Orlando, Florida: The Power of Collaboration in Building an Eviction Response Strategy

During this mini-chat, Caitlin Augustin of DataKind speaks with Frank Wells of Bright Community Trust about building a housing response to evictions in Central Florida during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Frank and other housing stakeholders in Central Florida watched as CARES Act funding dried up by the end of July 2020. With no additional federal support in sight, no real safety net in place, and ad hoc extensions to the local eviction moratorium, Frank and colleagues knew that the tenants in Central Florida needed a plan in place—one that was responsive, comprehensive, and kept people housed.

In September 2020, Frank and colleagues convened a broad swath of housing organizations as part of an Evictions and Foreclosures Group (EFG) for an inclusive conversation around housing loss prevention. The group included city and county leaders, the court system, legal aid partners, housing nonprofits, service providers, and the regional apartment association. The contributions of this diverse group of stakeholders, though they may seem like strange bedfellows, speaks to the power of collaboration during times of crisis.

Each stakeholder in the EFG contributed data on the housing crisis facing Central Floridians. To understand the scope of the issue, a county court judge shared up-to-date information on how many eviction filings were taking place. To better understand whether existing solutions were offering sufficient protection, legal aid lawyers shared how often a CDC declaration—the signed form required for a judge to contemplate halting an eviction as part of the moratorium—was made on behalf of a tenant. The apartment association also shared information on how many tenants had payment plans with landlords.

The variation in the types of data illustrates the complexity of eviction processes, and highlights how no data source alone can provide a comprehensive understanding of its impact. By stitching together different pieces of data, the EFG knew more collectively than individually.

But still, major gaps persist. As housing and social service organizations retool to deliver emergency rental assistance as quickly as possible, there is still a disconnect between the communities most in need and the communities most able to access resources. Data that shows where evictions are filed and where rental assistance is distributed, for example, could highlight this gap, and drive us towards a more equitable housing system both during and beyond the pandemic.

For more information on the EFG, contact Frank Wells at frank@thebrightway.org, and for more information on DataKind, contact Caitlin Augustin at caitlin@datakind.org.