STACEY: THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
HAS LEFT MANY IOWANS OUT OF
WORK.
STEVE: MARCUS MCINTOSH IS LIVE
WITH THE NEW LIFELINE THAT MAY
HELP KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES.
MARCUS THE HELP, THE EVICTION
: PREVENTION PROGRAM, WAS
UNANAIMOUSLY PASSED THIS MORNING
BY THE POLK COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS.
THE EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM
IS THE LAST OPTION FOR PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN SERVED NOTICE THEY
ARE WITHIN THE WINDOW OF
EVICTION.
IT IS AN EFFORT TO PREVENT
HOMELESSNESS.
THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED WITH
$800,000 FROM THE CARES ACT.
THE POLK COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS IS WORKING WITH A
NUMBER OF OTHER ENTITIES
INCLUDING LEGAL AID OF
DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
PUBLIC HOUSING.
POLK COUNTY SUPERVISOR MATT
MCCOY SAYS RIGHT NOW THERE ARE
ABOUT 1200 EVICTION CASES
PENDING COUNTYWIDE AND THAT
NUMBER IS LIKELY ON THE WAY UP
WITH THE RECENT CLOSING OF POLK
COUNTY BARS A MOVE HE SAYS WILL
, PUT ABOUT 5,000 PEOPLE OUT OF
WORK.
THE EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM
IS THE COUNTY’S WAY OF DOING
WHAT IT CAN TO PREVENT
-- TO HELP.
>> WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS
TO NEGOTIATE DIRECTLY WITH THE
PERSON BOSS -- WITH THE PERSON’S
LANDLORD AND THE PERSON TO COME
UP WITH A MEDIATION AGREEMENT
THAT IS NOT ONLY TAKING CARE OF
THEIR BACK RENT BUT ALSO A PLAN
FORWARD FOR THE NEXT 6 MONTHS.
MARCUS MCCOY SAYS FOR THOSE
: HAVING TROUBLE PAYING THEIR
RENT THE FIRST MOVE IS TO CALL
211.
HE SAYS THE EVICTION PREVENTION
PROGRAM IS A LAST RESORT.
MARCUS MCINTOSH, KCCI 8 NEWS,
IOWA’S NEWS LEADER.
STEVE: THE PROGRAM IS COMING AT
A GOOD TIME.
LAST WEEK THE POLK COUNTY CLERK
OF COURT TOLD KCCI SHE EXPECTS
EVICTION FILINGS TO INCREASE IN
SEPTEMBER.
SHE SAYS THAT’S WHEN MANY 30-DAY
RENT NOTICES ARE SCHEDULED TO
EXPIRE.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE
POLK COUNTY HOUSING TRUST FUND
TOLD US EVICTIONS HAVE EXPLODED
SINCE THE FEDERAL MORA
