Why ending COVID emergency order may destabilize Bay Area renters

The almost three year COVID-19 emergency order in California came to an end yesterday, which means the end of state funding that has been a lifeline for many in the Bay Area.
The almost three year COVID-19 emergency order in California came to an end yesterday, which means the end of state funding that has been a lifeline for many in the Bay Area. Photo credit Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – The almost three year COVID-19 emergency order in California came to an end yesterday, which means the end of state funding that has been a lifeline for many in the Bay Area.

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Kevin Zwick, Chief Executive Officer with United Way Bay Area, told KCBS Radio residents who face housing insecurity may be at a heightened risk for losing their homes.

"We expect it to have a really big impact," he said. "While the pandemic emergency may have been lifted, we're not back to normal here in the Bay Area and we're going to be dealing with the effect of the pandemic, particularly its disproportionate impact on people of color and low wage workers, for the foreseeable future."

A recent poll found that 80% of Bay Area residents feel that housing affordability is a big problem and 74% said that homelessness is a major concern.

"With the end of the COVID emergency declaration, we know that eviction moratoriums have ended and some still are about to end as well," Zwick said. "In Alameda County, there's still over 30,000 renter households who are behind in their rent and that's one place where the protections are still in place for renters for the next few months."

Zwick explained that he and his team at United Way Bay Area are working to support those who will experience housing insecurity after the end of the moratoriums. “We’re doing everything we can to create and to stand up the right protections and supports we need so we don't see a big wave of evictions and displacement, which was the norm before COVID.”

People who are facing eviction are encouraged to dial 211 where they will be connected to a United Way Bay Area specialist, or they can go to the website 211BayArea.org where they will find specialists that will talk them through what options are available. United Way Bay Area is a nonprofit that mobilizes the Bay Area to assist people living in poverty. They focus on homelessness and the housing crisis.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images