Eviction filings during bans on enforcement throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: an interrupted time series analysis
The study examined the effectiveness of three separate bans on eviction enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the first ban decreased the filing rates, none of them succeeded in eliminating eviction filings altogether. The findings are important to show that reactive policies will at best have a temporary effect and may have unintended consequences, not only to the people but also to the healthcare system.
Between January 1, 2017 and January 29, 2022, Ontario landlords filed 211,960 unique L1 (non-payment of rent) and 76,045 unique L2 (reasons other than non-payment of rent) applications, all with the intention to evict.
Evictions pose many health and economic impacts, such as increased community risk for COVID-19 infections, lower productivity, and higher service utilization straining the healthcare system. This study provides further evidence that attending to the root causes of displacement (i.e., poverty and lack of affordable housing) is critical for ensuring longer-term tenant protections and preventing housing-related adverse health outcomes during an ongoing public health emergency.
Attribution:
Map of eviction filings during bans on enforcement throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Upstream Lab; 2023. Available online: https://upstreamlab.org/publication/eviction-filings-during-bans-covid19/
Citation:
Brown EM, Moineddin R, Hapsari A, Gozdyra P, Durant S, Pinto AD. Eviction filings during bans on enforcement throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: an interrupted time series analysis. Can J Public Health. 2023 Oct;114(5):745-754. doi: 10.17269/s41997-023-00813-1.
