Can you pay my bills?: Renting during COVID-19

Four Degrees to the Streets

The CDC’s eviction moratorium to block the eviction process for tenants who cannot pay rent ended on August 26, 2021. In a public health emergency like COVID-19, this ensures people can quarantine, isolate, and social distance to prevent the spread. This Supreme Court decision spurred national discussion on housing policies for the most vulnerable, financially-strained residents. This week, Nimo and Jas cover the status of wage growth, housing costs (and affordability) as we approach the final weeks of federal emergency renter assistance (ERA) programs and rising evictions in states and towns with little tenant protections. Press play to hear:

• Data on gaps between wages and productivity in the last 40 years compared to home and rent prices
• Housing affordability as nearly half of renters spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing
• COVID-19 Minnesota case study: federal renters assistance and eviction moratoriums

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.

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RESOURCES:

The State of the Nation's Housing 2021

The Productivity–Pay Gap

How Home Prices and Household Incomes Changed Since 1960

HUD Rental Burdens: Rethinking Affordability Measures

Out Of Reach: The High Cost of Housing

Federal Moratorium on Evictions for Nonpayment of Rent

Study: Lifting Of Eviction Moratoriums Linked To Thousands Of Excess Deaths

Expiring Eviction Moratoriums and COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality

RentHelpMN

MN Housing: The Eviction Moratorium is Ending

States lag in distributing rental assistance while millions are behind on rent

NLIHC ERA Spending Tracking