Up To Date

End Of Eviction Moratorium Could Hurt Both Kansas City Landlords And Tenants

By Steve Kraske,

Published July 8, 2021 at 6:03 PM CDT

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Magda Werkmeister, left, and, Tiana Caldwell chant while chained to a door on the west side of the Jackson County Courthouse on Thursday during the KC Tenants protest against eviction hearings. — Magda Werkmeister, left, and, Tiana Caldwell chant while chained to a door on the west side of the Jackson County Courthouse in October 2020 during the KC Tenants protest against eviction hearings.

Property owners and residents worry what condition they'll be in once the CDC lifts an eviction moratorium implemented during the pandemic.

Eviction isn't a new issue, but the pandemic certainly brought it into sharper focus. "So when we think about the solutions, we think about a world where eviction isn't even an option," says tenant advocate Tara Raghuveer.

Self-described "housing provider" Stacey Johnson-Cosby remarked, "I know Tara has a dream of free housing, but not in this world."

Both agreed that the millions of dollars being offered for rental assistance is neither easy to apply for nor dispensing quickly enough.

Tara Raghuveer, founding director of KC Tenants
Stacey Johnson-Cosby, president, Kansas City Regional Housing Alliance

Renters and landlords in Jackson County, Missouri, can still apply for emergency rental assistance through the ERAP program. On the Kansas side, go to the KERA website for information.

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Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

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Zach Wilson

As Up To Date’s senior producer, I construct daily conversations that give our listeners context to the issues of our time. I strive to provide a platform that holds those in power accountable, while also spotlighting the voices of Kansas City’s creatives and visionaries that may otherwise go unheard. Email me at zach@kcur.org.

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Danie Alexander

As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.

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