthy living conditions, or, Other proof that the program asks you for, Proof that you paid utilities for your home or apartment unit (like a water bill), Other paperwork that shows regular rent payments, or, You havent signed or co-signed a mortgage for the property that you are renting-to-own, You havent exercised an option to purchase the property. (2011). Check with your local program to find out if theyre using this flexibility. If youre able to, you should pay your rent. Treasury understands that aspects of these examples will need to be adapted to meet their localized needs and program requirements. Low-income children who switch schools frequently tend to perform less well academically, are less likely to complete high school, and as adults obtain jobs with lower earnings and skill requirements. doi: 10.1257/aer.20150572, Ludwig, J., Sanbonmatsu, L., Gennetian, L., Adam, E., Duncan, G. J., Katz, L. F., & McDade, T. W. (2011). hb``Pc`` $2V fa utt A1C( -C ePJagK5e _0|Wi@ZuJ7AE@f` It doesnt matter how long you have been living in your current rental home. https://www.hud.gov/topics/rental_assistance. For example, in some areas, you can apply for rental assistance yourself. (2015). Council Considers Bill To Seal Eviction Records, DCist, June 19, 2019, available at, David Thacher, The Rise of Criminal Background Screening in Rental Housing,, Weiss, Housing Access for People with Criminal Records., Reentry and Housing Coalition, Barriers to Housing, available at, Clean Slate Initiative, Home, available at, Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, Americans Rental Housing 2020 (Cambridge, MA: 2020), available at, Loren Berlin, Using Housing to Fight Discrimination Against People with Disabilities, Urban Institute, April 24, 2019, available at, Guzman and Skow, Multigenerational Housing on the Rise, Fueled by Economic and Social Changes., Elliott Anne Rigsby, Understanding Exclusionary Zoning and Its Impact on Concentrated Poverty, The Century Foundation, June 23, 2016, available at, U.S. Census Bureau, Measuring Household Experiences during the Coronavirus Pandemic, available at. HOPWA Program Administration Toolkit Keep copies of important documents like your lease agreement, rent receipts, security deposit receipts, and any written communications with your landlord. A study examining data from New York City recently found that evictions increase the likelihood of a person being hospitalized up to two years later and increase the probability of hospitalization to address a mental health condition.63, People who have been evicted are also more likely to apply to stay in shelters, as well as spend more days living in shelters.64 Pacific Islander, Native American, Black, Latinx, and Asian communities already face higher rates of homelessness,65 and once pushed into homelessness, families encounter a pileup of inequities.66 When stable housing is not available, people often confront criminalization due in large measure to anti-homeless legislation.67 They also suffer from food insecurity,68 declines in physical and mental health,69 and further barriers to obtaining future housing.70, Anti-homeless legislation and ordinances are present in 9 out of 10 cities, and their passing and enforcement have been on the rise.71 These laws criminalize specific public behaviors and make it possible to punish people experiencing homelessness who are simply looking to meet their basic needs and may have no other alternatives. Example screens for ERA program online applications, If an applicant indicates they did not have any expenses "due to" the pandemic then it would be appropriate to prompt them again changing "due to" to "during" in order to meet the. https://www.hud.gov/programdescription/mto, Chetty, R., Hendren, N., & Katz, L. F. (2016). http://www.nber.org/mtopublic, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. How can I show where I live and how much rent I agreed to pay? This rate of housing cost burden is well over What does emergency rental assistance cover? It also provides more granular data for program administrators. 208 0 obj <> endobj Web1. In other areas, landlords need to submit an application first. They may also be able to help you get legal, financial, or other help. Neighborhood characteristics can strongly influence health. You might also be asked to show: Programs can make their own rules for determining if youre living in unsafe or unhealthy conditions and what proof to accept. Published by Articulate Storyline www.articulate.com Acceptable documentation for this can include the following: Where renters can apply, they often need your help to complete the process and make payments to you. As a result, more renters are turning to savings,32 retirement,33 and the newly accepted rental payment method by many landlordscredit cards.34 These methods of staying afloat that so many are now turning to plant the seeds of future