Religious organizations prepare for ‘potential onslaught’ of evictions
‘We’re very, very nervous,’ said Sarah Abramson of Combined Jewish Philanthropies in Boston. Millions of Americans say they could face eviction as the federal eviction moratorium ends. Read the article from Religion News Service here.
Chaplain Asma Inge-Hanif offers free groceries to Baltimore residents in May 2020. Courtesy photo.
The Supreme Court’s Aug. 26 decision to end the federal eviction moratorium brings new challenges for religious leaders and organizations working to aid those at risk for homelessness. More than 3.6 million Americans say they could face eviction in the next two months, according to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
“We’re very, very nervous,” said Sarah Abramson, vice president of strategy and impact at Combined Jewish Philanthropies in Boston. “There is already a tremendous housing shortage in Boston. And we know from our data, and from the experience of our partners who do this work, just how difficult it was for somebody who has been evicted in the past to get housing.”
Jerrel T. Gilliam, executive director of Light of Life Rescue Mission in Pittsburgh, also shared concerns. “We are going to need to be very creative, and to think outside the box in order to prepare for what could be a potential onslaught of people needing assistance in a short amount of time,” he said.