LAKEWOOD, Ohio — Rent payments are difficult for many people, especially those living paycheck to paycheck. The City of Lakewood, Ohio announced that it is looking to pass an ordinance that would help people avoid eviction. 

The city is looking to permanently pass a "Pay to Stay" ordinance, which gives renters facing eviction up until their official hearing to catch up on missed payments. A temporary ordinance that does the same thing runs out at the end of February.

LaTasha Thomas works with Step Forward, an organization that assists people with rent, and said that the struggle to pay rent can happen to anyone.

“It can strike at any time with losing your job or, you know, having unexpected, you know, purchases that kind of cause you to be behind on rent,” she said.

She does not believe that evicting people is the best way to handle these situations.

“If you evict somebody who, let’s say, is just having a temporary barrier and just needs a little bit of assistance and now they got the eviction on their record, it creates a situation to where now they pretty much have a bigger barrier in terms of being able to get new housing,” she said. 

If the ordinance passes in Lakewood, it would mean that if a person paid their full rent and any additional late fees before an eviction hearing, they can avoid eviction. Thomas explained that eviction can be a traumatic and sometimes unsafe experience for people.

“Putting families into further danger. You know, not being able to have anywhere safe and stable to stay,” she said.

Thomas has hopes that this ordinance will help prevent situations that she’s dealt with before.

“Pretty heart-wrenching. Cause, you know, we work with some families where we would be right in the middle of getting the approval and the landlord is waiting for the check to come and the next thing you know they’re like 'I’m evicting them',” she said. 

The ordinance is expected to pass in Lakewood shortly.