financial struggle, as many diminish personal emergency funds and increase debt as individuals and families try to stay housed.35 Tenant advocate groups, researchers, and agencies across the country have identified eviction as a perpetuator of poverty,36 a driver of homelessness,37 and a public health crisis.38, In response to the coronavirus pandemic, some emergency housing protections have been taken at the local, state, and federal levels. http://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/Renters_in_Foreclosure_2012.pdf [PDF 428 KB], Busacker, A., & Kasehagen, L. (2012). The federal ERA Program allows local programs to receive up to 18 months of help with rent, including overdue rent, back to March 13, 2020, if the money is available. You apply through your local emergency rental assistance (ERA) program. (2011). If your landlord is responsible for paying utilities and home energy costs, these will be treated as rent. Therefore, a national, comprehensive moratorium on evictions should be extended past the pandemic to ensure that renters are able to remain housed. Housing Stabilization Services This example shows how in these instances, you can ask for documentation of the rental address and evidence of past rental payments or allow tenants to self-attest. Use this Area Median Income Lookup Tool from Fannie Mae to find the AMI in your area. U.S. Department of the Treasury Emergency Rental This requires both emergency and long-term solutions at the local, state, and federal levels. In other cases, your local program might give you the money right away, without first contacting your landlord. Talk to your landlord. I was living somewhere else, earlier in the pandemic. If your landlord refuses to participate in the program (after repeated requests from us), you may be eligible to receive direct payment of the financial award. Defining and measuring housing stability. Explore guides to help you plan for big financial goals. Communities of color, disadvantaged from a long history of racism that has undermined their financial stability and housing security, now find their hardships further exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic. A full list of supporters is available here. https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/reports/files/Harvard_JCHS_The_State_of_the_Nations_Housing_2020_Report_Revised_120720.pdf, Crowley, S. (2003). Housing instability and food insecurity as barriers to health care among low-income Americans. Like other renters, you may also qualify for help with utilities or other housing-related expenses. In 2018, 8,200 fair housing complaints were filed for discrimination based on race or national origin6likely a vast undercount of actual occurrences. For example, tenant-landlord mediation programs that intervene once an eviction is threatened or filed can explore options and negotiate solutions prior to court involvement to ultimately prevent an eviction.92 A mediation program in Palo Alto, California, reports that 80 percent of mediation cases are able to be resolved outside the court.93 If an eviction filing does occur, guaranteeing renters a right to counsel can also help to keep them housed.94 In eviction proceedings, approximately 90 percent of landlords have legal representation, compared with just 10 percent of tenants.95 This vast inequality in resources leads to the majority of tenants losing these cases. The question Is this household currently caught up on rent payments? (Question 40b) was asked in Phase 2 of the HPS, which includes weeks 13 through 16 (August 19 to October 12, 2020). In cases where tenants are faced with eviction, investments should be made in further preventive eviction diversion programs. This form may be completed by one or more individuals within the household in order to demonstrate the household is at risk of Finda rental assistance programforyour state, tribe, or localarea. HOUSING INSTABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS Blake, K. S., Kellerson, R. L., & Simic, A. We help tenants in housing crisis due to fire, natural disaster, eviction, or condemnation. Find Rental Assistance Programs in Your Area, Take Action To Avoid Eviction Using the CDC Order, Start a Conversation About Rent Repayment, Protections for Renters in Multi-family Housing or Federally Subsidized Housing. These crowded places put people at higher risk of getting COVID-19. The CDC halt was announced in early September, more than a month after the expiration of the CARES Act moratorium and a week after the end of the first set of 30-day notices of intent to evict. Certain populations, such as children who move frequently and people who have spent time in prison, may be more affected by housing instability. hbbd```b``vA$$,&WaDY0yl'BIB\[A$`9`` L&uEMa`@d(/$>9a"L] O k6 Ct@ : The three types of eligibility attachments required include: Proof of The following screens show examples of each of the conditions of eligibility. 