Eviction moratoriums and providing relief from utility disconnections reduced COVID-19 cases by 8.2% from the onset of the pandemic through the end of November 2020, research finds.
The policies that helped financially struggling Americans stay in their homes and keep access to water and electricity during the COVID-19 pandemic also helped reduce the spread of the virus, according to the analysis.
The findings are available as a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper. Newly inaugurated President Joe Biden has proposed a $1.9 trillion relief package to provide rental and utility assistance for those hardest hit by the pandemic’s economic fallout.
“Staying at home, working and schooling remotely, and social distancing have been critical in addressing this public health crisis,” says coauthor Christopher Timmins, a professor of economics at Duke University. “But complying with these measures is difficult when your home and access to water and electricity are at risk. Our analysis shows that measures to prevent evictions and utility disconnections work to reduce infections and deaths from COVID-19.”