App. Washington journal continues. Host we are joined by diane yentel, who is president and ceo of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Talk about the federal moratorium about to expire on evictions in the u. S. Diane yentel about the federal moratorium about to expire on and if addictions in the us. Thank you for being with us this morning,. Thank you for having me. What is it that your group does . A Membership Organization advancing federal policies solutions to ensure that low income people have affordable and accessible homes. Host give us an idea how many renters there are in the unitedre states. There are about 43 million renter households with over 100 Million People in thosese households. Host since the pandemic with the idea on evictions typically how many people are evicted from their apartment or home for failure to pay rrent . And how has that problem increased or has it . The risk of evictions has increased during the pandemic because of the financial fallout as a result. So to understand the eviction crisis right now we have to recognize where we were before coronavirus came to the country in the midst of a severe Affordable Housing crisis. We had a shortageil of 7 million Homes Affordable and available to the lowest income sector so for every ten of the lowest households there are fewer than four apartments available toto them. So because we have such a shortage of homes, there were 8 million extremely low income renter households getting at least half of their income going to rent some paying 80 percent just to put a roof over their head. So as such a limited income to begin with and they pay so hmuc much, you are always one financial emergency from potentially being evicted and not making rent and becoming homeless. Host what was Eviction Moratorium passed in congress and when does it expire . But they care is act and with that federal moratorium to cover 30 percent of renters throughout the country. Nt those that are covered by had like public housing. But the mortgages backed by fannie mae or freddie mac thats about 30 percent and that was put in place during the early months of the pandemic protected even more renters. The federal Eviction Moratorium expired two weeks ago and at that Time Starting on jul july 25th and to the renters and there is still a closing window. And then a short to be push out of their homes. So as of now there are 24 that have allowed their moratoriums to expire and in 30 states renters have no protection against being evicted for reasons related to the pandemic. Host president and ceo of the National Low Income Housing Coalition if anyone works at the Property Management company so a headline on the Washington Post President Trump is calling for another moratorium on evictions. Landlords are pushing back. Ions and this tweet from of you were in florida does anybody stop to think with the moratorium on eviction rent means cracks where is the money for owners to pay taxes in a mortgage on their or property . Of course. We need more than one solution. From the beginning women calling for a National Uniform moratorium for all evictions on nonpayment during the duration of the t pandemic. In the middle of the Public Health emergency. But Eviction Moratoriums on their own are not enough they create a financial cliff for renters to fall off of windows moratoriums are lifted. And they arese no more to payback than the pandemic. And without rental income coming in. And Congress Must also appropriate 100 billion in emergency rental assistance. And allows the small landlords and with that Housing Stock i dont want to lose that with the crisis. Host are properties governed by state regulation are there any federal regulations and protections in place nationwide . One of the moratorium was put in place under the cares act and they expired two weeks ago. There are some state and local eviction and moratoriums in place but they are expiring rapidly. Host. Im having a hard time the only time when the president and canada and i cant find a place to live. My husband died 2004. I am 80 years i old. Had will pay for it. So what do we pay taxes for . The common care destruction. Nobody wants to help nobody black or white. And you cannot get no help. Host diane yentel . Im so sorry to hear about the loss of your home. Thats terrible. I hope you can find someone locally with assistance. And that eviction crisis im thinking of right now and we have that shortage because the federal government is keeping people housed for the longterm. One out of every four households are in need of housing assistance. 75 percent of people who need Affordable Housing assistance dont receive any. And the tremendous challengesat that creates whether our homes like what happened to betty or and and Natural Disaster or a wildfire or light covid19 which just exposes a tremendous shortage and a shortcoming of the countrys housing system. Host the eviction lab at Princeton University rates how your stay is doing in terms of handling evictions particularly during the pandemic on a scale between one and five the state of florida rates one. 58 out of five and measures taken to prevent evictions. Albany new york. Caller. And with rent assisted many in over five months. Because it is failing them. We need to take a close look at how they are dealing with american citizens in this country. And overall assistance more efficient. That threaten pressure. I appreciate as a landlord your concern about your renters and an ability to pay rent tens of millions are facing the same challenges right now rent is due and they cannot pay. There were some protections put in place for the cares act some included Unemployment Insurance and the stimulus check that has prevented to see tremendous wave of evictions yet but millions of people who need those resources havent received them and millions more did not lose theirha job entirely but the lowwage workers and were not eligible for Unemployment Insurance. Especially with the increased t,cost for child care and healthcare and food. And then to continuing expanded unemployment but that is not enough. To just lead the National Moratorium on evictions and assistance that they can receive the income that they ouneed. Host how close they are they keeping an eye on negotiations and how certain arein you the moratorium find is kept in their . We have been following that closely and have been very engaged to pass essential housing protection. Those twice already once in the heroes act and in a standalone bill. So the house already passed bill to establish a moratorium on evictions hundred one 100 million for people experiencing homelessness. The senate hasnt acted yet there are multiple bills in the senate that would push for the same provisions and now negotiations have stalled i am certain at the very top of the negotiations Chuck Schumer and nancy pelosi are keeping these at the top of their priority list. To have a National Moratorium of 100 million of financial assistance. Republicans are beginning to come around to recognize and to talk about the need for the Eviction Moratorium. I know the final bill will be enacted with that critical but when they do i am concerned is not at the scale necessary for whats coming. Host dayton ohio a renter. Caller these people are complaining. I am a republican i live below the Poverty Level 896 a month my rent is 650 and i still survive. These people getting all of this extra money my rent keeps going up every year i cannot find any housing. I am visually impaired. These people are using drugs and its getting out of hand and i cannot even find a placece to live. She said you have to make 1600 a month i cannot qualify for that. All of these people are complaining. Really cracks thats all ive got to sayre. What a tremendous challenge you have if you bring 850 rent is 650 that is outrageous. You should be getting help forge that. So it is not possible for landlords to maintain, build, operate properties at a level that caters to extremely low level income without a subsidy because those households the rental income you can afford to pay is not enough to cover what it cost to maintain and operate the property. This is a market failure it is essential for the federal government to correct that market failure and with families of young children. And the federal government some degree through some programs for the lowest income people but they dont do it as necessary and thats i we have so many people homeless and sleeping in shelters and in their cars we are right on the verge of becoming homeless they are paying exorbitant rents this is why Congress Needs to do t much more to have a safe affordable home during the always. And going to our first color betty in florida. She said the federal government has been undermining the ability of black americans to obtain housing since reconstruction. The population now spreads covid19 some shelters have had to close when workers died of covid19. The massive Homeless Population is a national crisis. The moratorium what about other countries that are undergoing the pandemic . Are they experience evictions as well . What is your understanding . There are other countries that the country did implement some protections against evictions with very strong protections to not be evicted during the surge of coronavirus cases they have far lower cases today in that state has one of the worst outbreaks in the world so it is the central we have similar protections in place. We havent run into place yet so i just want to say one is on racial inequity thats important to recognize the wave of evictions that is coming that black and brown renters are disproportionately harmed and as the comments noted we have had decades of systemic racism that purposely put homeownership out of reach for black households. And there is disproportionate harm in the country. Black and brown renters to be extremely low income and much more likely to be homeless. So now covid19 is compounding these inequities. And then to be black and latino renters. People experiencing homelessness are at tremendous risk right now there are studies that show those that are homeless are twice as likely to be hospitalized if a they contract covid19 are going to Critical Care in two or three times more likely to die. And then distancing and shelters is much more aresh needed. To keep those safe and alive that are facing homelessness. Caller but its all those that are called low income i really know what that means but can you tell me in terms what you mean per year w or per family . Ten dollars an hour that just falls short of 21000 per year. What does that mean cracks thank you. And through housing programs compared to those areas Median Income somebody earns 80 percent of the area Median Income they are considered to be low income and 50 percent or less so otherwise they are extremely low income i am talking about a family of four with two working parents together bringing in less than 24000 a year or an individual or a person with a disability. And then to bring in less than 12000 per year. And found today and always. Good morning. This is a very good conversatio conversation. I cant see the screen right now just when you stole my thunder the both gap that has decimated all descendents of slaves in america. And i would like to. Suggest we should be trying to help people. Thats unamerican if you really want to look at the world. The 255 years of slavery and jim crow, of 55 years. The fact of the matter is to assist as many as possible my the 80 yearold woman that spoke africanamerican they have been treated at the bottom. And not to recognize what is owed to them. And those that are mistreated those that need the most help should get it. You are absolutely right. Policy has driven much of that for the last several decades it was purposeful federal housing policy to restrict access to programs that make homeownership possible and black families akand make it possible for white families. And with those restricted covenants. And with that wealth gap that exist between black families and white families and that hasil created segregated communities and to inquire very purposeful policies that go beyond 200 do the harm to black and brown people for decades. And thatth requires us to Center Racial Equity that we push forward that we not only are exacerbating racial inequities but actively working to achieve Racial Equity and undo the harm doneho for decades. Host the landlord line go ahead. Caller a thank you for taking my call. I would like to point out a lot of the nomenclaturepo used but everybody intora a racial or economic class is counterproductive. They are patronizing and condescending to the individual and then reduces people and i just want to know when