How One Eviction Keeps You Homeless: Stopping the Cycle of Housing Insecurity

By Max Olson

Homelessness can begin with a single moment in a person’s story. If that moment is an eviction, people have more difficulty achieving housing.

While homelessness is often temporary, eviction can cause what is called “chronic homelessness,” when a person is either consistently unhoused or gains housing temporarily before becoming homeless again. It’s a trend Lifebridge North Shore case managers support individuals through to end the cycle of homelessness.

What Is An Eviction and Why Is It Such a Big Deal?

In Massachusetts, a landlord can only evict someone for three reasons:

1.  Non-payment of rent
2. Lease violations
3. The expiration of a lease or the end of a tenancy at will, also known as a “no fault” eviction

Most evictions are not brought before housing courts, and are instead handled between landlord and tenant. When evictions go to court, many individuals do not have the funds to pay for a lawyer. Even in the case of wrongful evictions, the presence of a record can make finding new housing much more difficult, as landlords may reject applications just to be safe.

Since rentals are a business, landlords are much more likely to reject an applicant with an eviction on their record. This pattern can lead to chronic homelessness.

What Causes Evictions?

Some may assume that a person is kicked out of their home because of repeated offenses. In reality, eviction can be outside of a person’s control. “We’ve found that a lot of landlords evict people after changing their rent,” explains Helen Johnson, a Lifebridge case manager. “When all of the sudden rent increases, but a person’s income doesn’t, it often leads to evictions.”

2023 saw a surge in evictions past levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic, when rent freezes ended and salary freezes, layoffs, and pay cuts didn’t. Since then, inflation and a rising cost of living continue to put more people at risk of losing their homes.

Preventing Evictions Before They Happen

Ideally, Johnson says, those who are most vulnerable to losing their housing should reach out to organizations like Lifebridge for support before they are evicted. Proactive steps can prevent evictions from marking someone’s record and make it easier for them to attain more affordable housing.

Case managers help navigate essential resources that keep people housed. For instance, Massachusetts offers eviction mediation services and financial support through Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT).

Finding Affordable Housing After an Eviction

Once someone is evicted, case managers help them assess their options and create an action plan that plays to their strengths. “Our first step is to refer them to partners in the community offering subsidized housing,” Johnson says. Subsidized housing is designed with an eviction history in mind, though waitlists can be long.

Sometimes, getting started may take extra steps, such as getting an ID. Navigating subsidized housing applications also requires an internet connection and access to a computer, which some people without housing don’t have access to. By partnering with a case manager, people can more easily stay on top of their paperwork.

Case managers can also discuss contributing factors that may lead to future evictions, such as:

• Paying off debt
• Accessing mental health care or AA
• Getting a job
• Food resources

On-Going Support After Achieving Housing

She adds that support from Lifebridge doesn’t end when someone finds new housing. The state’s Community Support Program for Homeless Individuals (CSP-HI) allows case managers to continue supporting individuals to maintain and keep their housing.

“What people need is support after getting housing, especially after getting evicted,” Johnson continues. “For those in the CSP program, we like to check in at least two times a month, taking more time with them based on need. We’re there to make sure if there is a crisis (like when rent goes up or an individual loses income), we can advocate for them and support them in getting what they need.”

Do You Need Support Preventing Eviction or Finding Housing?

Connect with a Case Manager Today