'We're really nervous': Evictions in Oklahoma City are rising as rent help is running out

Dozens of people crowded the sixth floor of the Oklahoma County Courthouse on Thursday morning, some filing into a packed courtroom while others waited in the hall.

Eviction court starts at 10 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and the last few months have seen an increase in cases, with nearly 300 on the docket some days. This is "almost completely unmanageable," said Legal Aid attorney Victoria Wilson.

"The judge calls roll at about 10 o'clock every morning, and we have about two hours before they're supposed to break for lunch," Wilson said. "We're trying to work dozens of cases ... and we can get stalled by opposing counsel, all kinds of things can happen that delay us."

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The rise in Oklahoma County evictions comes as rents have skyrocketed and the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance program — which has been providing back and future rent up to 15 months for tenants since March 2021 — is expected to spend its remaining $9.9 million by the end of this year.

Local evictions dropped dramatically at the start of the pandemic and remained below average most months until the start of 2022. The number of evictions has risen by up to 56% above average in the past few months, and has been trending upward since the end of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's eviction moratorium in August 2021, according to data provided by the Legal Services Corp.

Amid the rising number of eviction cases, the Homeless Alliance has stepped in and helped an average of 10 households per week the last few months using its own Housing and Urban Development grants, said Alliance Executive Director Dan Straughan. With the emergency rental dollars running out soon, Straughan said he anticipates a further increase in evictions and homelessness.

"We're really nervous," Straughan said. "That sort of thing drives Oklahoma City's homeless numbers more than anything else. If we are not able to find a way to address those issues — like reform of landlord tenant laws and affirmative right to counsel in eviction court — we could really see the numbers go up, and the resources just aren't there."

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Rental assistance is answer to prayer for some, while some landlords refuse it

Vivian Young arrived to court Thursday morning hoping, like so many others, to avoid having to leave her home. Young told The Oklahoman she got behind on her rent after being sick and unable to work for three weeks.

Young already had filled out an application with Community Cares Partners, and said she was going to be able to get assistance.

"It was like the greatest feeling ever," Young said of finding out her application had been accepted. "My prayers are answered, and that gives me a chance to be able to build everything up again from being ill."

More than 12,000 households have been helped by the program in Oklahoma City and Oklahoma County, a total of $34.4 million spent. Throughout the state, Community Cares Partners has helped nearly 57,000 households and spent $227.9 million.

While most landlords are willing to wait a couple of months for the rental assistance to come in, they're not required to.

Some, like Judy Starnes' landlord, refuse to. Starnes told The Oklahoman her apartment flooded last fall, and nothing has been done to repair the unit or move her to a new one despite requests.

"There was mold in the apartment, and I had to leave because I'm on oxygen and have lung issues," Starnes said.

"No one ever came, no one ever did (anything)," she added.

After staying with friends, and sometimes even in her car, for months, Starnes received notice from the apartment's new management that she was being evicted due to her lack of rent payments. At court Thursday, Starnes was told the apartment would not be accepting any rental assistance and was preparing to be seen by the judge to have her case decided.

Community Cares Partners to fund new programs in hopes of combatting rising evictions

With its direct ability to keep people housed soon coming to an end, Community Cares Partners has plans to combat the rising number of evictions.

Carl said with the 10% of Community Cares Partners' funds allotted for working with housing stability partners, the organization will fund the hiring of 50 more attorneys by Legal Aid to place in housing and other civil matters. It will also work with Legal Link to train more people in "legal first aid," Carl said.

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Finally, a landlord-tenant resource center, modeled after a center in Tulsa, will be set up to provide proactive services and ensure tenants know their rights.

"It's not going to change the world overnight," Carl said. "But you start putting these things in place, and you start educating and improving communications, slowly but surely things should turn better."

These three programs will be funded through 2023, for an estimated $19 million, but Carl said continuing funds will be sought through grants and local government sources.

Straughan said the money from Community Cares Partners to start these programs allows future funders to see what impact they have before providing money.

"It gives us 15 to 16 months of experience that we can then (take) to funders ... and say, 'Look how effective this is, you should continue to fund it,'" Straughan said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma City evictions are on the rise as rent help is depleted