Study links hurricane exposure to higher eviction risk for renters

A new study, led by urban planner Qian He from Rowan University, reveals that hurricane exposure can increase the risk of eviction for renters even if their homes are not damaged. The research, published in the Journal of Planning Education and Research, analyzed county-level data from 19 East and Gulf Coast states between 2009 and 2018.

He found that hurricanes led to a 1.8% average rent increase in the year of the storm and an additional 2.7% rise in the following year, with the higher rents persisting for up to two years afterward. The findings highlight that recovery policies often overlook the indirect financial hardship faced by renters due to rising rents, which can create eviction pressure.

He, an assistant professor in Rowan University's Department of Geography, Planning & Sustainability, stresses the need to address housing affordability and eviction risk alongside physical reconstruction efforts following a disaster. She notes that disaster recovery frequently prioritizes rebuilding damaged homes, infrastructure repair, and assistance for directly affected properties, while often overlooking the financial challenges renters may face through rising rent and increased housing instability.

To better support renters, He and her team recommend implementing emergency rental assistance, eviction-prevention measures, tenant protections, and long-term monitoring of housing affordability as part of disaster recovery policies.