Fort Worth has more eviction filings than Austin, Dallas

Fort Worth city staff presented a recent report revealing a concerning trend of increasing evictions in the city, ahead of Tuesday’s work session with city council members. According to the report, eviction filings have surged since 2020, reaching nearly 46,000 in 2023, surpassing those of larger cities like Austin and Dallas.

The spike in evictions, nearly doubling between 2021 and 2022, followed the end of the federal eviction moratorium and reductions in emergency rental funds. Despite Fort Worth’s eviction rate of 10.4%, similar to Houston’s 10%, the report highlighted demographic disparities, with black and female renters facing a disproportionate share of eviction filings.

Lauren King, Executive Director of the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition, emphasized the impact of rising living costs on residents, leading many to struggle to make ends meet. King’s organization actively assists households facing eviction, with between 600 and 1,100 households identified weekly for support and mediation.

While eviction doesn’t always result in homelessness, King noted that it’s a common precursor, with around 75% of individuals experiencing homelessness having faced eviction within the last 12 months. To address this issue, Fort Worth’s report proposed various programs and policies, including providing legal representation for low-income individuals facing eviction.

Farwah Raza, a supervising attorney at Legal Aid Northwest Texas, underscored the importance of legal assistance, citing success stories from cities like New York, where legal representation led to a significant decline in evictions. The report highlighted Legal Aid Northwest Texas as a crucial resource for Fort Worth residents facing eviction.