In July, we published an article titled, “ How Evictions Lead to Homelessness in Ohio .” This article examined evictions in Ohio and the link between homelessness and evictions. We also mentioned the impact that COVID has had on evictions in Ohio, the most significant being the pending evictions that may bring “a wave of newly homeless people in the next few months,” according to CNBC .

Experts predicted a “severe eviction crisis” at the end of July, signalling the end of moratorium on evictions across the USA.

July has ended, and the end of August is here. So, what is the current state of evictions in Toledo, Ohio? Are mass evictions coming our way?

Probably not.

The eviction moratorium for nonpayment of rent has been extended until September 30, 2020, by the Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority (LMHA). Once the moratorium is lifted, renters are given 30 days to vacate the premises before the landlord can file an eviction action in court. Under normal circumstances, a court date is usually set within two weeks of a landlord filing an eviction action in court. However, due to COVID-19, the courts have pushed back many evictions hearings, and are already scheduling these hearings into October, according to Toledo Blade .

In the Toledo Blade article, LMHA will not evict residents from public housing through Sept. 30 , published July 24, 2020, Veronica Martinez, managing attorney for Legal Aid of Western Ohio, which serves 32 counties in the state, stated that she was optimistic about the state of evictions in Ohio. Ms. Martinez “is hopeful that because Toledo already has some safety nets in place, it won’t see a surge in families turning to shelters, moving in with family, or sleeping in their cars because of evictions.”

Carol Walls, president of Toledo Property Investors Network, agrees and isn’t concerned about a spike in local evictions. 

“Most of them get settled in the hallway before they ever get in front of a judge,” she said. “The majority of them, even on a regular basis, the majority of them get worked out. I don’t see it being a big issue.” ( Toledo Blade )

If you are unable to pay your rent and fear eviction, there is help. LMHA continues to offer assistance to renters during the pandemic. If you’ve lost your income or have experienced a change in income because of COVID-19 (or unrelated to COVID-19), contact your landlord right away. Many times, your landlord will work with you to come to an agreement, which is much better than having an eviction on your rental history.

There are additional resources available to the residents of Toledo who need help paying rent:

Rental Assistance for COVID-19 from the City of Toledo – If you’ve lost your job and income, contact Lutheran Social Services of Northwest Ohio at 419-243-9178 or speak to your landlord.

Emergency Housing Assistance Program – Assistance is offered to those who live in Lucas County but outside of Toledo who cannot pay rent due to COVID-19. Contact Great Lakes Community Action Partnership at 419-333-6101.

Repayment Agreement – The Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority is offering assistance to establish a repayment agreement between you and your landlord if you are unable to qualify for other programs. Contact your landlord or LMHA at 419-259-9400 during business hours.

(Resources from WTOL )

For our current and future Participants, the need for comprehensive services continues to grow. To meet that need, we have big plans. And big plans call for big dollars. We need your help. Will you partner with us to meet the needs of our community? You can give by PayPal , or by mailing a check to Leading Families Home, 2910 W. Central Avenue, Toledo, Ohio 43606.

Thank you for always being faithful partners in our mission — helping families transition from homelessness to permanent housing.Together we’ve got this.

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