37.1 million households, including renters and owners, were cost burdened of these, 17.6 million households were severely cost burdened. Development of an index of subsidized housing availability and its relationship to housing insecurity. If you live in a manufactured home or mobile home, you can get rental help. Local programs have different requirements, so check with your local program for details. doi: 10.1080/10511482.2015.1015042, Hernndez, D. (2016). Some programs offer help with future rent. WebWhen completing a Housing Stabilization Services Eligibility Request, eligibility documentation must be attached. Due to historic and current policies as well as systemic racism in housing, criminal justice, education, employment, and health care, people of color are more likely to experience homelessness across their lifespan.23 As a result, communities of color are overrepresented in the homeless population, with nearly 40 percent of people experiencing homelessness identifying as Black, 22 percent as Latinx, 3 percent as Native American, and 2 percent as Pacific Islander.24 These racial disparities are only expected to worsen due to the impacts of the neglectful mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic.25, Although housing insecurity affected communities of color long before COVID-19, the current pandemic continues to exacerbate inequalities. Browse all objectives. When a family is living in Any additional program policy decisions could be captured in this checklist, or other parts of the interface, as needed. . For instance, people who are We also have information on emergency resources for tenants. doi: 10.2307/2137103, Cardoso, M. R. A., Cousens, S. N., de Ges Siqueira, L. F., Alves, F. M., & DAngelo, L. A. V. (2004). of Housing You dont necessarily need to have a signed lease, and your home could be an apartment, house, mobile home, or other place. Proof of assessed need for services. Can rental assistance cover the cost of a hotel or motel room? Housing affordability and health: Evidence from New York City. Saegert, S., Fields, D., & Libman, K. (2011). Here's a snapshot of the evidence-based resources related to topics covered in this literature summary. JAMA Internal Medicine, 173(3), 189195. It depends on how your local program works. (June 24, 2020), available at, Protecting Renters from Evictions and Fees Act of 2020, S. 4097, 116th Cong., 2nd sess. Mortality among homeless adults in Boston: Shifts in causes of death over a 15-year period. WebTo show housing instability, you may need to sign a written statement. if(subscribe.checkValidity()) { Albany Government Law Review, 2, 1. WebA utility bill or proof of address (if the address on your ID is not your current address), Monthly rent and amount past-due, Proof of household income in 2020, Proof of public assistance (if applicable), and Valid email address. Within these examples is a documentation strategy that leverages self-attestation within the ERA application itself. Hardships disproportionately faced by communities of color are being exacerbated by the pandemic and require an equitable recovery that reconciles past harms while also providing solutions for current and future challenges. endstream endobj startxref WebProof of identity, which may include a clear and legible photo identification or other means of identification through id.me Lease or housing agreement that matches the applicant and landlord names. Units must undergo inspection to ensure compliance with HUD habitability standards before assistance can be paid. Jaboa Lake is a senior policy analyst for the Poverty to Prosperity Program at the Center for American Progress. For more detailed information on how to legally respond to an eviction notice, and the possible court proceedings, visit our eviction process overview page. Renters in foreclosure: A fresh look at an ongoing problem. { document.getElementById('search-form').focus(); }, 300);">, https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/demo/p60-270.pdf, https://reports.nlihc.org/sites/default/files/gap/Gap-Report_2020.pdf, https://civilrights.findlaw.com/discrimination/fair-housing-race-discrimination.html, https://nationalfairhousing.