City Of Tulsa Offering Resources For Tenants Before Eviction Moratorium Expires

The City of Tulsa wants people to know help is available for people struggling to pay rent now that the CDC eviction moratorium expires June 30.

Starting July 1, the city expects to see a lot more eviction cases. However, owner of LSG Properties, Scott Gordon said nonprofits have helped pay rent, which means he won't need to evict.

"I have been doing this for 19 years and I have probably filed five or six evictions,” Gordon said. Gordon said even after the CDC Moratorium expires, he plans to keep working with tenants who are struggling. “The compassion of knowing that this is something that they didn't do,” Gordon said.

He said during the pandemic, they've chosen not to evict anyone, as they've been able to receive more than $100,000 in rent assistance from nonprofits like Restore Hope Ministries.

Restore Hope Ministries Executive Director Jeff Jaynes hopes landlords will be patient after the moratorium.

"Unfortunately, we think a lot of landlords will take that opportunity and start filing evictions, and I just want to let landlords know, if a family is removed from a property, we cannot pay,” Jaynes said.

Since March, the city and Restore Hope Ministries have helped more than 1,000 households affected directly or indirectly by COVID-19 who've had trouble paying rent or utilities.

"We know landlords are hurting, but we would rather help them with rent assistance rather than have them evicted,” Jaynes said.

Gordon said as long as his tenants communicate with him, he will continue to work with them.

"It would take a lot in order to kick someone out,” Gordon said.

To learn more about how to get help with paying rent, click here.