The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism

Wyconda Clayton in her home at 2871 N. 45th Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, looks over a memorial honoring the sudden passing of three family members just months apart this year. Her mother Eula Clayton died April 14, God-sister Tarnisha Young died May 20, and her oldest sister Sarah Clayton died June 23. (Pat A. Robinson)

Milwaukee evictions spurred by COVID-19, longstanding racism and poverty

States across the country temporarily barred landlords from evicting tenants this year as the coronavirus reached the United States, forcing businesses to shutter and unemployment to spike. Wisconsin was one of the first states to lift its eviction moratorium on May 26.

The Myers family is receiving money for rent from The Landlord Tenant Relief Fund in Tulsa after getting an eviction notice. The fund paid their landlord four months’ rent after city officials and nonprofits collaborated to collect public and private money to keep vulnerable renters like the Myerses from being evicted during the pandemic. Five of the six family members -- from left, Duncan, 21, Riley, 9, parents Beth and Jack and Dylan, 20 -- gathered on the front porch of their Tulsa rental home recently. (Mike Simons)

The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism

A federal law tried to block evictions and prevent homelessness. Cracks appeared immediately.

A two-month investigation by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism found that while the federal and state moratoriums dramatically decreased eviction filings in April and May, cracks in the federal law appeared immediately.

The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism

Unable to evict, Massachusetts landlords avoid riskier tenants

The Massachusetts eviction moratorium is creating a deeper affordable housing crisis in the state, as landlords once willing to take on financially riskier tenants, like those with poor credit, balk at the prospect.

Yochebed Israel, 59, poses for a portrait inside her Tampa, Florida, apartment on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. Israel, a nursing assistant, found an eviction notice on her door in May after being unable to pay rent since she contracted COVID-19 from her daughter in April, and could not return to work. “There’s a lot of despair in this situation,” Israel said. “Not only are you sick from COVID-19, you miss work, you miss your job, you miss getting paid, you miss a lot of things that dominoes into this situation.” (Ivy Ceballo)

The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism

Confusion over federal eviction moratorium led to selective enforcement

A two-month investigation by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism found that while the federal and state moratoriums dramatically decreased eviction filings in April and May, cracks in the federal law appeared immediately.

The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism

Tulsa landlords were offered rent if they didn’t evict. Few took the deal.

A program in Tulsa, Oklahoma, designed to stem evictions amid the pandemic fell flat when lawyers advised landlords the deal offering to pay back rent was too risky.

The Massachusetts attorney general is asking that 70 illegal eviction cases be withdrawn from state housing court for violating either the federal eviction moratorium or the state consumer protection law. (Photo courtesy of the Office of the Attorney General)

The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism

Massachusetts’ strong tenant protections weren’t enough to stop evictions

A two-month investigation of the federal and Massachusetts moratoriums found holes in safeguards against evictions for Massachusetts tenants emerged soon after the laws took effect.

The tile on the kitchen floor is cracked and buckling.

The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism

Georgia renters enjoy few protections as landlords seek to evict

On March 14, Georgia effectively halted eviction proceedings in the state. Yet landlords were still free to file paperwork laying the groundwork for evictions.