‘Nowhere else to go’: Area social service agencies scramble to distribute rent relief

• Julia Agos/WITF
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  Julia Agos was a reporter and the host of All Things Considered for WITF.

(Ephrata) – In light of the new federal eviction moratorium, area social service agencies are working to get rent relief to those struggling to keep up with bills. 

The new rule from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention applies to counties in the U.S. seeing high or substantial spread of COVID-19.  

In the midstate, that includes Dauphin, Lebanon, Lancaster, York, Cumberland and Adams counties.  

Ephrata Area Social Services in Lancaster County is working with more than 50 families and individuals. Social worker Shelley Leister says there is a shortage of affordable housing. 

“There is literally nothing available. So, as these families are facing the start of school in a few weeks, they’re also facing the fact of eviction… All of their lives are in turmoil,” she said. 

The Commonwealth is working to distribute over $800 million in federal aid to both tenants and landlords. The White House has blamed the slow rollout in multiple states on lengthy applications and bureaucracy that is stretched too thin.  

As many as 400,000 Pennsylvanians are at risk of losing their homes, according to the state Department of Human Services.  

“With the evictions, these families are going to find themselves on the streets. The individuals and or families are going to find themselves on the streets. Because there is nowhere for them to go,” Leister said.  

The previous CDC moratorium, which applied to the entire country not just targeted counties, expired July 31.  

The National Apartments Association, which represents apartment owners, managers, and developers, says the prolonged order sets a dangerous precedent and jeopardizes long term growth of housing infrastructure. It has filed a lawsuit seeking compensation for losses incurred by property managers due to the CDC moratorium.  

“The COVID-19 pandemic was devastating, and if we do not act, the housing affordability crisis may grow into a catastrophe where the government could invoke more ‘emergency’ remedies,” the NAA wrote in a statement.  

NAA says the $47 billion allocated by the federal government only covers about two-thirds of the total rent debt across the country.  

The eviction ban is slated to expire October 3.