Evictions begin to drop during the pandemic

Evictions are slowly decreasing after a few months into the pandemic, allowing some sense of relief. Laura Carmichael of Meridian Community Development says they have been assisting residents as best they can.

“Our main goal was to educate, to work with residents if there was anything we could do and work them through that process with the time they had--just mainly education. We did get a lot of phone calls.”

The CDC has issued a temporary eviction moratorium order to temporarily pause some evictions for nonpayment through December 31st, but with some requirements attached.

“As a city, we do want to make sure that anything that the CDC, the federal government-- anybody that is putting out COVID related--whether it be guidelines for safety or guidelines for eviction and helping small businesses and large businesses through this, we just want to be a resource as well.”

According to the Lauderdale County Justice Court, evictions and suits have drastically decreased from the year 2019 to 2020. From March 1, 2019 to September 30, 2019--845 evictions were filed and 1,641 suits were filed which is a total of 2,486. March 1, 2020 to September 30,2020--397 evictions were filled and 1,126 suites, totaling to be 1,523.

Carmichael advises residents to speak with a landlord or court for extensions.

“Talk first to their landlord or the people they are leasing or renting from and then secondly, talk to the court and see what other steps could be taken to may be extend that time just a little bit.”