Shoshone Formal Eviction Rate 2020: An Idaho Policy Institute Analysis

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In the wake of the 2020 global pandemic, housing stability became a central concern for policymakers and residents alike across the Gem State. When examining the Shoshone formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute report, we find a complex narrative of economic resilience, legal interventions, and localized housing struggles. While statewide averages often tell one story, the rural landscape of Shoshone County offers a unique lens into how eviction filings and court judgments affected families during one of the most tumultuous years in recent history. This article provides a comprehensive look at the data provided by the Idaho Policy Institute (IPI) to understand the factors that shaped the Shoshone housing market in 2020.

What is the Idaho Policy Institute (IPI)?

Before diving into the specifics of the Shoshone formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute data, it is essential to understand the organization behind the research. Based at Boise State University’s School of Public Service, the Idaho Policy Institute serves as a nonpartisan resource for Idaho’s decision-makers. Their team, featuring experts like Benjamin Larsen and Vanessa Fry, specializes in data-driven research that informs public policy on issues ranging from education to housing.

The IPI’s work on evictions is particularly groundbreaking because, prior to their research, statewide eviction data was notoriously difficult to aggregate. By working with the Idaho Supreme Court, the IPI began tracking every eviction filing in the state, providing a level of transparency that was previously unavailable. Their 2020 report became a cornerstone for understanding how federal and state moratoriums influenced the lives of Idaho renters.

Understanding the Shoshone Formal Eviction Rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute Findings

The year 2020 was an anomaly in many ways, especially regarding housing law. When we look at the Shoshone formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute metrics, we have to distinguish between an “eviction filing” and a “formal eviction.”

  • Eviction Filing: This occurs when a landlord begins the legal process to remove a tenant by filing a case in court.

  • Formal Eviction: This is the final court judgment that results in the legal expulsion of the tenant.

According to the IPI’s statewide 2020 infographic, Idaho saw a total of 1,893 eviction filings, which represented roughly 1% of all renting households in the state. Out of those filings, 1,127 resulted in a formal eviction, creating a statewide formal eviction rate of approximately 0.6%.

For Shoshone County, the numbers were influenced by the county’s specific economic profile. As a region with a heavy reliance on the mining industry and a significant population of rent-burdened residents, the Shoshone formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute research highlighted that even with federal protections in place, many families remained on the brink of displacement.

The Shoshone formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute data cannot be viewed in a vacuum. It was a year defined by unprecedented legal interventions designed to keep people in their homes during the COVID-19 health crisis.

The Idaho Supreme Court Order

On March 16, 2020, the Idaho Supreme Court issued an order that effectively paused most eviction proceedings. This led to a significant drop in filings during April. For renters in the Silver Valley and throughout Shoshone County, this provided a temporary reprieve as the economy shuttered.

The CARES Act and CDC Moratorium

Later in the year, the federal government stepped in with the CARES Act and eventually the CDC Eviction Moratorium. These policies prevented landlords from evicting tenants for non-payment of rent if the tenants met certain criteria related to pandemic-induced financial hardship. However, the Shoshone formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute report notes that while these measures reduced the number of evictions, they did not eliminate them entirely. Evictions could still proceed for reasons other than non-payment, such as lease violations or criminal activity.

The “May Spike”

Once the initial court closures ended in May 2020, the IPI observed a sharp spike in both filings and formal evictions. This trend was mirrored in rural areas, where landlords who had been waiting to file cases since March suddenly flooded the court system.

Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Shoshone County

To truly understand the Shoshone formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute statistics, one must look at the socio-economic backdrop of the region. Shoshone County is unique for several reasons:

  1. Mining Dependency: The county holds a high concentration of the state’s mining and extraction firms. Fluctuations in commodity prices and pandemic-related operational changes directly impact local wages.

  2. Poverty and Rent Burden: Data from the Civil Court Data Initiative suggests that Shoshone County has a poverty rate of around 15.1%, and over 43% of residents are rent-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing.

  3. Housing Stock: Rural Idaho often faces a shortage of “accessible” housing. The IPI’s research on social determinants of health indicates that Shoshone is one of the counties with the largest gaps in accessible housing stock for those with disabilities.

These factors create a “fragile stability.” When a crisis like the 2020 pandemic hits, the Shoshone formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute data shows that rural renters often have fewer safety nets than those in urban centers like Boise or Coeur d’Alene.

One of the most interesting aspects of the Shoshone formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute research is how it compares to Idaho’s more populous counties.

