Short Wave Housing and COVID: Why helping people pay rent can help fight the pandemic
Nov 4, 2021
Selena Simmons-Duffin, an NPR health policy correspondent, explores the crucial intersection of housing insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares compelling stories of families facing eviction and the dire health risks that come from living in close quarters. The discussion dives into how eviction moratoriums aim to mitigate virus spread and the urgent need for rental assistance programs as policies shift. Through research and personal accounts, Selena highlights how stable housing is essential for both individual well-being and public health.
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Family's COVID-19 Experience
- Erica Cuellar's family moved in with her father to avoid eviction during the pandemic.
- This increased their risk of COVID-19 exposure, and the entire family, including her father, contracted the virus.
Eviction and COVID-19 Spread
- Eviction moratoriums can slow COVID-19 spread.
- Increased household crowding from evictions elevates transmission risks.
Moratoriums' Impact
- Eviction moratoriums demonstrably reduced COVID-19 cases and deaths.
- Research shows states lifting moratoriums experienced a surge in both.