Maryland housing advocates propose eviction protection fund from the state

MARYLAND – Housing advocates this week are proposing new action be taken to protect renters and homeowners from rising eviction rates across Maryland.

A new study from the Maryland Center on Economic Policy found that 15,000 Marylanders could be protected from eviction by having a program establish short-term eviction prevention funds to help families make good on those late payments.

The study finds those funds would be cheaper than the legal and social services that work to prevent evictions once a landlord or bank has gone to court to get a tenant out.

Shore Legal Access says on the eastern shore those funds could prevent a large chunk of the eviction cases they deal with.

“Probably 90% of the cases, honestly, it’s a very high percentage. So many folks are living on the edge and a little bit of help would go a long way to make sure that they can keep a roof over their heads, make sure that their children are housed, and that they have family stability,” said Shore Legal Access Director Meredith Girrard.

Girard said in her experience, the costs of her team, and legal actions can far exceed the delinquent payments.

However, she says she would like future laws to go one step further, and protect tenants from poor conditions in rental units, which she says is often the cause of delinquent payments despite the rent escrow system.

“We’re fortunate to have that as a legal option is time-consuming, it is expensive, it will be much better to have a system on the front end that makes sure that dwellings that are being put out for rent meet minimum livability and habitability standards,” Girrard said.