Dado que la moratoria de evicciones de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades expiró en agosto, las solicitudes de desalojo ante los tribunales en Nebraska están en aumento, incluso en partes del estado donde históricamente los desalojos no existían o eran raros.

Erin Feichtinger, del grupo Together, con sede en Omaha, dice que la mayoría de las personas que ahora enfrentan la falta de vivienda perdieron sus trabajos durante la pandemia y esto no fue culpa suya.

"Cerca del 70 por ciento de las personas que solicitan asistencia de emergencia para el alquiler son mujeres que se encargan del sustento del hogar y la familia," dice Feichtinger. "Y también sabemos que los desalojos están afectando de manera desproporcionada a las comunidades de color."

Ella dice que mientras familias en zonas rurales del estado se ven obligadas a abandonar sus hogares, vecindarios enteros que han enfrentado una desinversión histórica y una negación a servicios como hipotecas, seguros u otros servicios, por ser áreas consideradas de bajos recursos, se están registrando las tasas de desalojo más altas.

Los defensores de los propietarios han argumentado que los dueños necesitan pagar a los inquilinos, porque los bancos todavía exigen cheques hipotecarios mensuales.

Scott Mertz, de la Ayuda legal de Nebraska, dice que las familias preocupadas por perder sus hogares a medida que avanza el invierno deberían hablar con un abogado, porque los inquilinos tienen derechos según las leyes estatales de propietarios y arrendatarios.

Él dice que la mayoría de los inquilinos de bajos ingresos califican para recibir asesoría gratuita. El número gratuito es 888-991-9921.

Mertz agrega que Nebraska aún no ha distribuido millones de dólares federales de asistencia para el alquiler.

"Si es una cuestión de 'bueno, esa persona será desalojada si no va a pagar'. El dinero esta disponible," dice Mertz. "El dinero todavía no se gasta aquí en Nebraska, millones de dólares. Al cual pueden tener acceso los propietarios."

Feichtinger dice que uno de los principales impulsores del aumento de los desalojos es la falta de viviendas accesibles, no solo en los centros urbanos, sino en todo el estado, para aquellas personas que viven cheque a cheque. Ella dice que su grupo estará ocupado en la próxima sesión legislativa asegurándose de que los políticos responsables comprendan la profundidad de la crisis.

"Y también animarlos a aprovechar esta oportunidad que tenemos con los fondos ARPA para dedicar este momento y hacer una inversión significativa en viviendas asequibles en comunidades de todo Nebraska."




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A new report shows Montana has the nation's most rapidly rising homeless population. Advocates for more affordable housing call the situation critical.

One Kalispell-based shelter is asking for state funding to expand, and do what it can to help.

The most recent Annual Homelessness Assessment Report shows Montana saw a 551% increase in its unsheltered population, the steepest rise in the country between 2007 and 2023.

Kalispell-based Samaritan House Executive Director Chris Krager said he feels the pinch every night.

"I like to think we can handle it," said Krager. "We're trying to address it. Samaritan House, we see between 95 and 105 people every night."

That's capacity for Samaritan House, which Krager said has been full every night for a decade - and often has to help people find other options.

He has asked for state funds to expand the facility, which would double its occupancy.

In addition to building single and multi-family housing, Samaritan House also plans to create housing for veterans.

Krager said they often experience mental health issues along with homelessness. The report shows Montana was one of only four states with an increase in homeless veterans.

"Kalispell is the largest city in Montana with no dedicated homeless veteran housing," said Krager. "So, we're going to fix that. The reason this is serious is because the nature of homelessness in Montana - certain times of the year, it could be fatal. So, we want to really be on our game, especially if it's cold out."

More than 30% of people in Montana's homeless shelters reported a mental health and/or substance use disorder in 2022. The report shows in some shelters, that number is nearly two-thirds.




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Georgia lawmakers appear to be taking a major step toward safeguarding property owners against people who occupy homes or apartments illegally, with what's known as the Squatters Reform Act.

House Bill 1017 passed unanimously in both the Georgia House and Senate. It would make illegally occupying personal property a criminal matter, rather than a civil case. This means the rightful owners can get people out of their homes sooner who don't belong there.

The move is expected to bring relief to such residents as Dan Rodgers, who said he once felt squatters had more legal protection than property owners.

"I think the new three-day process is going to benefit a lot of homeowners," Rodgers said. "It seemed like previous squatters' rights were giving them the opportunity to hide behind process."

Under the Squatters Reform Act, people would have to provide valid documentation of their right to occupy the property within three business days or face arrest for criminal trespass. Those who present documents would have their case reviewed within seven days to establish its legitimacy.

Georgia law has required homeowners to file an "Affidavit of Intruder" in the court system to remove squatters from their property, which can take weeks or months. Rodgers, who owns property in Muscogee County, said he hopes the new legislation will serve as a deterrent to those who previously sought to take advantage.

"I don't think that there's very many circumstances we could think of with a normal trespasser having as many protected rights as squatters do, and ending up being able to really affect people's livelihood," he said. "So, I really feel like it's a really good incentive for people to do the right thing."

The bill was sent to Gov. Brian Kemp this week and is pending his signature to become law.


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A case out of Oregon soon to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court could have a major impact on how cities treat homelessness. Oral arguments for 'Johnson v. Grants Pass' are scheduled for April 22.

It concerns an ordinance in the City of Grants Pass that banned people from sleeping in public, including a prohibition on the use of blankets and pillows.

Loren Naldoza, public policy advocate with Oregon Food Bank, which filed an amicus brief with 15 other organizations in the state in support of the plaintiffs, said homelessness isn't a lifestyle choice.

"It's an involuntary state of being because there have been systems or crises - like our housing crisis, our cost of living crisis or personal crises - that are impacting people across the state, that converge together and make it harder for people to stay stably housed," he explained.

The 9th District Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs that the Grants Pass law violates the Eighth Amendment against cruel and unusual punishment. Supporters of the Grants Pass law say cities should be allowed to decide their own policies rather than the federal government.

Naldoza said criminalizing homelessness isn't an effective tool and would only create more hunger and poverty, and added people who exit the criminal justice system struggle in many different ways.

"What you get at the end is criminal record, which makes it harder for people who are formerly experiencing homelessness to find a safe, stable or affordable place to call home. And it's also hard to get gainful employment, especially if the employment requires a background check or licensure," he continued.

Naldoza added there are more effective ways to address this crisis.

"What we really need to be investing in is care and compassion, and treatment and other resources that people actually need to exit their experience from homelessness," he said.