All the hot takes on here about Emergency Rental Assistance and Nebraska renters being lazy and mooching off the government are forgetting/ignoring One Important Basic Fact:
This
Money
Goes
Directly
to
Nebraska
Landlords.
For two full years I have been on the receiving end of complaints that Landlords Are Struggling.
So again,
These Funds Go Directly To Struggling Nebraska Landlords.
Directly into their bank account.
The $13.9 million the state has so far distributed in ERA 1 funds...
It went directly to Nebraska landlords.
The $120 million that we could receive and spend down until September 30 2025?
Directly to Nebraska landlords.
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This morning, I watched the White House and the Department of Justice honor the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Law School for creating the Tenant Assistance Project and working tirelessly to ensure equal access to justice for Nebraskans facing eviction.
(Look! Merrick Garland!)
I don't know if I've ever talked about the Tenant Assistance Project (TAP) got started here in Nebraska, but it's something I think about when I feel like nothing we do as individuals and as advocates is ever going to really matter.
I'm going to tell you this awful thing, and then in a following thread, I'm going to tell you good news.
👇
This morning in Douglas County eviction court, a man showed up with a crumpled piece of paper, ready to defend himself in his eviction hearing.
On the piece of paper was a budget he had written out. His landlord was MIMG (Monarch Investment and Management Group). Also on this paper was all the things he thought of that he could use to stop or slow down his eviction.
Lee Will from the Governor's budget office said that ERA round 2 does not require COVID impact, which is one reason we won't apply.
This is partly true. Federal guidelines have changed, but the state can still require that applicants demonstrate COVID impact. Like they do now.
The Governor's office also said there's been a drastic increase in fraudulent applications.
This is the most common strawman argument against poverty alleviation efforts.
Nebraska landlords: People won't pay their rent! We can't make ends meet!
Federal government: Here's $120 million to pay people's rent, it goes directly to landlords. Do you want it?
Nebraska's Governor: No.
That's what he thinks of your business.
“We should not be using taxpayer money to pay people’s rent without a good reason,” he said. “It’s irresponsible spending like this that has ushered in record inflation and surging national debt, and in this case, Nebraska has elected not to take part.” - Ricketts to you