News: An eviction crisis is looming for Southern Nevada

Home insecurity

A wave of renta l evictions is hea ded for Southern Neva da . How ba d will it be, a nd how ca n we protect a ga inst it?

The figures are chilling. In an interview with CNBC, Emily Benfer, chair of the AmeriBy Geoff Carter with mounting debt and will suffer damage to their credit history that could hinder their ability to rent anew. to pay their rent.” Few would deny, however, that good-faith renters are entitled to help, given the circumstances. can Bar Association’s Task Force “The numbers are very scary Nevada and Clark County are both Committee on Eviction, said the when you consider the population putting together rental assistance recent spike in unemployment of our state,” says attorney Bailey funds that should be announced due to COVID-19 has impacted Bortolin, policy director for the shortly; Las Vegas already has one the ability of historically large Nevada Coalition of Legal Service in place (see sidebar at right). The numbers of Americans to pay Providers. “[It could] create a Nevada Legislature, now meeting their rent—and it could lead to brand-new homeless crisis on top in a special session, is considering the evictions of 20 million to of the homelessness crisis we’ve a number of remedies. And the 28 million people between now already been dealing with.” next six weeks could see a number and September. For the sake of On the other hand, Susy of Nevadans finally receiving comparison, Benfer noted that Vasquez, executive director of the their unemployment benefits the 2008 mortgage crisis disNevada State Apartment Associaamong a backlog still numberplaced 10 million people ing in the thousands. “over a period of years.” Also, landlords “need to

This wave, in one form maintain a certain level or another, is headed of occupancy in order for Nevada. According to stay true with their to a recent report by the mortgage company or Guinn Center—a local The numbers are very scary when you the mortgage lender,” nonprofit, bipartisan research and policy analysis consider the population of our state. Vasquez says. That could motivate them to keep group—some 118,000 to [ It could] crea te a brand-ne w homeless good tenants in place. 142,000 Nevada households are at the risk of c risis on top of the homelessness crisis But even with those mitigating factors, the eviction this fall. (That’s we’ve already been dealing with.” threat of mass Septemthe equivalent of 272,000 -Attorney Bailey Bortolin ber 1 eviction filings to 327,000 people.) And Policy Director for the Nevada looms large. Aside from the majority of those Coalition of Legal Service Providers the grave financial sufevictions could happen fering and displacement in Clark County, with of households, there’s a Washoe a distant second. tion, says the threat could appear concern that our courts could be

The full extent of the damage greater than it will be. swamped with contested eviction will be evident September 1, when “Are we going to have eviccases in the midst of a pandemic. a state moratorium on residentions in September? Yes,” she Bortolin notes that Nevada evictial evictions for nonpayment says. “The ones we’re going to tions are served without a judicial of rent, imposed by Gov. Steve initially see are the people that record: “The courts aren’t aware Sisolak back in March, expires. have not communicated with of how many eviction notices go That moratorium delays court their landlord, have maintained out,” she says. “They only become evictions and prevents the sheriff a steady income over the last six involved when somebody chooses from removing people from their months and refuse to pay rent. So to defend themselves.” homes. Without it, the Guinn they’re essentially squatting. … No matter what, the wave is Center report states, “Evictions The governor doesn’t create any coming. And the only way to stand are expected to significantly type of eligibility component, [so] against it, Bortolin says, is with increase,” as landlords can then these people have been allowed compassion for our neighbors. begin those legal proceedings and to live for free, essentially, which “There’s not really another sue tenants for back rent. Evicted isn’t fair at all to the people that way out, other than trying to help tenants will need to scramble to are scraping and scrimping and people access the resources that find new homes, will be saddled budgeting and suffering in order they need,” she says.

Worried about eviction? Take these steps

As coronavirus cases increase in Southern Nevada and businesses are shut down to slow the spread, many Valley residents may soon face financial hardships that could inhibit their ability to pay rent. Here’s what to do if you’ve fallen behind on rent payments, or fear that you might.

1Talk to your landlord. “I’ve heard from a lot of landlords where the resident has been very proactive and they’ve maintained open lines of communication. Then, all of a sudden, MGM [or] the Culinary Union cuts them a check for the rent that they’re past due, and then they’re good,” says Susy Vasquez, executive director of the Nevada State Apartment Association. “Maintaining a good relationship and good communication with your landlord is imperative right now. I cannot stress that enough.”

2Learn all you can. “Collect as much information as possible,” says Jim Berchtold, directing attorney for the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada’s Consumer Rights Project. “I would get my pay stubs. I would get my unemployment statement. I would talk to my landlord and get a ledger that says exactly how much rent I owe. I would review that ledger to make sure it doesn’t improperly include late fees, so that I know exactly, to the dime, how much that landlord might need to be paid … if I should stay in that unit.”

3Assess your situation realistically. “It doesn’t make sense to say, ‘I want to pay all my back rent,’ if I’m living in a unit that I can’t afford,” Berchtold says. “If I have [a limited or] no prospect of future employment, have no idea what my unemployment [insurance] is going to kick in or have no idea when I’m going to return to work, maybe I should think about downsizing … moving in with a roommate, moving back home, changing my situation. … I would advise tenants to really take a really critical look at their current situation, start gathering documentation, wait for that [rental assistance] plan to come online and then figure out … how they can use it to most effectively put themselves in the best situation they can be in.”

4Apply for rental assistance, or look for other kinds of help. Preapplication for the City of Las Vegas Housing Assistance Program has begun and will continue until July 31 or until the funds are depleted; visit lasvegasnevada.gov/residents/housingassistance-program to begin the application process. Similar assistance programs, provided by Clark County and the State of Nevada, should be available soon; watch for them. If you’d like to find a subsidized apartment suitable for a diminished-income household, visit hud.gov/states/nevada/renting. And if you have legal questions, head to Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada’s COVID-19 “tool kit”—lacsn.org/covid-19—for a series of “virtual town halls” on evictions and repayment plans. –Geoff Carter