CLEVELAND — With possible federal eviction moratoriums expiring in the coming months, Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish is calling for an additional $10 million in the county’s rental assistance program.

Although the federal government put in place eviction moratoriums during the pandemic, renters were expected to repay missed payments. The time to repay may come sooner as a federal judge ruled last week that the eviction moratorium violated federal law.

The rental assistance fund would come from aid provided to the county by the federal government from the stimulus package approved by Congress in December 2020. The funding would have to gain approval from the county council.


What You Need To Know

  • County Executive Armond Budish wants to add $10 million in federal funds to help Cuyahoga County families avoid eviction

  • A federal eviction moratorium could soon end after a judge ruled the moratorium violated federal law

  • An estimated 6 million Americans are behind on rent

  • Eligible renters can apply for up to 12 months of assistance

An additional $10 million in rental assistance is in addition to $20 million already approved by the county.

“As we have seen in recent news, a court has disallowed the CDC’s moratorium on evictions. While that decision is certain to be appealed, it points out the problem facing millions of renters around the country who have fallen behind in their rent payments,” Budish said in a statement. “The potential for a wave of mass evictions is a looming disaster. We know there is a need for this in the community, so I am asking County Council to add another $10 million to our rent relief program. This would bring the County’s total contribution to rent relief up to about $30 million."

While the cost of renting in urban areas of the U.S. has increased over time, the rate of increase during the pandemic has kept with historic trends, according to federal data.

According to a study released from UC Berkley last week, 6 million U.S. renters owe a combined $20 billion in back rent. Researchers are also concerned that a disproportionate number of children and women of color are affected.

“There’s concern that we are going to be facing an ‘eviction cliff’ — that we’re going to see a large number of renter households across the United States evicted from their homes,” said Carolina Reid, a faculty research adviser and associate professor for UC Berkeley. “The data point to significant economic hardship.”

Eligible households can receive up to 12 months of rental assistance through the program. Those in need of assistance can apply online by clicking [neorenthelp.org]here, or calling 1-833-377-RENT (7368).