It鈥檚 the first of the month. And for about 1.8 million people living in Ohio, that means the rent is due. Renters in Ohio are particularly at risk for losing their homes. And new data released by the federal government shows the mood in the state is grim.
Every week, the Census Bureau releases a report called the . It鈥檚 an ongoing survey that seeks to pin down how people are being affected by the coronavirus pandemic. And for the week ending Dec. 7, the responses didn鈥檛 look good.
In Ohio, nearly half a million people reported either 鈥渘o confidence鈥� or just 鈥渟light confidence鈥� that they鈥檒l be able to pay their rent this month. That鈥檚 28 percent of all the renters in the state.
Entrenched poverty and the eviction crisis in Ohio started long before COVID-19. But, as Trudy Elder from the Dayton-based housing nonprofit says, the economic crisis is making it harder for everybody.
"Homefull has always served a vulnerable population because we serve low income folks, right? But in addition to that, you have more unemployed folks right now," Elder says. "And those are people who never before had to reach out for help."
In addition to the $600 stimulus payments, extends the federal eviction moratorium from December 31 to January 31. But on that day, if you owe back rent, it鈥檒l all come due at once.
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