Rent payment: Americans are having trouble settling their dues


Due to the current pandemic, a lot of people are having difficulties completing their rent payment. The latest data from the National Multifamily Housing Council has revealed that approximately 31% of US renters, that is 13.4 million, did not do so between April 1 and April 5. During the same period in 2019, the needful was done on time by 82% of households. This change is attributed to the fact that a lot of people are filing for unemployment.

There are 44 million renter households and the above number only reflects 13.4 million units, excluding subsidised housing. Priscilla Almodovar, CEO of Enterprise Community Partners, advanced that the fact that Americans are unable to pay their rent may be due to logistical challenges. For instance, many offices were closed and standard operating procedures for much of daily life was disrupted. Thus, we may not have an accurate picture of the situation until the end of May. She said, “People were working in March. April rent may have come from their savings. […]  Now they may be unemployed, and we don't know what resources will get to them in time for May”. As such, her organisation, a national non-profit developing affordable housing, is calling for direct rental assistance. This involves struggling tenants’ rent being paid by the government.
US renters are having trouble due to unemployment

Comments