The Homeless in Piacenza
The eviction crisis has been a central issue that has shaped the lives and livelihoods of people across the country. It disproportionately affects low-income renters and communities of color, and it is especially acute during times of economic distress.
Sgomberi Piacenza
This crisis is driven by a combination of factors, including persistently high rates of evictions and poor rental assistance programs. Federal and state mandates have shielded certain renters from eviction since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the nation’s economy in March 2020, but these measures alone are not enough to protect all renters from the harm caused by the eviction crisis
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Research has shown that evictions lead to poor health outcomes for renters, including increased infections with the coronavirus COVID-19 and reduced income and housing stability. In addition, evictions are associated with many other social determinants of health that can compound the negative consequences of eviction.
The Homeless in Piacenza: The Impact of Evictions on the Community
One of the most immediate consequences of eviction is a loss of permanent housing, which is associated with reduced employment and educational opportunities. In turn, this reduces the capacity of families to maintain healthy lifestyles and prevent disease and illness. In particular, evictions increase the probability that children will be at risk for obesity and unhealthy diets.
Additionally, evictions can be detrimental to the mental health of renters and increase their likelihood of experiencing homelessness. Studies have shown that tenants who are evicted are more likely to have a negative view of their landlords and to experience heightened levels of depression, anxiety, and sleeplessness.
These adverse outcomes are particularly severe among children who have been evicted. These children are more likely to experience food insecurity and have worse school performance than children whose parents did not lose their homes. They are more likely to face subsequent moves and to live in housing with higher levels of physical danger than others.
The eviction crisis is a serious and growing public health concern. It is also a matter of national urgency, given the widespread impact it has had on both housing and health in recent years.
To help combat the growing eviction crisis, the United States has implemented a series of policy tools, including eviction moratoria and emergency rental assistance programs, in order to protect renters from losing their homes and their access to affordable housing. But these policies have not been sufficient to address the full scope of the crisis, nor have they mitigated the severe racial and economic disparities that exist in our society when it comes to evictions.
In light of the CDC’s latest extension of its eviction moratorium, it is more important than ever to understand the long-term health effects of eviction and to find ways to reduce the number of evictions. To that end, this brief reviews research on the eviction crisis and presents key policy recommendations to help ensure that renters and their families have access to safe and affordable homes.