Concern growing over evictions during pandemic

With so many people on unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many are wondering where rent and money for other bills is going to come from.

FIRST TIME.IN JUST OVER A WEEK -RENT IS DUE - AND RIGHTNOW - SO MANY PEOPLEDON'T KNOW WHERE THATMONEY WILL COME FROM.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER NICK STARLINGGIVES US A CLOSER LOOKAT THE STRUGGLE - ASPEOPLE DO EVERYTHINGTHEY CAN TO KEEP A ROOFOVER THEIR HEADS.NICK STARLINGWITH SO MANY PEOPLE ONUNEMPLOYMENT-AND THEUNCERTAINTY OF WHENTHEY WILL GET A JOB-IT'STOUGH FOR MANY TO PAYTHIER BILLS-AND CONCERN ISGROWING -- BECAUSE INTHE COMING WEEKS --BENEFITS EXPIRE -- ANDRENT AND MORTGAGEPAYMENTS ARE DUE RIGHTAFTER.Tiana Caldwell, worried aboutevictionsFor people who are alreadyhousing insecure, COVID-19has kind of pushed us overthe edge.IT'S A STRUGGLE FORTIANA CALDWELL TO PAYTHE RENT RIGHT NOW-THETWO-TIME CANCERSURVIVOR WAS LAID OFFDURING THE PANDEMIC...Tiana Caldwell, worried aboutevictionsWe're just trying to make it.WITH BENEFITSEXPIRING-MANY FAMILIESARE FACING THECHALLENGE.Edwin Lowndes-Exec.

Dir.

For theHousing Authority of KansasCity,MOOur biggest fear is the influxoffamilies that we have on ourwait list, our wait list on ourvoucher program is nowapproaching 10, families andnearly 9 thousand for publichousing.EDWIN LOWDES IS THEEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FORTHE HOUSING AUTHORITYOF KCMO-AND SAYS ABOUT30-40 PERCENT OF THEFAMILIES THEY SERVE AREUNEMPLOYED BECAUSE OFTHE PANDEMIC--AND THEYPAY RENT BASED ON THEIRINCOME.Edwin Lowndes-Exec.

Dir.

For theHousing Authority of KansasCity,MOWhile we have funds tooperate the program as is, wesee there's a much higherneed that is not being met.LOWNDES SAYS MANYHOUSING PROVIDERS TRYTO WORK OUT A FINANCIALPLAN IF THE TENANTSCANNOT PAY RIGHT AWAY.Edwin Lowndes-Exec.

Dir.

For theHousing Authority of KansasCity,MOGet out in front of it, talk tothetenants make sure they knowthat A, they do owe the rentbut two, work with them ongetting back caught up sothey're not facing a situationthat could happen into thefuture.MEANWHILE SENATEREPUBLICANS AREWORKING ON ANOTHERRELIEF BILL TO EXTENDBENEFITS AND ANOTHERSTIMULUS PAYMENT.41 ACTION NEWS ASKEDMISSOURI SENATOR JOSHHAWLEY ABOUT ANY MOREFEDERALASSISTANCEAND HE'SSAYS HE'S JUST FOCUSEDON GETTING PEOPLE BACKTO WORK.Sen.

Josh Hawley //MISSOURIShort term-solutions just aren'tgoing to work anymore we'vegot to get to that place wherepeople have the security thatthey can control their ownincome flow, know where itscoming from they know wherethat paycheck is going tocome from and what it's goingto be and they can have somecontrol over their lives again.WHILE THERE'S APOSSIBILITY OF MASSEVICTIONS NEXT MONTH -LOWNDES DOESN'TBELIEVE THAT WILL BE THECASE.Edwin Lowndes-Exec.

Dir.

For theHousing Authority of KansasCity,MOWe're hoping there wont beany influx of evictions butsometimes I think theevictions is just a way to geteverybody in the room to sayhow to we solve this problemREPORTING IN KANSASCITYNICK STARLING