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019-Trends-Report.pdf, https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/AG-2017/2017AG_Ch06-S06_Housing-Access-Criminal-Records.pdf, https://www.urban.org/features/exposing-housing-discrimination, https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/cost-burdens-rise-middle-income-households-most-metros, https://www.cbpp.org/research/economy/robust-unemployment-insurance-other-relief-needed-to-mitigate-racial-and-ethnic, https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/ARH_2017_cost_burdens_by_race, http://uli.org/wp-content/uploads/ULI-Documents/ResidentialFuturesII.pdf, https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/2019/06/multigenerational-housing.doi.org.10.26419-2Fppi.00071.001.pdf, https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/04/05/a-record-64-million-americans-live-in-multigenerational-households/, https://reports.nlihc.org/sites/default/files/oor/OOR_2020.pdf, https://www.issuelab.org/resources/12818/12818.pdf, https://phys.org/news/2020-02-reveals-gender-racial-disparities-evictions.html, https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/handle/1773/40705, https://www.cssny.org/news/entry/evictions-and-the-right-to-counsel, https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/mdesmond/files/greenberg_et_al._.pdf, https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2019/03/29/a-pileup-of-inequities-why-people-of-color-are-hit-hardest-by-homelessness, https://www.lahsa.org/documents?id=2823-report-and-recommendations-of-the-ad-hoc-committee-on-black-people-experiencing-homelessness, 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https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/21/business/economy/rent-tenants-evictions.html, https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2020/09/24/economic-fallout-from-covid-19-continues-to-hit-lower-income-americans-the-hardest/, https://www.gozego.com/articles/may-rent-payment-data-reveals-april-trends-have-continued-as-a-result-of-covid-19/, https://talkpoverty.org/2020/07/15/eviction-bans-expire-renters-turn-credit-cards/, https://www.irp.wisc.edu/publications/fastfocus/pdfs/FF22-2015.pdf, https://www.heart.org/en/news/2019/07/16/best-way-to-end-homelessness-and-its-health-impact-prevent-evictions, https://www.chn.org/voices/cdc-agrees-the-national-eviction-crisis-is-a-public-health-emergency/, https://nlihc.org/coronavirus-and-housing-homelessness, https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/748, https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6800, https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/house-passes-updated-heroes-act, https://endhomelessness.org/legislation/summary/, https://www.rpc.senate.gov/policy-papers/update-on-the-coronavirus-response-heals-act, https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ilhan-omar-introduces-bill-cancel-all-rent-and-mortgage-payments-during, https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7301, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-eviction-declaration.html, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/declaration-form.pdf, https://evictionlab.org/shifts-in-eviction-filings-from-cares-act-to-cdc-order/, https://www.npr.org/2020/09/14/911939055/despite-a-new-federal-ban-many-renters-are-still-getting-evicted, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/eviction-moratoria-order-faqs.pdf, https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/emergency-bans-on-evictions-and-other-tenant-protections-related-to-coronavirus.html, https://www.npr.org/local/305/2020/10/16/924483969/legal-evictions-are-banned-in-d-c-amid-pandemic-but-invisible-ones-are-on-the-rise, 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https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325718729_Anti-Homeless_Ordinances_in_American_Cities, https://academic.oup.com/socpro/article-abstract/67/1/131/5422958, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2017-AHAR-Part-2.pdf, https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/Expert_Panel_on_Homelessness_among_American_Indians%2C_Alaska_Natives%2C_and_Native_Hawaiians.pdf, https://endhomelessness.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/3rd-Demo-Brief-Race.pdf, https://nlchp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/No_Safe_Place_Advocacy_Manual.pdf, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/homeless-shelters/unsheltered-homelessness.html#prevention, https://dcist.com/story/20/10/15/dc-full-encampment-cleanups-against-cdc-guidance-homelessness/, https://www.streetsensemedia.org/article/dc-coronavirus-homeless-encampment-sweep/#.X5hqkEJKh-U, https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article241725021.html, 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https://next50.urban.org/article/using-housing-fight-discrimination-against-people-disabilities, https://tcf.org/content/facts/understanding-exclusionary-zoning-impact-concentrated-poverty/, https://www.census.gov/data/experimental-data-products/household-pulse-survey.html, Prioritizing community partnerships in developing and implementing solutions, Protecting equity initiatives and adequately funding programs, Repealing collateral consequences and statutory barriers to obtaining and maintaining secure housing, Increasing the supply of affordable, accessible housing that meets the needs of a diverse range of households, Jessica Semega and others, Income and Poverty in the United States: 2019 (Washington: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020), available at, Andrew Aurand and others, The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes (Washington: National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2020), available at, FindLaw, Fair Housing: Race Discrimination, available at, Lindsay Augustine and others, Defending Against Unprecedented Attacks on Fair Housing: 2019 Fair Housing Trends Report (Washington: National Fair Housing Alliance, 2019), available at, Elayne Weiss, Housing Access for People with Criminal Records (Washington: National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2017), available at, Urban Institute, Exposing Housing Discrimination, available at, Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, Cost Burdens Rise for Middle-Income Households in Most Metros, available at, Chad Stone, Robust Unemployment Insurance, Other Relief Needed to Mitigate Racial and Ethnic Unemployment Disparities (Washington: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2020), available at, Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, Renter Cost Burdens By Race and Ethnicity (1B), available at, Lynn M. Ross, Residential Futures II: Thought-Provoking Ideas on Whats Next for Multigenerational Housing and Intergenerational Communities (Washington: Urban Land Institute, 2014), available at, Shannon Guzman and Jennifer Skow, Multigenerational Housing on the Rise, Fueled by Economic and Social Changes (Washington: AARP Public Policy Institute, 2019), available at, DVera Cohn and Jeffrey S. Passel, A record 64 million Americans live in multigenerational households, Pew Research Center, April 5, 2018, available at, Andrew Aurand and others, Out of Reach: The High Cost of Housing (Washington: National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2020), available at, Paul Taylor and others, Fighting Poverty in a Tough Economy, Americans Move in with Their Relatives (Washington: Pew Research Center, 2011), available at, Kim Eckart, Study reveals gender, racial disparities in evictions, Phys.org, February 11, 2020, available at, Timothy A. Thomas, Forced Out: Race, Market, and Neighborhood Dynamics of Evictions (Seattle, WA: University of Washington, 2017), available at, Thomas J. WebRISK OF HOUSING INSTABILITY FORM . We use Native American and American Indian interchangeably in this issue brief, as many reports referenced include either or both terms in their data collection. Call 617-635-4200 or email housingstability@boston.gov. Ask for "income recertification" through your Public Housing Agency (PHA) or landlord. In 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic hit, an estimated 34 million individuals were living in poverty in the United States,1 with Black and Latinx people experiencing higher rates of poverty than whites.2 Native American, Black, and Latinx renters were also more likely to be extremely low income.3 During the coronavirus pandemic, disparities by race have persisted: Renters of color report having less confidence in their ability to pay rent and experiencing greater difficulties staying current on rent compared with their white counterparts. The United States needs to recover not only from the ongoing pandemic but also from its long history of exclusion and inequality. Kushel, M. B., Gupta, R., Gee, L., & Haas, J. S. (2006). Annals of American Academy of Political and Social Science, 647(1), 26899. Domestic Violence and Homelessness - HUD Exchange Is it Costing Their Future?, Kim Parker, Rachel Minkin, and Jesse Bennet, Economic Fallout From COVID-19 Continues To Hit Lower-Income Americans the Hardest, Pew Research Center, September 24, 2020, available at, Zego, May Rent Payment Data Reveals April Trends Have Continued as a Result of COVID-19, May 13, 2020, available at, Morgan Baskin, As Eviction Bans Expire, Renters Turn to Credit Cards, Talk Poverty, July 15, 2020, available at, Matthew Desmond, Unaffordable America: Poverty, Housing, and Eviction,, American Heart Association News, Best way to end homelessness and its health impact? Rental assistance cant be used to cover any utilities and home energy costs that your landlord normally pays for. Ilhan Omar Introduces Bill to Cancel All Rent and Mortgage Payments During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Press release, April 17, 2020, available at, Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020, H.R. During the pandemic, renters of color have reported less overall confidence in being able to pay their next months rent and have reported not having paid the previous months rent on time at disproportionately higher rates than their white counterparts. endstream endobj startxref As a result, in addition to filling out the application Each week, theOffice of Housing Stabilityhosts a virtual legal clinic for small landlords and tenants. U.S. Department of the Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance