housing
Phoenix Ranks Among Highest For Evictions Nationwide

October 31, 2024

By Staff Reporter |

The nation’s fifth-largest city, Phoenix, is also home to one of the highest eviction rates in the nation. 

Rising evictions appear to be a side effect of the city’s burgeoning housing crisis amid a declining economy. A report from the Wall Street Journal released this week highlighted the trend of increased evictions, featuring some of the Phoenicians who underwent evictions recently. 

Phoenix has a rate of 16 eviction filings per 100 renter households according to estimates from Eviction Lab, a Princeton University research group that tracks eviction rates in 36 major cities and 10 states across the country.

According to data pulled from American Community Survey and reported by the Eviction Lab, Phoenix has over 583,600 renter households and typical rent averages nearly $1,400 a month. 

Per data acquired by Eviction Lab from the Maricopa County Justice Courts, there have been over 285,300 eviction filings since March 2020, with nearly 90,600 of those (31 percent) filed within the past year and over 6,000 (two percent) within the last month. Between January and September, there were nearly 69,000 evictions. Should these evictions keep up with the monthly average of around 7,700 evictions, there would be nearly 92,000 evictions by the year’s end.

There were about 83,200 eviction filings in 2023. The all-time total high for evictions was about 83,700 evictions in 2005. The average eviction judgment from January to September sits at over $3,100, which is less than the $3,400 average of 2023. 

Nearly 39,700 of recent years’ evictions were categorized demographically as white neighborhoods, nearly 22,800 were “other” neighborhoods, and over 20,700 were Latino neighborhoods.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego told the Wall Street Journal that folks should look to the state for reforms on laws allowing such a high rate of evictions.

“We don’t control evictions,” said Gallego. 

The increased evictions may curb the small gains the city has made in reducing its homeless population — an aspect of the fast-growing metropolitan area that also incurred national interest.

Maricopa County’s latest Point-In-Time Homeless Count from January reported over 9,400 individuals as homeless in the Phoenix area, a decline from the January 2023 total of over 9,600. 

Earlier this year, we reported that the city had spent over $180 million over the course of three years to address its homeless population.

The Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES) did offer a rental assistance program for families and those over the age of 60 years, but applications closed in August. 

ADES also offers resources for emergency short-term housing.

ADES directed those in need of assistance to visit 211, the Short-Term Crisis Services Program, or their local Community Action Agency for other support services. 

Community Action Agencies can provide utility or mortgage assistance, eviction or foreclosure prevention assistance, rental deposits, and emergency shelter. ADES warned that these agencies are currently experiencing high demand. 

Maricopa County has five Community Action Agencies with multiple locations providing various assistance: Maricopa County Human Services, City of Glendale Community Action Programs, City of Phoenix Human Services, City of Phoenix Family Services Centers, and Mesa Community Action Network. 

Those interested in knowing which health and human services programs they qualify for may use the Arizona Self Help questionnaire.

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