Following a report on the eviction process in Washington, D.C., Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy hosted a panel discussion with the report’s authors, city officials, housing advocates, and lawyers to discuss the research.
Professors Brian McCabe and Eva Rosen explained the major implications of their findings: eviction prevention is an economic and racial justice issue, access to legal counsel helps level the playing field for tenants, record sealing is essential to prevent harm and stigma and emergency assistance can prevent evictions by keeping renters out of court…..
Polly Donaldson, director of D.C.’s Department of Housing and Community Development, explained a few efforts the District has taken so far in an effort to address access to housing complications during the pandemic. The city has completed over a dozen new affordable housing projects since the state of emergency began in March, and has increased emergency rental assistance. Although Donaldson said the department was working to put a system in place to address increased need, she emphasized the need for funding from another stimulus.
Georgetown Voice/Paul James