Maricopa County has seen an increase in eviction filings over the past four years, setting new records, but courts, advocacy groups and state officials are trying to highlight the resources available to people facing eviction. There is.
At the Southwest Regional Justice Center in Avondale, judges, legal advocates, state agency officials, and landlord and tenant representatives spoke about the ongoing increase in evictions as reporters passed by. He gave a speech to a small crowd who had gathered to hear his thoughts. A press conference on the way to his own court hearing.
“We did not witness that terrible tsunami (What officials and advocates expected),” Maricopa County Chief Justice of the Peace Anna Huberman told the crowd, adding that if anything, it was a “rising tide.”
Four years after the coronavirus pandemic began, state and federal officials have suspended many evictions, leading to record low numbers in Maricopa County and across the nation. However, since then, the number has increased every year.
That “rising tide” has led to a 21% increase in eviction filings in the county over the past four years. Last year, the county set new records for total eviction filings almost every month. In January of this year, the county saw its highest number ever recorded. More than 8,000 items.
Get your morning headlines.
Not all eviction filings result in the tenant being evicted. According to the Maricopa County Justice Court, up to one in three people are fired if the tenant chooses to pay and stay or if the landlord does not seek a court settlement.
Since 2000, the average number of eviction filings in August is approximately 6,274. Last year, Maricopa County saw a 22% increase in eviction filings to 7,693 in the same month.
This increase has been broadly consistent for most of last year, with average filings increasing by 16% to 26% each month. Three of the months with the most eviction filings occurred in either 2023 or 2024.
As evictions become more common, homeless in arizonaI saw 21% increase From 2020 to 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This prompted the federal government to take the following measures: additional assistance To Phoenix.
But court officials are also looking on the bright side.
Nearly one-third of all lawsuits filed last year were sealed. These 27,494 sealed cases mean the eviction notice will not appear on a tenant’s credit report. Having an eviction filing on your record can be a major barrier for tenants looking for housing.
Huberman also touted the court’s ability to hold virtual hearings, saying more tenants are now appearing in court. If the tenant does not show up to the hearing, additional resources are often not available from the court and the court is more likely to side with the landlord.
Mr. Huberman said people who were unable to attend due to childcare, health or work issues could attend the hearing and find an amicable agreement or receive additional resources to assist them if they faced eviction. He said he was able to do it now.
“Being number one in any field that deals with evictions is not something that pleases me,” Magistrate Sharon Soules said. Her courthouse handles the highest number of eviction filings in the county.
Soles said evictions can sometimes be a “necessary remedy” to deal with tenants who engage in violent or criminal behavior or refuse to pay rent.
“We cannot judge based on empathy and sympathy alone. We can only judge based on the rule of law,” Soles said.
Both Huberman and Soles said tenants who end up facing eviction will be given resources as they exit court. These include resources to help you find supportive housing, legal aid, and payment assistance.
April Jones, who works in community engagement for the Arizona Department of Economic Security, touted the organization’s: Arizona Rental Assistance Program This allows eligible households to receive up to three months’ worth of rent. However, some in the audience said landlords sometimes refuse to accept these payments or tenants fail to pay in time.
The program is federally funded and has enough money to get through June, Jones said. summer is already over Month with historically high number of eviction applications The county is also experiencing record heat and heat-related deaths. There were more than 7,000 evictions last July, with an average judgment of about $3,179.
Courtney Levinas, CEO of the Arizona Multifamily Housing Association, which often works on behalf of landlords and developers, said the rise in evictions is a symptom of a larger problem: a lack of affordable housing. said.
The state is estimated to have a shortage of more than 270,000 affordable housing units, including more than 160,000 in Phoenix alone.
Levinas cited two bills her group is pushing as possible solutions.
House Bill 2297 This law authorizes municipalities with a population of more than 150,000 to permit multifamily development or adaptive reuse of up to 10% of all existing commercial, office, or mixed-use buildings within the municipality. It is mandatory.
Senate Bill 1162 Local authorities will be required to carry out housing needs assessments starting from January 2025 and every five years thereafter. It would also speed up the zoning permit process, which has frustrated some developers who want to build affordable housing.
Governor Katie Hobbs has already vetoed a bill This year, it targeted affordable housing, citing concerns about how the bill could lead to a lack of control by cities and towns.
When asked how the courts deal with the flood of eviction filings and how they respond to criticism that they “rubber stamp” cases, Huberman and Salsa said they look at all the files. The company stated that it has confirmed that it has conducted due diligence.
“We are not going to rubber stamp or sign the judgments that are issued,” Huberman said, adding that landowners often express concerns about the judgments they seek.
Soles said he tries to involve tenants in the legal process because many tenants’ failure to appear can give that impression.
“It may look like a rubber stamp, but I would say we are working efficiently,” Soles said.
Huberman added that before the county saw a “surge” in evictions, eviction cases were only occurring on Thursday mornings. Now her Thursday is spent at that hearing.
If you or a loved one is facing eviction, you can visit the following locations: AzEvictionHelp.org or Regional legal services Seeking resources and support.
You make our work possible.
