Maricopa County sets an unwanted record and it's a growing problem

In Arizona there is a five-day grace period after payment is due.

PUBLISHED OCT 3, 2024

It is important to note, however, that applicants or households that received previous ERA payments are not eligible for HSRA.

Phoenix, Arizona: Maricopa County set an unwanted record for the most eviction filings ever over the year’s first nine months.

According to a report by Arizona's Family, the total number of cases filed from January to September was 65,651. The number is higher than the previous record in 2006 when 62,333 were filed. In 2023, there were about 61,473 filed in the nine-month period.

The Kyrene Justice Court saw over 450 cases were filed last month. The court covers parts of Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Guadalupe.

In Arizona there is a five-day grace period after payment is due. If you don’t pay up in time, the landlord can then file for an eviction in court. After a tenant appears in court, they have nearly a week to vacate before a constable can come and remove them from the property.

Maricopa County does provide rental assistance to individuals and families facing the greatest need. However, the Maricopa County’s Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program, which provided $141.6 million in rent and utility assistance including 102,813 months of rental assistance for 13,460 households and utility assistance for 9,907 households since March 2021, ended in January 2024.

The ERA, which was established during the pandemic and funded with federal recovery dollars, was always intended to provide temporary relief to those impacted by the national and local health emergency.

The County has now established the Housing Stability Rental Assistance (HSRA) program to help renters. It is important to note, however, that applicants or households that received previous ERA payments are not eligible. Applicants or households that have only received ERA utility payments are eligible for the HSRA program.