Eviction ban set to expire next month. Is that too soon?

The Biden administration last week extended a nationwide ban on evictions to help millions of Americans struggling to pay rent because of the coronavirus pandemic to stay in their homes, at least temporarily.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first imposed the moratorium last September in order to prevent a wave of evictions it said would force people into congregate settings, like homeless shelters, where the risk of catching or spreading the virus is extremely high. The latest extension, which will keep the ban in place until July 31, came days before the ban was set to expire. The CDC said the order is “intended to be the final extension of the moratorium.” A number of states and cities issued their own eviction bans over the course of pandemic. Some have expired, others remain in effect.

Researchers have credited the eviction ban for helping limit the economic damage experienced by vulnerable families during the worst days of the pandemic. There is also some evidence that allowing people to stay in their homes did in fact reduce the number of overall COVID-19 infections and ultimately saved lives.