The Eviction Moratorium's Unpaid Tab
May 3, 2026
$90B
PEAK UNPAID RENT
estimated cumulative rental debt at moratorium's peak, mid-2021
$46.5B
ERA APPROPRIATED
federal Emergency Rental Assistance, 2021
$25.5B
ERA DISBURSED (Year 1)
of ERA1 funds actually paid out by end of 2021
41%
SMALL LANDLORD SHARE
of U.S. rental units owned by 1–4 unit landlords (Census)
16 months
MORATORIUM DURATION
April 2020 – August 2021 under CDC emergency authority
Cumulative Unpaid Rent Debt (Apr 2020 – Aug 2021)
Estimated billions USD · Moody's Analytics / Stout Risius Ross / NLIHC
ERA Disbursement Pace (Quarterly)
Billions USD paid per quarter · U.S. Treasury
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau · U.S. Treasury ERA Dashboard · Moody's Analytics / Stout Risius Ross · Supreme Court — Alabama Assoc. of Realtors v. HHS (2021) · National Low Income Housing Coalition
Data sources
Emergency Rental Assistance Program — Payment Data Dashboard· U.S. Department of the TreasuryAlabama Association of Realtors v. Department of Health and Human Services, 594 U.S. ___ (2021)· Supreme Court of the United StatesRental Housing Finance Survey — Landlord Size and Unit Distribution· U.S. Census Bureau / HUDTracking the COVID-19 Recession's Effects on Food, Housing, and Employment Hardships· Center on Budget and Policy PrioritiesMoody's Analytics / Stout Risius Ross: COVID-19 Rental Market Impact Estimates· Stout Risius Ross / Moody's AnalyticsNational Low Income Housing Coalition — ERA Tracker· National Low Income Housing CoalitionConsolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (ERA1)· U.S. CongressAmerican Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ERA2)· U.S. Congress