Five Ways to Stop Evictions Before They Happen
October 12, 2023
Published by United Way of Southern Maine
Even before the outbreak of Covid-19, some 1.5 million U.S. households received an eviction judgment each year, impacting nearly 3.8 million individuals.
Additionally, there is evidence that the number of informal displacements could be twice as high, leaving over 11 million people at risk of displacement each year when considering both formal and informal evictions. That scale equates to potentially displacing, on an annual basis, more than every single resident of New York City and Chicago – the nation’s first and third most populous cities – combined.
Now, with inflation on the rise and millions of Americans still saying they’re unsure if they’ll be able to afford rent next month, preventing eviction and supporting long-term housing stability are urgent national imperatives.
The Maine Association for Public Interest Law (MAPIL) auction is a time honored Maine Law tradition, one that has been going strong for 37 years. An integral part of this tradition is also the presentation of the Excellence in Public Service Award, conferred to a Maine Law alum who has dedicated their career to lawyering in the public interest. This year’s recipient, Victoria Morales ‘05, currently serves as Executive Director of Quality Housing Coalition, a Maine-based nonprofit devoted to tackling the many facets of the affordable housing crisis in the state
For the last four years, the authority has been circulating 17 housing vouchers for young people aging out of foster care. Now they are getting an additional 13.
More than 1,500 are queued up, hoping to receive up to $800 a month in rent relief and a one-time payment to catch up on back rent.
Maine Calling
