AKRON, Ohio — Fair Housing Contact Service in Akron continues fielding calls from renters who have a lot of questions about their rights in relation to the coronavirus crisis. Many people are concerned about paying rent and potentially being evicted.  

Lauren Green-Hull, associate director at Fair Housing Contact Service, provides important information for tenants across the state:

Q: What kind of calls and concerns are you receiving right now during the coronavirus pandemic?

A:  "We're getting everything from tenants questioning if they have to pay their rent to landlords saying their tenants aren't paying their rent,  to tenants saying they're receiving eviction notices, to questions about repairs not being done, also lots of questions about eviction, if the courts are open, if the courts are closed, what's happening with filings, they're receiving notices, so lots of things around that as well." - Lauren Green-Hull, Fair Housing Contact Service, Akron

Q: Is there a concern for a surge in evictions after Ohio lifts the stay-at-home order?

A: "So we're going to have a large backlog. If folks aren't paying their rent at this time and then the time of social isolation, and folks are back to work and they're behind, they're going to need to make that up. Depending on what agreement they've set with their landlord, they may need to make that all up at one time or they may have some time to be able to make that up, depending on what agreement has been set with the housing provider and if that agreement is and in writing, then that tenant may face eviction for not paying all those months at one time. So, there's going to be a surge of evictions that have been waiting to have hearings and then there's also going to be this potential surge of new evictions." - Lauren Green-Hull, Fair Housing Contact Service, Akron

Q: What is the biggest message you would like to get out there to tenants who live in the state of Ohio?

A: "Folks can still file an eviction, so for those individuals who may not be paying their rent and they have the money to pay the rent, that landlord can still file the eviction. It has to be done in writing, is our understanding from the courts, but it can still be filed, which means it's still gonna go on your record, so pay your rent if you can. If you can't, talk to your landlord. There are resources out there for housing providers as well, including forbearance of mortgages and being able to look and talk to their lenders about other alternatives, there are small business loans that they could qualify for, any of those things that may be eligible and that have been provided by our state or federal government, a housing provider is a business and they could look into it too." - Lauren Green-Hull, Fair Housing Contact Service, Akron

For more information, you can contact Fair Housing directly at (330) 376-6191 or visit their website.