As the COVID-19 pandemic continues into 2022, we now have nearly two years of information on how it has impacted people here in New Hampshire. What we have seen from federal and state data, as well as interviews with legal and housing advocates, is that people of color, older adults, families with children, and low-income residents are feeling the impacts more acutely. 

Here at New Hampshire Legal Assistance’s Fair Housing Project, we help those who have experienced housing discrimination, as well as advocate for policies that open access to housing. In 2021, the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority and the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority released the 2020 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice in New Hampshire, which was prepared by New Hampshire Legal Assistance. Included in the report was a section examining the effects COVID-19 has had on housing access in New Hampshire, focusing on low-income people and the protected classes identified under state and federal fair housing law.

We examined data and interviewed several advocates from non-profit law firms and social service organizations that serve low-income people about the barriers their clients encounter as well to gain a better understanding of the obstacles to obtaining and maintaining housing.

National and Local Impact of COVID

In 2020, millions of Americans experienced job loss or were unable to work due to COVID-19 restrictions and the impact on the U.S. economy. Lack of income for workers who rent impacted their ability to keep up on rent payments. Eviction moratoriums helped keep some people in their homes, but moratoriums have expired in New Hampshire. Renters who need help paying rent and utilities can apply to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program through their local CAP.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, U.S. Census surveys conducted in late 2021 reveal that there are 12 million renters who are not caught up on rent, or about 16% of all adult renters. The rate of those behind on rent was higher for respondents who are Black, Asian, or Latino.

The pandemic also had an impact on older Americans and families with children, two other protected classes under fair housing laws. Older Americans in assisted living facilities saw the highest rates of infection and were restricted from seeing visiting loved ones. Families dealing with day-care and school closures were forced to make difficult decisions about childcare, helping with home schooling, and going to work, especially for the almost 30% of New Hampshire families that are run by a single parent.

New Hampshire's Housing Crisis

Skyrocketing housing prices and rents in New Hampshire was one of the biggest state stories of 2021. Development of new housing has not kept up with demand in New Hampshire, meaning there are more people looking for homes than homes that are available for sale. The rental market is equally competitive, with a state vacancy rate in July 2021 of 0.9%. In Merrimack County, the vacancy rate was 0.4%, the lowest in the state. This means apartments are very hard to find and landlords can charge more for apartments that are in high demand. This is on top of a 25% increase in rents in New Hampshire over the past five years.

This housing market is particularly difficult to navigate for renters who use Section 8 or Housing Choice Vouchers, as many have a challenging time finding landlords who will accept their vouchers. Landlords in New Hampshire currently can refuse to rent to someone because they have a voucher, although a bill pending before the state legislature would change that. Tenants who cannot find a landlord who will accept their voucher within the timeframe set by HUD and local housing authorities will lose it, and it takes most renters roughly 5 years of waiting to get a voucher in the first place.

COVID-19 and Addressing Barriers to Fair Housing Access

Many of the policies needed to help address the disruption in housing caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will also help address housing problems that have been years in the making. A lack of affordable housing, both for sale and rental units, are in part the result of state and local policies and land use restrictions. Affordable housing advocates have made important gains in reducing restrictions and changing policies, but there is even more room for improvement.

Housing discrimination continues to play a role in access to housing. The NHLA Fair Housing Project has been working to address housing discrimination here in New Hampshire. If you are a victim of discrimination, please contact the Fair Housing Project at 1-800-921-1115.