you use these terms to put individual people into economic classes and racial stereotypes essentially you are using a stereotype to further your ideals on the reason people are segregated they believe these terms because they believe you are constantly cannot hurt themselves. So this furthers the divide in the country. I disagree im not speaking from data and what makes it clear. And there are tremendous therapies. And for example africanamericans make up 40 percent and 13 percent of the general population and 50 percent more likely to have homelessness. This disproportionate impact does not happen by nyaccident segregation the andisproportionate impact of people experiencing homelessness is the result of Public Policy and we can only understand those outcomes if we are truthful and look at the data and then work to compensate for the harm that has been done with the Data Driven Solutions to housing and homelessness. The new unemployment numbers are out for july. We will talk about it more but is down from 11. One down at ten. 2 and those one. 8 million. The National Low Income Housing Coalition the picture with Elizabeth Warren that shows a protest in brooklyn last month. Private equity firms and that the wall street journal recently reported investors have a once in a Generation Opportunity to buy a distressed real estate assets it is far from a once in a generation with the financial hecrisis. And the communities most impacted of the pandemic. How bad is the problem . 30 percent of all renters say they have no confidence to make housing payments. 40 percent are not sure they can make the next rent payment. Nearly two thirds are not confident are less than 35000 a year. And more than one quarter a black and latin ask renters couldnt pay last months rent. One out of every four black or latino renters are already behind on their rent. And to add to that the higher the employment rate those across the country who have had their hours and income cut in the number of Small Businesses have shuttered and may not reopen and its clear the evictions will continue to rise. With an avalanche of evictions of answer to new protections. This is a crisis we can avoid. And as that swelled during a the pandemic. To have research and analysis. Those that estimate 30 to 40 million renters are at risk to be evicted to the end of the year it is a tremendous number of people who are doubting if they can pay the rent. If congress does not act. And just destabilizing evictions are and how much they do to individuals and communities. Evictions can disrupt and harm. The physical and Mental Health to employment and to go deeper into poverty. And in the middle of a pandemic is not only cruel and immoral but shortsighted that we risk further burdening already overstretched hospital systems. For tens of millions of people being evicted makes it nearly impossible for our country to contain the virus. And then to make sure millions of families dont lose their home. Host new jersey go ahead. Caller good morning. I just want to clarify the statements the woman has made. One, when the women called about not getting a check for fivege minutes it wasnt because of the federal government and not playing those unemployment checks because the local governments cannot serve 1 Million People. Their equipment is notot suitable. Number two. And if he is trying to help the black community doing all the things he is doing with these opportunity zones and all the stuff he is doing. Just say that nobody is doing nothing. The other thing i want toob say was a get the bills but then trump says he will sign the executive order if congress cannot come together. And democrats will be the ones to scream. And to implement and then prevent evictions. And who is protected under that moratorium. But if he can then we should have a National Moratorium to prevent evictions and recognize the moratorium on its own is not enough because there are tens of billions of dollars already owed him back rent and that will be needed to cover rent. Has to be paired with 100 million and for that congress will have toas act. So President Trump and secretary carson and secretary of housing and urban development undermine fair housing from the day they took office and there has been multiple actions taken by the president and secretary carson to undermine housing and roll back the clock of integrated communities and equity what they have done quite a bit of farm. And then in other cases we have not. It is absolutely inaccurate what the president and secretary in any way have helped low income people of color have harmed or attempted to farm people of color. Those with the Eviction Moratorium at what point will they be expected to make up the rent or mortgage that has not been paid . And with the federal Eviction Moratorium those protections expired two weeks ago and at that point the landlords could issue a notice to vacate to their tenants with a 30 day notice required. And when they expire and when the back rent is due. There are many landlords that have been working with tenants on properties for months. To find a solution and a payment plan to keep those housed especially with this level of unemployment and those evictions that will come its not like theres a lot of people that are ready if they evict. And a lot of landlords realize that. And they are beginning to struggle. 50 percent cannot borrow the money they need for have access to credit. Those small landlords are more likely to have housing. And so essential and with those wave of evictions coming. Host president and ceo of National Coalition thank you for joining us. You will see a period from 1980 through 2020 when you saw in a major urban centers. And beyond we dont approaches in a thoughtful and careful way that that Economic Activity washington journal continues. Host from the studios in pennsylvania, the chief economist of the chief economist for moodys analytics joining us here on washington journal. Good morning. Good morning. Host the start with a jobs numbers coming out 45 months ago for one 45 minutes ago for the month of july falling from 11. 1 percent at ten. 2 and the number of jobs added one. 8 million. In perspective what is yours . It is mixed the good news is the job gain a lot of job growth that restaurants and Clothing Stores and the healthcare industry
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