At least 15,000 Tampa Bay tenants face eviction if federal government protection ceases to exist

Evacuation assistance for local families

At least 15,000 people in Tampa Bay will be evacuated with the fall of federal government protection. FOX 13’s Evan Axelbank reports that the damage is only just beginning to be felt.

TAMPA, Florida. – The University Area Community Development Corporation says at least 15,000 Tampa Bay tenants are at risk of eviction due to the loss of federal government protections.

While the Michelle Davis case doesn’t fit under the eviction moratorium that has just expired, she knows how the nearly 5,000 tenants in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties feel when faced with deeds.

This is the final step before law enforcement escorts you out.

She spoke to us from the St. Pete house, where she has lived for six years. She has to be out by tomorrow.

“It really made me sleepless,” she said. “I don’t cry often. I’ve had a lot of breakdowns in the last two and a half, three weeks.”

For the past year, tenants who could not afford the payment were granted a respite by the federal government, which blocked evictions for non-payment of rent.

Although some landlords have been kept afloat with $ 47 billion in federal funds, the Supreme Court said the government could not unilaterally extend these if Congress did not approve another extension by July 31.

According to the census, 357,000 Florida residents fear losing their homes within two months.

“With the moratorium expiring this weekend, we know they will be informed of their rights,” said Sarah Combs of the CDC.

She says the University Area Community Development Corporation worked with Bay Area Legal Services to provide them with free advice in hopes of keeping renters in their homes for as long as possible.

“We want to work with landlords,” said Combs. “We want to work with them to find out how we can pay the rent back and how we can work with them to keep the families in the house.”

The dance is even more complicated because Tampa Bay housing costs soared nearly 16 percent this year, compared to 7 percent nationwide.

In other words, there are few options for the likes of Michelle.

“It’s very expensive,” she said. “I haven’t found an apartment that fits my budget. Two thirds of my income goes to rent.”

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from Daily Florida Press https://dailyfloridapress.com/at-least-15000-tampa-bay-tenants-face-eviction-if-federal-government-protection-ceases-to-exist/