After the federal ban on pandemic-related apartment evictions was lifted, Iowa has seen a dramatic surge in evictions for the state.
Put in place by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last summer, the moratorium was the only thing stonewalling many landlords from evicting residents who were experiencing financial difficulties as a result of COVID-19.
“According to the Aspen Institue, more than 50 million people in the U.S. owe as much as $20 billion to their landlords,” Samantha Mesa reported in a Local 5 News video.
There are currently 730 eviction cases on the docket of the state’s courts, The Gazette reported.
The Iowa Finance Authority has received 9,000 applications and has assisted more than 3,000 households in 91 counties through the Iowa Rent and Utility Assistance Program, according to The Gazette.
WHO Radio reported that Iowa Legal Aid has seen a 140% increase in calls about evictions.
Local 5 News Radio reported that President Joe Biden’s administration announced a 60-day extension of the eviction ban August 3.
“The vast majority of evictions really come down to economics for landlords and tenants alike,” Iowa Legal Aid Litigation Director and General Counsel Alex Kornya said, according to The Gazette. “Letting the rental assistance system work is in the best economic interests of everyone involved.”
