Today I had a lengthy article posted on multifamilyexecutive.com about evictions and looming deadlines for residents, owners and Congress. This portion didn't make the final version of the story. It details the eviction court situation in a few markets.

Update: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is asking for the ban to continue until Sept. 7 to “provide my administration the time to both work with the General Assembly to develop and pass a legislative package that will provide additional relief to those facing eviction” and to expand the financial assistance available through his rent relief program, which he launched at the beginning of July using $50 million in federal CARES Act funding.

Local statistics are being reported about residents’ request for legal help. According to Legal Services Corp., based in Washington, D.C., and news reports:

Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corp has seen a nearly 200 percent YoY increase in evictions from March 13 through May 30 as compared to the same time period in 2019.

Central Jersey Legal Services anticipates a 30 percent decrease in state funding for FY 2021; its case numbers are higher than the same period last year and rising.

Kentucky Legal Aid said the number of unemployment claims filed since the start of the COVID-19 crisis is 3,472 percent higher than last year and many claimants remain unable to even access their unemployment insurance benefits due to the systematic backlog and insurmountable number of claims statewide.

In Maine, the Pine Tree Legal Assistance anticipates that the financial crisis will outlast the health crisis, which will lead to Mainers having additional civil legal needs regarding housing, etc. The state’s courts will be closed to evictions at least through at Aug. 3. During that time period, it estimates that 2,000 evictions claims cases should have been heard statewide and the court will need to address the backlog.

When Shelby County courts reopened in June, more than 9,000 evictions were on the docket. With protections and soon the $600-a-week unemployment payments ending, lawyers are bracing more evictions to be filed. The Memphis A Legal Services partnered with the City of Memphis and Shelby County to establish a $2 million eviction protection fund for people facing evictions as result of COVID-19. More than 1,000 people have applied since the application portal opened.