Evictions in Utah climb; program offers struggling renters $2,000 a month
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Eviction cases filed in Utah returned to pre-pandemic levels in August, the month after federal protections for some renters expired.
This month, landlords and their attorneys have sought 569 evictions in state courts. It’s the highest since the coronavirus began shutting down Utah in March, although the number is in line with the monthly average for last year.
Evictions bottomed out at 207 in April, when Gov. Gary Herbert issued an order pausing evictions through mid-May.
The number of cases has slowly risen since then to 354 evictions in July. The last of the federal eviction protections expired at the end of July.
Struggling renters are encouraged to call 211 to see if help may be available. Some — but not all — assistance programs are also listed on the state’s website.
Utah’s pandemic housing assistance program offers up to $2,000 per month for people who can’t pay their rent because of the coronavirus.
There’s an income cap — up to 100% of area median income. The other requirement is that the renter has experienced “a documented loss of income or financial hardship related to COVID-19.”
As of Thursday, more than 800 households had received help totaling more than $1 million.
“We expect the velocity to pick up over the next couple of months,” said Jonathan Hardy, who leads the housing division of the state’s Department of Workforce Services.
The funding comes from the federal relief package, and state lawmakers allocated $20 million.
Hardy stressed that 211 should be a first stop for people in need in every county.
“Not just the state programs, but Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City have also put in money,” Hardy said. “Other areas of the state may also have different programs.”
