Maricopa County, Arizona – Landlord is applying for eviction Maricopa County at the rate seen before COVID-19 Pandemicand now the county needs more tenants.

But can the distribution of relief funds keep up with the pace of evictions happening across the Valley? An Avondale woman says she is about to move out of her home while she waits for help.

All I needed was to default on my rent payments and pile up late fees. It’s a slippery slope to an eviction application.

For Natalie Baker, months passed before her rental assistance application was successfully submitted. By then it was already too late.

“I’m 57 and I’ve never done anything like this in my life,” she said.

After living in an Avondale rental home for nearly five years, it’s time to move on.

“I admit that I am renting,” Baker said.

In early July, a judge approved an eviction action for nonpayment of rent, but Baker says he learned he needed help with rent when he first called Maricopa County’s welfare department in May.

“I keep calling Maricopa County as well. Maricopa County has never contacted me. Baker said.

Her application was incomplete for about eight weeks until county staff helped her with the application. According to her assessor’s website, she is now giving her more than $10,000, including several months of her rent, late fees and legal fees, to her landlord, Progress Residential. I am indebted. .

Meanwhile, eviction applications are back to pre-pandemic levels in Maricopa County.

As of June 2022, landlords have filed 5,792 evictions, a 10% increase compared to 5,256 in February 2020.

Moratorium Expires, Rental Assistance Applications Increase

Remember the COVID-19 eviction moratorium?

With multiple extensions, the nationwide ban on evictions during the pandemic has lasted until the end of September 2021. Since it expired, evictions in Maricopa County have skyrocketed, averaging about 4,700 per month.

Today, the county’s Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program is working.

Is Maricopa County seeing more applicants seeking more rental assistance this year?

“There was a small but steady increase in rental assistance applications last month. The numbers will continue to grow,” explains Maricopa County Welfare Director Jacqueline Edwards.

The ERA program will provide rental assistance to residents living outside of Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, Gilbert and Chandler, as cities already have programs in place.

“We understand that the crisis they are facing is very stressful, so we want to work with those in need of assistance as soon as possible to help alleviate it,” Edwards said. I want to do everything in my power to help you.

From March 19, 2021 to July 8, 2022, the ERA will spend approximately $80 million in rent and utility assistance, according to county data. The average rental assistance payment is $9,401.

According to federal guidelines, households below 80% of the regional median income are eligible.

A county spokesperson said it takes about two weeks from the time the application is completed and approved until the landlord receives payment.

For Baker, the process hasn’t been smooth, she says.

“In this particular case, there was no landlord verification form, so as soon as we got the information from the client, we tried to reach out to the landlord and get the information we needed to process this client’s application.” Mr Edwards said.

FOX10 Investigates reached out to Progress Residential about Baker’s pending eviction.

“At Progress, we provide a range of resources to assist residents going through difficult times with the goal of helping them stay home. I promise to do so. Residents should avoid that possibility.”

Baker says her fate depends on the company.

“My residency is now in the hands of Progress Residential as the county is finally ready to do what it should have done months ago.

“I’ve never been in such a predicament”

“What I’ve heard recently is that people are having trouble getting rental assistance,” says Judge Anna Huberman, who presides over the West Valley-focused Country Meadows district.

Her jurisdiction suffers the second highest number of eviction applications in Maricopa County, averaging about 356 per month.

She describes this as a disadvantage for financially struggling tenants.

“There are very few legal defenses against non-payment of rent. Most cases we hear of are non-payment of rent. It is very difficult for tenants. But most of what we were listening to was a pain,” explains Huberman.

It’s rare to see a tenant with a legal defense in court to fight eviction.

“More than 90% of tenants and evictions are not represented by a lawyer.” community legal servicesa non-profit law firm that advocates for low-income Arizonas.

She says more landlords are raising rents or choosing not to renew leases.

For Baker, monthly rent has increased from about $1,400 in 2018 to $1,900 this year. Utilities not included.

“Worse than before we had the highest eviction rates in the national news, we now have thousands of tenants making judgments about their records because of COVID,” Bridge said. rice field.

That decision will ultimately determine whether or not you can borrow it next time.

Baker said he finally got help from Progress Residential and hopes someone there will provide the county with the information he needs.

At this point, the rental assistance payment does not change the eviction judgment for Baker.

What will she do if eventually physically kicked out?

“I’ve never been in a situation like this, so I don’t know. I don’t know what to do,” she says.