However, the pandemic worsened the issues that already existed. In America, millions live paycheck-to-paycheck. And while renters might have once been able to just keep up with their rent payments, even a temporary layoff could result in an inability to make good on those monthly payments.
Initially, an eviction moratorium was put in place. This would prevent landlords from evicting tenants due to unpaid rent, understanding that the pandemic caused many people to go without jobs. While this was a temporary fix, it did not change the fact that people were without incomes and may not have the ability to find new jobs in a timely manner. Essentially, Americans were experiencing not only job loss but job shortages, which meant that they were not able to change their income status prior to the moratorium’s end.