In late August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a national emergency order halting evictions for renters facing economic hardship through the end of the year. The order temporarily protects 43 million renters who have lost jobs because of the COVID-19 pandemic stay in their homes. However, states aren’t consistently enforcing it, and even in places with consistent enforcement and stronger protections, rent is still due.

The CDC order also does not include any resources for rental assistance, and the prospects for additional federal relief remain dim. Without further federal action, the country is likely to face an unprecedented surge in evictions when the CDC order and state and local moratoria expire.

Yet the CDC order does include a suggestion from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that philanthropy should provide funds to fill gaps in rental assistance to ensure “critical needs are sufficiently addressed.”

The CDC order came in the nick of time. But HUD’s suggestion that philanthropy should fill gaps in federal support is misguided. Philanthropic resources don’t come close to meeting the need. Foundations gave more than $75 billion to all causes in all of 2019, which was a record high. But even if foundations redirected all giving to rental assistance, it would still fall short of the $12–13 billion per month our colleagues estimate is needed to ensure housing stability for renters affected by COVID-19.

Yes, philanthropy should be a partner in addressing the housing crisis, but the gap it fills should complement, not replace, the public sector’s critical role in providing much-needed relief for renters.

Read the full article about supporting relief for rising evictions during COVID-19 by Monique King-Viehland, Solomon Greene, and Shena Ashley at Urban Institute.