December Stimulus Comes Up Well Short of Solving the Eviction Crisis, Report Says

A research brief published recently by the Urban Institute provides insight into debt accruing among renters during the pandemic and what governments need to do to relieve the pressure.

2 minute read

January 27, 2021, 9:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Capitol

Orhan Cam / Shutterstock

Recent analysis published by the Urban Institute says direct cash payment included in the $900 billion economic stimulus package approved by Congress in December 2020 will come up well short in relieving the economic stress facing renters during the pandemic.

Using data from the Bureau of the Census Household Pulse Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Expenditure Survey, credit bureau Equifax, and other sources, report authors Jim Parrott and Mark M. Zandi expect that as of the January rent payment, and prior to the distribution of renter assistance funds from the Emergency Relief Act of 2020, there will be over 10 million delinquent renters in the United States.

The typical delinquent renter will be almost four months and $5,600 behind on their monthly rent and utilities, with another $50 per month of late-payment penalties. All told, this comes to about $57 billion in total owed by those behind on their monthly payments.

The stimulus checks will only provide partial relief from this collective debt, according to Parrott and Zandi's calculations:

The package passed will help some 3.5 million renters pay back rent and utilities by the time February rent payments are due. While meaningful, this still leaves us with 6.8 million delinquent renters owing $34 billion, a significant amount of financial stress that is sure to increase as the pandemic continues to rage and the economy continues to struggle. The result will be a three-fold increase in evictions over typical levels.

To fill that huge gap, the report recommends the $30 billion for renter assistance and $5 billion to help relieve the strain of homelessness included in the Biden administration's proposed $1.9 trillion relief package as "exactly what is needed to give this vulnerable population a bridge to the other side of the economic crisis…"

The report also puts some of the responsibility for the effectiveness of that relief package on local and state policymakers. "Many states- particularly larger ones- already have a well-developed infrastructure for distributing relief like this, so should be able to manage the effort quickly and effectively. Others will have to develop much of their infrastructure from scratch," according to the report.

Monday, January 25, 2021 in Urban Institute

View form second story inside Southdale Mall in Edina, Minnesota with escalators and model cars parked on downstairs floor.

The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall

The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.

March 21, 2024 - Governing

Houston, Texas skyline.

Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

March 22, 2024 - Urban Edge

White three-story brick single-room occupancy hotel in downtown Los Angeles, California.

‘Micro-Apartment’ Trend Underscores Housing Crisis

SROs are making a comeback under a new name as the housing supply remains strained and costs soar.

March 22, 2024 - Associated Press via Yahoo News

Aerial view of Milwaukee, Wisconsin skyline with freeway interchanges in foreground at night.

Milwaukee Residents Challenge Freeway Expansion

Residents are voicing opposition to a planned expansion of Interstate 94, arguing that the project would eliminate the limited green space in the neighborhood.

27 minutes ago - Spectrum News 1

Street Traffic in Manhattan

New York Congestion Pricing Approved by MTA Board

The program took another step forward as the board approved a proposed pricing scheme, but lawsuits still stand in the way of full implementation.

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

White and yellow Metro Transit streetcar in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Video: Making Transit Better

How trackless trams and other innovations can make U.S. transit more efficient.

2 hours ago - CNBC Marathon

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.