The federal government has taken unprecedented action over the past year to stave off evictions and provide emergency relief. But the underlying systemic problems that cause housing instability remain.
The need for more affordable housing and a more comprehensive system to keep people housed is critical beyond this crisis to break intergenerational cycles of poverty and to enable robust preservation of our affordable housing stock.
What can communities do to increase long-term housing stability and promote financial resilience for families and individuals? Strong resident protections, expanded safety nets and other “upstream” affordable housing solutions are key to avoiding evictions long after this pandemic ends – and to addressing some of the enduring systemic racism in housing.