In larger counties like Ada and Canyon, mediation programs were established to help landlords and tenants reach agreements outside of court. These programs significantly lowered the formal eviction rates in those areas. However, in Shoshone County, such programs were less accessible in 2020.

As a result, a higher percentage of filings in rural Shoshone often led to formal judgments compared to the more mediated urban environments. The IPI found that statewide, 59.5% of households with a filing received a formal eviction in 2020. In rural pockets, without the benefit of robust mediation, this percentage could often trend higher, emphasizing the need for localized legal resources.

The Impact of Informal Evictions

While the Shoshone formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute report focuses on court-recorded data, researchers acknowledge the “shadow” of informal evictions. An informal eviction occurs when a tenant leaves their home after a threat from a landlord or a “notice to quit,” but before a court case is ever filed.

Research suggests that for every formal eviction recorded by the IPI, there may be multiple informal evictions that go undocumented. In a close-knit community like Shoshone County, the social pressure or lack of legal knowledge might lead tenants to vacate their premises without fighting their case in court, meaning the Shoshone formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute data might actually underrepresent the true scale of housing instability.

Why the 2020 Data Still Matters Today

You might wonder why we are still discussing the Shoshone formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute report years later. The reason is that 2020 served as a “stress test” for Idaho’s housing infrastructure.

  • Policy Refinement: The data gathered during 2020 helped organizations like the Intermountain Fair Housing Council and Idaho Housing and Finance Association better allocate emergency rental assistance (ERA) funds.

  • Legislative Awareness: Seeing the spike in evictions once moratoriums lifted spurred discussions in the Idaho Legislature about tenant-landlord laws and the importance of legal representation in eviction court.

  • Predictive Modeling: By analyzing the Shoshone formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute trends, researchers can now better predict which communities are most at risk during future economic downturns.

The Role of Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA)

A major factor that kept the Shoshone formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute from climbing even higher was the infusion of federal funds. Idaho received millions of dollars through the CARES Act and subsequent relief bills. These funds were intended to pay back-rent directly to landlords, resolving the debt that usually leads to an eviction filing.

In Shoshone County, community action agencies worked tirelessly to distribute these funds. The IPI’s subsequent 2021 and 2022 reports showed that even as filings began to rise post-pandemic, the availability of ERA kept the formal eviction rate relatively stable, proving that financial intervention is one of the most effective tools for preventing homelessness.

Conclusion: Lessons from Shoshone’s 2020 Housing Landscape

The Shoshone formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute report provides a vital snapshot of a community at a crossroads. While the statewide formal eviction rate remained low at 0.6% due to unprecedented legal protections, the underlying vulnerabilities of Shoshone County—high rent burden, industry dependency, and limited mediation—remained clear.

2020 taught us that housing stability is not just about personal finances; it is about the intersection of state policy, federal protection, and local economic health. As Idaho continues to grow at a record pace, the lessons learned from the Shoshone 2020 data will be essential in ensuring that the “Silver Valley” remains a place where all residents can afford to keep a roof over their heads.

Moving forward, would you like me to analyze the more recent 2023 IPI eviction trends to see how Shoshone County has fared since the pandemic?

FAQs About the Shoshone Formal Eviction Rate 2020

1. What was the exact formal eviction rate for Idaho in 2020?

According to the Idaho Policy Institute, the statewide formal eviction rate in 2020 was approximately 0.6%, with 1,127 renting households receiving a formal court judgment of eviction.

2. How did Shoshone County compare to Ada County in 2020?

While Ada County had more total filings due to its population, it also had a more robust mediation program. The Shoshone formal eviction rate 2020 Idaho Policy Institute research suggests that rural counties often see a higher conversion rate from “filings” to “formal evictions” because they have fewer pre-court intervention resources.

3. Did the CDC moratorium stop all evictions in Shoshone County?

No. The CDC moratorium only applied to evictions for non-payment of rent for eligible tenants who submitted a specific declaration. Evictions for other lease violations, like property damage or illegal activity, were still allowed to proceed throughout 2020.

4. Who conducted the research for the Idaho Policy Institute?

The primary research into Idaho’s eviction data is led by Benjamin Larsen, a Research Associate at the Idaho Policy Institute, along with Director Vanessa Fry and their team of dedicated data analysts.

5. Where can I find the most recent Shoshone eviction data?

You can find the most up-to-date information by visiting the Idaho Policy Institute’s website under their “Evictions in Idaho” project page, which features interactive maps and annual infographics for all 44 Idaho counties.

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