Harris County, Texas (KTRK) – Harris County leaders describe the number of evictions taking place in the area as a major problem.
According to the data science company January ConsultantsIn fact, landlords filed nearly 60,000 evictions in 2022 alone.
This is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a growing economy, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis said. For two years now, the county has seen thousands of evictions file each month.
Since March 2020, the start of the COVID pandemic, data shows that landlords have submitted more than 117,000 evictions in Harris County.
Ellis explains the cause of a “growing crisis.”
“The pandemic is part of the reason we’ve had so many evictions,” he said. Also, due to the lack of legal representation for the tenants.
On Tuesday, commissioners set aside $4 million for legal services to help Harris County renters facing eviction.
As of September 26, the Houston-Harris County Emergency Assistance Program has used more than $300 million to help families struggling during the pandemic.
While the money has made a difference for tens of thousands of families, Commissioner Ellis said the growing crisis will not change until more people can pay rent.
“When we do more to try and deal with affordable housing, many people simply cannot afford housing,” Ellis said.
This has a ripple effect on the owners.
“Landlords need to get paid rent,” said Howard Bockstaff.
Bookstaff is part of a group made up of landlords and property managers, the Houston Condominium Association.
Some people have not been able to make up the rent since the pandemic, he said.
“What was before the pandemic, a month or two, was enough, we’ll go ahead with evacuation. Now, we’re seeing five to ten months and more in delinquencies,” he said.
“It’s a challenge in all respects,” Ellis said. “The pandemic is part of it, the fact that we have so much poverty and so many inequalities in Harris County.”
Bookstaff said that most landlords make evictions a last resort, and advise renters.
He said, “Contact your landlord.” “Always communicate where you are, your circumstances, and show effort that you will make the rent payments.”
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