Some people believe they don’t have to pay rent under the federal coronavirus relief program, the poorly communicated CARES Act. With eviction moratoriums announced by some state and local governments, the housing sector is about to be forced into layoffs and furloughs. This is exactly when we need property management services to keep us safe as we shelter in place.

We already had a housing crisis before COVID-19. A moratorium on evictions perversely makes it worse. If we bankrupt housing, lay off housing workers, and discourage the creation of more housing, we are making a drastic and avoidable mistake.