Our current economic fallout threatens to significantly exacerbate housing instability and homelessness throughout the U.S., including in Utah. Congress must take bold action to help those who are already struggling to make ends meet by including emergency rental assistance in the next COVID-19 response package.

Even before the pandemic, far too many of America’s lowest-income households — seniors, people with disabilities, low-wage workers — were just one financial shock away from falling behind on their rent and threatened with eviction, and in the worst cases, homelessness. With too many renters living paycheck to paycheck, a broken-down car, a sick child or missed days at work can put someone at imminent risk of losing their home. 

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According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, nearly 11 million households — primarily renters with low incomes — pay more than half of their limited incomes on rent, leaving very little for other basic needs such as groceries, childcare or medicines. Affordable housing was already out of reach for millions of people, and the economic disruption they are currently experiencing because of coronavirus adds to the many nearly insurmountable challenges low-income renters were already trying to navigate. They are at extreme risk of joining the more than half a million Americans who, on any given night, have no home at all, wholly unable to “shelter in place.”

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were only 31 rental homes affordable and available for every 100 of the lowest-income renter households in Utah. Working at the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour in Utah, a wage earner needed to work 2.1 full-time jobs, or 81 hours per week, to afford a modest one-bedroom apartment. They must work 2.5 full-time jobs, or 101 hours per week, to afford a two-bedroom apartment. Unless Congress acts immediately to provide emergency rental assistance to millions of low wage workers, it will have a catastrophic effect during the recovery of our nation. Without our workers, we will not have an economy.

The CARES Act was an important first step, but it did not provide the resources needed to prevent low-income renters from losing their homes. An unprecedented 126,000 Utahns have applied for unemployment insurance benefits, but many do not qualify. And for those who do receive unemployment insurance, the benefits are often insufficient to relieve the cost burdens (including housing) of the lowest-income households.

For far too long, Congress has underfunded critical, income-targeted programs such as the National Housing Trust Fund, Housing Choice Vouchers and programs to repair public housing, worsening the nation’s affordable housing crisis. They must act now to mitigate the economic shock millions of Americans are currently facing due to coronavirus. The NLIHC estimates that $703,058,211 in emergency rental assistance is needed in Utah to keep families housed.

It is not just housing advocates calling for emergency rental assistance. Leaders in health, education, hunger, faith, civil rights, environmental protection and others are calling for the same thing. Groups like the National Education Association, the National League of Cities, the National Association of Community Health Centers, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and many more understand that stable housing is the foundation to one’s well-being and is desperately needed now.

At a time when our collective health depends on people’s ability to stay at home, it has never been clearer that housing is health care. Without emergency rental assistance, we will likely see even more people become homeless or be forced to double or triple up with other families. Overcrowding of households, sleeping in congregate shelters and living outside under the elements all lead to increased infections. Lives are at risk.

“At a time when our collective health depends on people’s ability to stay at home, it has never been clearer that housing is health care.” — Tara Rollins and Diane Yentel

At least $100 billion is needed nationally. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Reps. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., and Denny Heck, D-Was., more than 135 original co-sponsors in the House and more than 30 original co-sponsors in the Senate recently introduced the “Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act” to invest that level of funding for such emergency rental assistance. Congress must support this important bill and ensure it is included in the next COVID-19 response package.

During this pandemic, the very least Congress must do is ensure that everyone is stably housed. This is not just an economic necessity, but a moral and health imperative. We must protect those who are most at risk during this pandemic.

Tara Rollins is the executive director of the Utah Housing Coalition and a former board member of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Diane Yentel is the president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.