Today, two studies were released that have powerful implications for our state and national policymaking on stopping evictions during COVID-19:
Expiring Eviction Moratoriums and COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality
In the first study, the authors noted:
Lifting eviction moratoriums was associated with significant increases in COVID-19 incidence and mortality in U.S. states, supporting the public health rationale for use of eviction moratoriums to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Lifting moratoriums amounted to an estimated 433,700 excess cases and 10,700 excess deaths during the study period (March 13-September 3).
Leifheit, Kathryn M. and Linton, Sabriya L. and Raifman, Julia and Schwartz, Gabriel and Benfer, Emily and Zimmerman, Frederick J and Pollack, Craig, Expiring Eviction Moratoriums and COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality (November 30, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3739576
Note: This article has yet to undergo formal peer review and is being released as a preprint due to the time sensitive nature of the research.
Thanks to the National Low Income Housing Coalition for hosting the studies’ authors on its weekly call.
Stay tuned on action steps to our Congressional and MA legislative delegations, and the CDC, to stop evictions and save lives during this pandemic.
