Iowa and Polk County saw record-high evictions last year — and the numbers keep climbing

A lack of affordable housing and stagnant incomes are helping push Iowa’s eviction filings to unprecedented heights, according to data compiled by Iowa Legal Aid, a nonprofit that provides legal assistance to low-income people.

After filings dipped during the COVID-19 pandemic because of rental assistance programs and an eviction moratorium, Iowa and Polk County both saw record numbers last year, said Nick Smithberg, the legal aid’s executive director.

In Polk County, eviction filings have steadily increased from about 4,400 in 2012 to roughly 6,400 in 2022.

That same year, evictions statewide increased nearly 75% from around 10,500 in 2012 to 18,300.

Numbers are expected to climb again this year, Smithberg said. The state has so far seen 9,784 eviction filings — 3,883 of which were in Polk County — but Smithberg said “leftover” American Rescue Plan Act funds might have “a little bit” of an impact, with the county potentially launching another round of rental assistance for residents in need.

“This isn’t somebody else’s problem that’s somewhere else. This is where we live. This is the people who live in our communities,” he said. “… This is a reality affecting hundreds of thousands of people, and wherever you are, it’s right there.”

In recent years, cities across the United States have seen dramatic rent increases. As a result, eviction filing rates are surging, particularly in the South and Southwest, according to data collected by the Eviction Lab, an eviction tracking system run by Princeton University.

More: More people are homeless in Polk County than last year, new count shows

Living costs are up, but minimum wage is still the same

Angie Arthur, executive director of Homeward, said she’s concerned but not surprised about the increase in landlords filing eviction cases over the years. Neither is Smithberg.

The cause, they said, is the state’s minimum wage and increasing shortage of affordable housing units.

Iowa’s minimum wage is still at $7.25, while the cost of living has soared. Common Good Iowa, a nonprofit that focuses on public policy and research, reported last year that two parents with two children should each earn more than $16 an hour to meet their basic needs. A single parent with one child should make at least $21 an hour.

Fair market rent, used to calculate vouchers for housing assistance, for a one-bedroom apartment in Polk County is now $889, a jump from last year’s $770, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The majority of eviction cases that the legal aid office sees involve renters falling behind on lease payments, Smithberg said.

“There’s a huge portion of the population that can’t really afford any of their basic needs,” Smithberg said. “When you’re in that position, you’re not going to be able to hold onto housing. It’s inherently unstable to be so close to the margin. There’s no room for error.

“If somebody gets sick or you have to fix the car, next thing you know you’re looking at an eviction.”

More: New basic income program gives central Iowans $500 a month — no strings attached

Polk County — like the state — also needs more than 11,000 affordable housing units, the National Low Income Coalition reported. Arthur noted the larger impact on housing services, as more and more people face instability.

“It puts stress on our other systems. For example, within our communities, we are seeing the highest waitlist in quite a long time right now for our family shelters,” she explained. “That is a challenge.”

Single moms, tenants with children likely to be evicted

Data from Iowa Legal Aid also showed eviction cases disproportionately impacting disabled people, people of color and women in Polk County despite making up only a portion of the state’s general population.

Women made up a majority of the eviction cases — 68% — in Polk County, though they comprise 50% of the county’s general population, the legal aid’s report revealed. Cases involving people of color were at 47%, though they make up only 25% of the county’s population.

The legal aid also saw 33% of eviction cases involving disabled people, who make up 8% of the county’s population.

Smithberg said single mothers are likely to face higher rates of eviction, adding that “the presence of children in the house” is the “greatest predictor” of an eviction.

“Women earn less. Women have primary child care responsibility, which means that it makes it harder for them to hold down employment,” he said. “Kids get sick. (They) miss work. There’s a whole host of issues.”

More: If you’re an Iowan facing eviction, here are some ways to seek help

Landlords say they face more “scrutiny” from state departments when tenants with children live in their units, according to a 2014 study by the MacArthur Foundation on eviction rates among poor Black women in Wisconsin.

“Children might test positive for lead poisoning, for example, and the Environmental Protection Agency will step in,” the report stated. “Child protective services may be alerted if the home is unsafe or unsanitary. More children are also hard on apartments.”

F. Amanda Tugade covers social justice issues for the Des Moines Register. Email her at ftugade@dmreg.com or follow her on Twitter @writefelissa. USA Today contributed to this report.

What to do if you are facing an eviction

There are resources for Iowans facing an eviction. Reach out to Iowa Legal Aid at 800-532-1275 or other organizations like:

Iowans also should know that if they receive an eviction notice, they don’t have to leave their home right away, experts say. Only a judge can order a notice to vacate.