Tenant Groups Warn that the Housing Crisis Could Deepen Without Immediate Action
Homelessness has become a primary concern for residents in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene’s destructive landfall in early October. More than 57 people died, and the storm caused between $20 billion and $34 billion in total damage to the state. On top of that, about 95% of the homes in Helene’s path did not have flood insurance, which could further exacerbate homelessness in the state as rebuilding costs mount.
These issues are some of the reasons why more than 20 tenant advocacy organizations across North Carolina are calling on Gov. Roy Cooper and Chief Justice Paul Newby to impose a 90-day eviction and foreclosure moratorium. The groups asked for a response within 24 hours of sending the letter, which is dated October 17.
Invisible People contacted Gov. Moore’s office to see if he had responded to the letter but did not immediately receive a reply.
“The use of eviction and foreclosure moratoriums has precedent in related executive actions undertaken after recent disasters,” the advocacy groups wrote in a letter. “After COVID-19, you rightfully utilized an eviction moratorium to ensure that North Carolinians with the lowest incomes did not face displacement and, in worst cases, homelessness, because of pandemic-related economic turmoil.”
The letter was sent by the North Carolina Inclusive Disaster Recovery Network, which represents roughly 300 organizations and was founded in the wake of Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Groups like AARP North Carolina, the Fayetteville Police Accountability Task Force, and the North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness co-signed the letter.
The Impact of Climate Change on Homelessness
Climate change and ensuing natural disasters pose significant threats to people experiencing homelessness. For instance, people living outside have reported facing increased heat-related illnesses. Poor air quality stemming from these events can make people chronically ill. Natural disasters also exacerbate existing social inequalities while contributing to the lack of affordable housing.
Climate change is not only causing more extreme weather events like Hurricane Helene, but it is also the leading cause of homelessness and displacement globally, according to the United Nations. In 2022, more than 32 million people were displaced because of extreme weather, a 41% increase since 2008, UN data shows.
Advocates argued that evictions and foreclosures can “further the harm and suffering” caused by natural disasters like Helene by slowing the recovery process for residents. In turn, this can cause significant economic harm to the state by displacing workers from their homes and communities.
“These households will be unlikely to return any time soon given the financial hit they have taken due to the Hurricane and the lack of affordable housing in the area,” the letter reads. “Any effort to assist Western North Carolina in economically recovering from Hurricane Helene is pointless if there is no workforce able to contribute and benefit from it.”
Calls for an Eviction Moratorium
According to Samuel Gunter, the executive director of the North Carolina Housing Coalition, there are already more than 60 eviction cases in county courts across the state. Gunter added that courts continue to open in disaster-impacted counties as well.
An eviction moratorium could provide some stability for low-income renters in North Carolina. Data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition shows that 71% of the state’s extremely low-income earners spend more than 50% of their income on housing expenses like rent and utilities.
Cortne Roche, a tenant leader with the WNC Tenants Network, told reporters during a press conference on October 17 that expecting people to pay rent and mortgages when they have no jobs or running water is “deplorable.”
“Working class people in Western North Carolina are suffering, and the landlords think only of money,” Roche told North Carolina Newsline.
Rethinking Housing Protections
The pandemic proved that we need to rethink housing in the United States. It also showed that providing additional support and protections for renters is a clear-cut way to reduce future increases in homelessness.
That’s why we need you to contact your officials and representatives. Tell them you support keeping many of the pandemic-related aid programs in place for future use. They have proven effective at keeping people housed, which is the first step to ending homelessness.
