Nebraska eviction cases set to increase if federal ban ends

A legal aide says there could be an influx of more eviction cases at the end of the federal ban.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A legal aide says there could be an influx of more eviction cases at the end of the federal ban.

Former President Trump issued the eviction ban back in September at the height of the pandemic, protecting people from being evicted if they couldn’t pay their rent during that tough time. 

But that is set to expire June 30 and it puts millions at risk for eviction, some of those right here in Nebraska.

“We have an expectation that with the end of the CDC moratorium on June 30, we are going to see a substantial increase in eviction filings across the state,” said Scott Mertz, Legal Aid of Nebraska.

Just this week, a local organization is supporting about 80 individuals and families who face eviction.

They all have court hearings this month. So how are evictions still happening under a federal ban?

Mertz says the CDC moratorium is a public health order and the Trump administration strengthened it by requiring tenants to sign a document to have that protection.

But in some cases, it still has been ignored.

“We also see many landlords, disregarding the CDC order, even when tenants have properly filled it out, and there are certainly evictions that happen that are not protected by the CDC order as well.”

He says though numbers have been lower, his team expects eviction cases to increase more than pre-pandemic numbers if the ban is not extended.

For those in Lancaster County struggling, there is emergency rental assistance available and Mertz says sign up and speak to an attorney before it’s too late.

“Do reach out, be proactive,” said Mertz. “If you are in fear of losing your housing because you think you’re going to be evicted. The sooner you connect with an attorney, the more likely you are to protect yourself and prevent that eviction.”

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