Tampa Bay lawmakers try to stave off rise in evictions

State lawmakers seeking to lower the eviction rate introduced two bills on Monday:

1. Requiring more mediation for residential eviction cases.
2. Allowing tenants to seal court records in eviction cases if their eviction was due to pandemic-related circumstances.

Driving the news: Since the pandemic started, thousands of families in the Tampa Bay area have found themselves unable to pay rent and at risk of eviction, reflecting a national trend.

• Last week, the CDC announced an extension of a federal eviction moratorium meant to keep people in their homes and out of living conditions that may spread COVID-19.

By the numbers:

• 11 families are evicted every day in Pinellas County, Tim Dutton of Unite Pinellas said at a press conference yesterday. In Florida broadly, it’s 180 families a day. 
• 16 million families are at risk nationally of eviction since the pandemic began, Dutton said. Florida’s share of that is about a million people.
• 46% of Florida households are considered ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, employed) by United Way, a term used to describe households that are above the federal poverty level but still struggling financially.

Sen. Darryl Rouson (D-St. Petersburg) filed the bills hoping more mediation would lead to fewer evictions while still ensuring landlords are paid.

• Mediation is an option in some courts that handle evictions but isn't always required.
• Plus, eviction hearings favor landlords. Only around 10% of tenants are represented, compared to 80-90% of landlords, Dutton said.

Plus, sealing court records would give tenants a fairer shot at finding better housing and job opportunities, Rouson said.

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