The pandemic and ensuing unemployment created a lot of questions for many people on how they’re going to pay rent.
The research from the Guinn Center shows the potential number of Nevadans struggling to pay rent could be well into the hundreds of thousands in the near future.
Jeremy Chen reports.
COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY PAYINGRENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.NEW RESEARCH PAINTS A GRIMPICTURE.13 ACTION NEWS REPORTER JEREMYCHEN IS LIVE SHOW YOU WHATTHOSE NUMBERS MEAN.THE PANDEMIC AND ENSUINGUNEMPLOYMENT CREATED A LOT OFQUESTIONS FOR MANY PEOPLE- ONHOW THEY'RE GOING TO PAY RENT.THE RESEARCH FROM THE GUINNCENTER SHOWS THE POTENTIALNUMBER OF NEVADANS STRUGGLINGTO PAY RENT COULD BE WELL INTOTHE HUNDREDS OF THOUSDANDS INTHE NEAR FUTURE.HOW TO PAY RENT?
THE QUESTIONHAS BEEN ON THE MIND OF MANYTENANTS DURING THE PANDEMIC.RESEARCH FROM THE GUINN CENTERPAINTSA CONCERNING PICTURE- SHOWINGBETWEEN 272,000 AND 327,000NEVADANS COULD STRUGGLE PAYINGTHEIR RENT BY SEPTEMBER OF THISYEAR.WHEN THE STATE'SRESIDENTIAL EVICTION MORATORIUMIS LIFTED."IT ISN'T SURPRISING BECAUSE OFCASH FLOW ISSUES THAT WE WOULDSEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BUTLOW-INCOME AND PEOPLE OF COLORARE SOME OF THE MOSTVULNERABLE.THAT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE OF COLORMAKE UP A BIG PART OF THELOCAL HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY,WHICH HAS BEEN HIT HARDFINANCIALLY BY THE PANDEMIC.SHE EXPLAINS THE CASH FLOWISSUE COMES IN DIFFERENTFORMS- FROM UNEXPECTED MEDICALEXPENSES OR BENEFITS FROMSOURCES LIKE UNEMPLOYMENTINSURANCE BEING DELAYED OR NOTENOUGH."THERE'S BEEN A BACKLOG ANDISSUES WITH OLD LEGACY SYSTEMTHAT HAVEN'T BEEN AVAILABLE FORPROCESSING." THE GUIIN CENTERSUGGESTED SOME SHORT-TERMACTIONS FOR LAWMAKERS TOCONSIDER- SUCH AS SUSPENDINGLATE FEES ON RENT ANDESTABLISHINGA MEDIATION PROGRAMFOR TENANTS AND LANDLORD.IT'S SOMETHING ATTORNEY THOMASFELL SAYS IS A GOOD IDEA.HE IS ALREADY SEEING LANDLORDSAND TENANTS MAKE DEALS."EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE AWARE OFTHE CRISIS THIS PANDEMIC HASCAUSED, WHETHER IT'S THEUNEMPLOYMENT OR THE SHUTDOWNAND EVERYTHING ABOUT IT."LEVINE SAYS- THE CENTER'SREPORT COULD COMPEL LAWMAKERSTO TAKE ACTION."CERTAINLY, THERE MIGHT BE ANOPPORTUNITY WITH THEILLUMINATION OF THIS POTENTIALCRISIS TO ADDRESS THAT AS APOLICY CONCERN.THE RESIDENTIAL EVICTIONMORATORIUM IS SET TO EXPIRE ATTHE END OF AUGUST- WHILECOMMCERCIAL EVICTIONS WEREALLOWED AGAIN AT THE BEGINNINGOF THIS MONTH.JEREMY CHEN 13 ACTION NEWS.THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHAND HUMAN SERVICES IS NOW