Housing Studies Publishes an Article on the Impact of Eviction Filings for Tenants and Families
Jan 20, 2026
By Ella Izenour, Opportunity Starts at Home Intern
Housing Studies, an international journal that shares research developments in the housing field, recently published an article, “Record costs: examining the impact of eviction filings for tenants and their families,” examining the short- and long-term consequences of eviction filings regardless of court outcomes. Using survey data and qualitative mapping from Pennsylvania tenants who had an eviction case filed against them between 2019 and 2023, received legal aid and support, and had their cases resolved neutrally or favorably, the study finds that eviction filings alone trigger widespread and lasting harm to tenants’ housing stability, health, relationships, and financial security.
The article reveals that eviction-related harms occur even without a formal eviction judgment or court-ordered displacement. Eviction threats are associated with mental health challenges, parental stress, and increased risk of COVID-19 infection and death. Many study participants reported feeling forced to move after their cases due to unresolved maintenance issues, steep rent increases, or prolonged harassment and hostile landlord relationships that made their homes feel unsafe. Eviction filings also created long-term barriers to future housing access, quality, and stability. Tenants who moved after a filing often struggled to secure housing because of the record, incurring repeated application fees and additional costs that exacerbated financial hardship. Nearly half of those who moved experienced a subsequent period of homelessness, and some accepted substandard or unsafe housing to secure a degree of stability. Among tenants who continued renting after a filing, rents increased, and three-quarters of this group faced unaffordable rent burdens.
The authors argue that eviction should be understood not as an isolated event but as a prolonged, extractive, and often cyclical process that extends beyond the courtroom. The findings show that eviction filing and tenant screening practices intensify the rental housing crisis and further restrict access to safe and affordable housing for low- and middle-income renters. The article concludes by calling for broader definitions of forced displacement that include repair-induced moves, stronger tenant protections through improved code enforcement and anti-retaliation measures, and legislation to seal eviction records.
Read the article here.
To learn more about the impact of eviction threats, listen to the OSAH podcast episode with New America here.