Idaho Sees Spike in Eviction Cases After Federal Moratorium Expires
It's been three weeks since a federal eviction moratorium expired, and the Gem State already sees a jump in eviction hearings.
Idaho Legal Aid, a nonprofit group that offers free legal counsel for those facing eviction and other housing problems, has also seen a surge in eviction cases and the number of calls to its hotline.
"The cases of this nature that we've handled so far this year is right about double year-to-date what we saw last year. More than half of the requests for assistance have come from Ada county, and then another 20% or so have been Canyon County," said Martin Hendrickson, statewide advocacy attorney for ILA.
Idaho Housing and Finance is hoping to help lower the number of evictions in the state through its Housing Preservation Program.
The program offers assistance with rent and utility payments because of COVID-19. The CARES Act allocated $15 million to IHFA to distribute to those in need.