Almost 3,000 evictions have been filed in the cities of Houston, Fort Worth, and Dallas in the first week of June. Texas currently has one of the highest eviction rates in the country.
Relief programs from COVID-19 and other forms of rent assistance have also begun to run out, NBC 5 reported, but local organizations are still helping North Texans.
Groups able to help those in need include the United Way, the Assistance Center of Collin County, Legal Aid of North Texas, and the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center.
Marc Moffitt, a professor of real estate at the University of North Texas G. Brint Ryan College of Business, a broker, and a licensed realtor, told NBC 5 that many people have struggled to afford rent without aid programs.
“So during COVID, we had a lot of relief, we had federal assistance, we had the stimulus checks – we had all of that contributing and helping people out with their monthly rental payments,” Moffitt said. “Now that those are gone, the assistance programs are beginning to dwindle. Cost inflation is hitting people in the pocketbook, and it’s becoming more and more difficult to pay that rent. I think what we’re going to see here is, we’re going to continue to see evictions climb.”
According to Moffitt, the high cost of houses, combined with high interest rates, makes it hard for renters to buy a home.
“Renters are in a very difficult situation right now because the two options that they have are to face higher rents or to go out and buy a home,” he told NBC 5. “And right now, the housing market here, at least in the Metroplex, has seen anywhere between 15% to 30% gains in market value. Along with the increase in interest rates, the ability to afford monthly housing payments and then compete in the open market is becoming very challenging.”
The founder of the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center, attorney Mark Melton, said he has spent over 2,500 hours helping with cases for free. Melton told NBC 5 that many renters have struggled to keep up with the multiple rising costs.
“This is really pushing a lot of people over the edge,” he explained. “Historically, we’ve got a significant number of people in Dallas that spend between 50% and 70% of their net income on rent alone. That only leaves a small amount for all of the other things that you need to survive and raise a family. So with all of these different prices going up, it is just extending budgets to the breaking point. And people are falling behind as a result.”
Moffitt advised tenants who are struggling to try and communicate with their landlords.
“Most property owners and managers don’t want to go to court,” he said. “They want to try to work things out. They just want to be paid. So if you could stay in communication and you can pay something and keep them apprised of what’s going on, generally speaking, that’s going to work out better for you.”
Mark Melton, attorney and founder of the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center, said the Dallas Housing Authority is expecting to receive funding for new rental assistance programs and would open an application portal soon.