Mass Evictions Feared in Iowa

With tens of thousands of Iowans still unemployed because of the pandemic, many Iowans may find themselves in the same situation. 

Housing advocates fear lifting the moratorium with so many people out of work will result in a spike in evictions, causing panic among Iowa families and, ultimately, the potential for homelessness.

"I think there could be a wave of evictions that could have not only a devastating impact on individuals' lives but also public health. If people don’t have anywhere to go, that’s going to keep them from being able to self-quarantine if they somehow get ill or stricken with COVID," said Mark Stringer, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds' March order says that Iowans "should not expect" an extension of the state's eviction protections but didn't rule out an extension and is still looking at how to proceed. 

If there isn't some kind of an offsetting loan program, or even grant program, for landlords, they will be flooding the courts with original notice for forcible entry and detainer — which is an eviction," said Andrew Lietzow, executive director of the Iowa Landlords Association.

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