National Academies Release Report on Rental Evictions and COVID-19

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) have released a new consensus study report titled Rental Eviction and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Averting a Looming Crisis, which addresses the impending expiration of the federal moratorium on rental evictions on July 21, imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The report offers a set of recommendations to be taken over the next three years to address the impacts of housing instability caused by the pandemic. The report also recommends the establishment of a task force in the Executive Office of the President to prevent rental evictions and housing instability.  Some of the recommendations include:

• Harnessing existing social programs to connect renters with financial and legal assistance.
• Providing assistance to renters in traditionally marginalized communities.
• Expanding social safety net programs during and beyond the pandemic.
• Improving data collection and reporting to better understand eviction.
• Commissioning research on housing instability.
• Increasing the availability of housing choice vouchers and housing search support.
• Reducing discriminatory housing practices and systemic housing inequities.

The report is available on the NASEM website.