The holiday season is supposed to be a time when families gather together to exchange gifts and appreciation. But this year’s holiday season has already been irretrievably altered by the coronavirus pandemic.

There’s even more of a challenge to celebrate for some families as 2020 gives way to a new year – the real fear of homelessness.

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According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, millions of Americans will face evictions once federal moratoriums expire at the end of the year. Congress stalled for months on renewing the CARES Act, which would have assisted with extending unemployment benefits and federal eviction protection. What they fail to realize is some people are quickly running out of viable options.

“The longer employment stays suppressed, and people stay out of work, it will make it even harder to catch up on the debt and dig yourself out of that hole,” Davin Reed, community development economic adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, told the Inquirer.

In Philadelphia alone, the city processed 1500 evictions a month even before the pandemic. According to the Inquirer, that number is expected to spike 50% higher in 2021.

The city has had some success with an Eviction Diversion program created in response to the pandemic that has brought landlords and tenants a chance to come together to resolve outstanding rent.

However, the outlet reports that after months of complete or reduced employment and the federal subsidy of $600 added to state unemployment checks that ended in July, many families have fallen more than $5000 behind on rent.

Source: Evictions looming for millions in the new year without further protections