Case Study 2: Where in my County Could Residents be at Risk for Eviction, and How Does that Compare to Surrounding Areas? The coronavirus pandemic heavily affected the financial well-being of people whose income was tied to in- person service. Many individuals who were laid off, furloughed, or faced other income disruptions, also held lower-paying jobs and rented rather than owned property. With little savings and loss of income, many of these persons were at risk of eviction. While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control issued an order to halt evictions, and some state governments passed legislation of their own to slow evictions, these orders are temporary. As eviction moratoria are lifted, some communities may face a greater risk of evictions than others. As an Extension professional, you may be concerned about hardship in your community. Assessing your community’s risk of evictions could help you provide your constituents with information on rent laws, resources to alleviate the rent burden, and information on social programs and temporary shelter. You may rely on your extensive knowledge and experience serving your community to assess eviction risks, but how could data help you enhance your decisions on outreach and resource management for evictions? The ACS has a wealth of data on renting, income, and other potential indicators for housing instability. This case study will guide you through how to use ACS data to learn where in your county residents may be more likely to face evictions given factors like renter status, low income, and unsteady employment. We will walk step by step through how to answer this question and look at how ACS can help compare the situation in your area with those in surrounding counties.
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