We appreciate and applaud the decisive leadership of Governor Mike DeWine in taking increasingly stringent steps to limit the spread of COVID-19. These steps will protect our health care system from becoming overburdened and save lives. 
As we all work to change our habits and routines to abide by the recommendations and policies the Governor has put in place, we know their impact will be greater on the poorest Ohioans. More steps need to be taken to slow the spread of the virus and to give all Ohioans the ability to comply with the stay-at-home order.
The closure of businesses and schools has already caused a predictable widespread negative effect on the income of low-wage workers, which will make it harder for them to pay for rent. These unpreventable pay cuts will lead to increases in evictions as property owners have no choice but to find other tenants to meet their mortgage obligations. The eviction process itself and the displacement or homelessness that follows will quicken the spread of the virus—not slow it—undermining the state’s ability to effectively enforce its public health orders and isolation policies.
Ohio needs a statewide uniform moratorium on evictions. Last week, Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor encouraged courts to temporarily stay evictions, but she does not believe she has the authority to issue a statewide moratorium without approval from the General Assembly. To date, many local courts have acted to halt evictions, but many have not. Some are delaying hearings; others are not taking new filings. Some are pausing hearings for a week or two, others a month or more. The policies vary greatly from court to court.
We are calling on our lawmakers to enact or to give authority to the Ohio Supreme Court to initiate a temporary stay of eviction filings for nonpayment of rent or other issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the stay-at-home order and for a period that follows, it is critical that Ohioans abide by the administration’s public health orders. Evictions must be placed on hold to ensure that Ohioans experiencing financial and job losses do not lose their homes and face displacement and potentially enter homeless shelters or other group settings that contribute to the spread of the virus.
Rent will be due for many Ohioans on April 1.
It is the April 1 rent due date that makes this call for a moratorium urgent. If no action is taken, there could be a surge of evictions because more families are not able to meet their rent obligations.
Once an eviction order is granted, typically the sheriff’s office would be required to enforce the eviction, risking further exposure and distracting law enforcement away from other more pressing demands in this time of emergency.
Once evicted, families would be doubling up with friends or relatives or entering already crowded shelters. Shelters always pose a risk for the spread of infectious diseases because there is no ability to quarantine sick or exposed clients.
Without a statewide policy, we worry that the effectiveness of COVID-19 mitigation policies, like the stay-at-home order, will be reduced.
Several states have already placed a moratorium on evictions including Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, and New York. As the virus spreads throughout Ohio at an accelerating rate, state action and uniformity are necessary to ensure all Ohioans can remain in their homes while ordered to do so.
An eviction moratorium is not an invitation for renters to not pay rent. There are challenges for both renters and property owners, and we want them to work together to find a solution. However, we are also proposing to combine a moratorium on evictions with targeted rental assistance to ensure the success of that policy, while stabilizing the housing market and avoiding widespread economic disruptions. Preventing evictions, when combined with other supports, will stabilize housing for both renters and property owners and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
There is a long list of organizations that are also calling for a statewide eviction moratorium including:
– Ohio Nurses Association.
– Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio.
– Ohio Association of Foodbanks.
– Public Children’s Services Association of Ohio.
– Ohio CDC Association.
– The Center for Community Solutions.
– Hunger Network in Ohio.
We ask that you join us in a call for a temporary, statewide eviction moratorium.