Cassandra's presentation, titled "Unveiling the Impact of Pandemic Eviction Prevention Policies on Health Equity," drew on interviews with tenants in Columbus, OH, and Bridgeport, CT, to examine their experiences with Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) available to those facing eviction during the pandemic.
These interviews revealed that, for some tenants, emergency rental assistance provided critical relief, addressing short-term income gaps that could lead to eviction and its negative consequences. However, for others, this assistance was insufficient to bridge long-standing gaps between income and housing costs. Some tenants were unable to access ERA altogether due to barriers such as not qualifying for the program or being unaware of its existence, leaving them to navigate their housing crises without social assistance.
The presentation emphasized that while these eviction prevention policies offered essential short-term relief and fostered health equity, they fell short of addressing the deeper crisis of affordable housing. Cassandra highlighted the need for comprehensive, sustainable solutions to ensure long-term security for renters and prevent future eviction crises.
This presentation is based on interviews conducted with renters from Bridgeport, CT, and Columbus, OH, and was supported by co-authors Danya Keene, PhD; Penelope Schlesinger, MPH; Tricia Lewis, PhD; and Kyra Rost, MA. The research is funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research and is a collaboration with research partners at Rutgers University, The Eviction Lab, and George Washington University.