The Covid-19 Eviction Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn in the United States has put at risk the housing of millions of low-income renters and those experiencing homelessness. This critical situation will cause more men, women and children to live on the streets, under bridges, in tents, shelters, cars or motels throughout the country.

New research findings indicate that the COVID-19 housing crisis will result in widespread evictions and an increase in homelessness if there is not federal assistance.

The recent report titled “The COVID-19 Eviction Crisis: An Estimated 30-40 Million People in America are at Risk” was developed by researchers from the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program, City Life/Vida Urbana, the COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project, The Eviction Lab at Princeton University, the Innovation for Justice Program at the University of Arizona College of Law, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Stout and Wake Forest University School of Law.

Rajni Shankar-Brown, PhD, associate professor and Jessie Ball duPont endowed chair of social justice education at Stetson University, is an executive board member of the National Coalition for the Homeless. She has dedicated her life and research to homelessness, poverty and social justice education, and is assisting with leading national homeless policies and programs.

Shankar-Brown says the reduction of living wage jobs and affordable housing has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic around the nation.

She is raising awareness and advocating and educating for justice along with trying to improve the system by making a difference in the community.

I had a chance to interview her to learn more. 

Why is it important to think about people who struggle with housing during the holidays? 

It is critical that we think about and actively support people who struggle with housing and hunger. While many will spend the holiday season cozy in their homes, exchanging gifts, bundled up and feasting with loved ones, simultaneously millions of families and individuals in the United States face food insecurity and experience homelessness. Housing instability has added layers of challenges in the winter when the temperature drops. It is hard to stay warm when you are living on the streets, in a tent, in a car, or in a shelter without adequate heating and clothing. Without shelter during the winter, you are placed at higher risk of hypothermia and frostbite – and distressingly, many experiencing homelessness do not survive having to spend the winter without shelter. It should be noted that homeless illnesses and deaths also occur at higher rates during the summer due to sweltering heat and dehydration. With families and unaccompanied youth continuing to make up a large portion and growing segment of the homeless population, millions of children and youth in the United States are highly vulnerable.

How did Covid-19 exacerbate housing issues?

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to exacerbate homelessness and housing issues in the United States, particularly impacting communities of color. Homelessness has already seen a tremendous increase due to the COVID-19 outbreak and growing financial hardships. Additionally, people without stable housing are placed at higher risk to exposure of the Coronavirus and are often lacking public health resources and support. We are in the midst of a global pandemic and we have increasing numbers of evictions taking place and looming. To know that homelessness is surging, and communities are struggling, is heartbreaking and merits our immediate attention. Also, if you are homeless you generally do not have the option of self-isolating, which can further increase the spread of the virus in communities. As we approach the holiday season, my hope is that we will collectively advocate and work together to address, end, and prevent homelessness. Housing and hunger are human rights. All families deserve to have safe shelter and food, especially in a country that has more than enough.

How can people support initiatives to help people find and keep stable housing?

There are many ways individuals can help support people find and keep stable housing. Here are some recommendations. Engage in knowledgeable voting. Financially support organizations actively supporting families and individuals in homeless situations such as the National Coalition for the Homeless which is one of the oldest homeless advocacy organizations and a national network of people who are currently experiencing or who have experienced homelessness, activists and advocates, community-based and faith-based service providers, and others committed to ensuring the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness are met and their civil rights are respected and protected, as well working for needed policy change. Another wonderful organization to support is Habitat for Humanity. Get involved and serve in the local community in housing emergency shelters, which are often understaffed and under-resourced, as in addition to providing immediate support, shelters often help folks with vital resources and connections to secure stable housing. Work to help break down housing barriers in local communities. Invest and advocate for a fair living wage, affordable housing, accessible physical and mental healthcare, domestic violence education, and intersectional issues connected to equity including racism, sexism, heterosexism, and ableism. Ask how you can best support your local school district and homeless liaison. 

How does it benefit everyone to reduce the number of people who struggle to find housing?

Housing is a human right. Everyone deserves a safe place to live. By ending and preventing homelessness, we grow healthier communities, healthier schools, healthier families, and healthier children. We must work together to build a better world for all, especially our children. As we approach the holiday season, my hope is that we will collectively advocate and work together to address, end, and prevent homelessness. Housing and hunger are human rights. All families deserve to have safe shelter and food, especially in a country that has more than enough.

Brief Bio:

Rajni Shankar-Brown, Ph.D., is an internationally renowned scholar-educator, author, artist, and human rights activist. She is an Executive Board Member of the National Coalition for the Homeless and the Jessie Ball duPont Endowed Chair of Social Justice Education at Stetson University. She is also the Co-Chair of Equity and Social Justice for the International Society for Teacher Education and Information Technology, Founder and Co-Director of Acts of Kindness and Justice, and a member of the Nina B. Hollis Institute for Educational Reform. She has presented and facilitated professional learning workshops around the globe, as well as published in leading education journals and books. Her recently published collection of poetry Tuluminous (2020) has been praised as “a marvelous and meaningful testimony of the power of language to heal and transform” by the Presidential Inaugural Poet, Richard Blanco. In addition to being a passionate social justice scholar-educator, Dr. Shankar-Brown is a devoted mother of son Valen Siddhartha and daughter Romila Sitara. 

Shankar-Brown is an avid supporter of The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia, a nonprofit organization that provides housing, food, clothes and emergency assistance to those in need. The Neighborhood Center also was the 2019 recipient of Stetson’s $10,000 Greenfeather Grant, a longstanding tradition where student teams compete to raise the most money for charity and win the coveted Greenfeather Trophy.

She founded the Hatters University Scholars, a mentoring program that invites students to Stetson’s campus and introduces them to higher education.

 

Shankar-Brown also creates workshops for educational leaders and teachers throughout the U.S., and is the executive director of the Poverty and Homelessness Conference. She also leads mentoring programs for children and youth in poverty and homelessness.