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As more Hoosiers get vaccinated and the world starts to open back up, we are all eager to get back to normal. But with a narrower federal eviction moratorium set to expire at the beginning of October, back to normal for thousands of Hoosiers means once again facing eviction and housing instability.
In the near term, Indiana’s state and six local Emergency Rental Assistance programs should continue their efforts to distribute and exhaust resources that will keep families in their homes. This is critically important. A recent report from the U.S. Department of the Treasury shows the seven programs have spent only 5.6% of the $447.9 million currently allocated. There are also options and reforms available to Indiana courts that could help our state limit the damaging effects of an impending surge in evictions.
But those are just part of the solution. Hoosiers need a more enduring fix.
If we’re going to change this reality, it’s clear we need long-term solutions to put Indiana on its way to an equitable recovery. As Congress considers additional recovery legislation, housing vouchers are a crucial piece of the puzzle and could be transformative for so many Hoosiers—particularly families with children.
Nationwide, more than 10 million adult renters live in households that aren’t caught up on rent, and nearly half of those renters say they are likely to face eviction in the coming months. The problem is especially concerning for people of color, who have been disproportionately hurt by the health and economic impacts of the pandemic. In Indiana, 17% of renters of color and 22% of renters with children say their household isn’t caught up on rent.
Even before the pandemic, housing instability was a major problem in our state. As hardworking Hoosiers know firsthand, wages haven’t kept up with rising rent and housing prices. Nearly one in five renting households in our state pay more than half of their income just to cover housing costs, making it hard to cover the costs of other necessities, like food and medication.
The ongoing impacts of racism and discrimination mean Hoosiers of color are especially likely to face difficulty covering the costs of rent, as well as face overcrowding, evictions and homelessness.
Today, housing hardship remains well above pre-pandemic levels. Congress helped mitigate the housing crisis through temporary, emergency actions in the American Rescue Plan Act. But now it’s time for a long-term solution that brings real relief to Hoosiers—and the best way to start is by expanding housing vouchers.
Housing vouchers and rental assistance are a time-tested approach to reducing poverty and increasing opportunity. Unfortunately, current funding shortages mean only one in four eligible households are receiving help. The average wait time for a Hoosier family to receive a Housing Choice Voucher is 25 months after applying.
Research shows housing vouchers have real, positive impacts on families, making it easier to afford food, access quality schools and reduce the risk of homelessness. By helping to ensure a stable and enriching environment, housing vouchers put children on the path to a brighter future—from better health and academic outcomes to long-term career and financial success. Housing vouchers also help keep families together and reduce the risk of intimate-partner violence.
A fair and enduring recovery requires decisive action to keep people in their homes. That means any recovery legislation coming out of Congress must include a significant expansion of housing vouchers. As temporary relief for millions of renters runs out at the end of the month, there’s no time to waste.•
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Nielsen is senior policy analyst at the Indiana Institute for Working Families.
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