Variation in State-Level Eviction Moratorium Protections and Mental Health Among US Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Source:

Leifheit KM, Pollack CE, Raifman J, et al. Variation in State-Level Eviction Moratorium Protections and Mental Health Among US Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(12):e2139585. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.39585

Key Points

Question  Which eviction protections were associated with reduced mental distress among renters during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Findings  In this cohort study assessing data from 2317 adult respondents of the Understanding Coronavirus in America Survey, moratoriums that blocked landlords from giving notice or filing for evictions were associated with a relative reduction in mental distress of approximately 13%, whereas protections that blocked only court hearings, judgments, and enforcement did not reduce distress significantly.

Meaning  Findings indicate that only moratoriums that blocked eviction notice and filing were associated with reduced renter distress, suggesting that to protect renters’ mental health, interventions should aim to prevent evictions before filing.