Data shows Columbus eviction filings increased dramatically after COVID-19

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus saw 25,320 eviction filings this year as of Dec. 1, far more than the other major Ohio cities, according to data from the Eviction Lab.

The Eviction Lab has tracked weekly eviction filings in 10 states and 36 cities, including Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland, since March 2020 in hopes to monitor the effects of COVID-19. According to their findings, evictions have been up 38% compared to pre-COVID averages in Columbus.

Other Ohio cities are not seeing evictions at the same levels. Columbus' 25,322 eviction filings dwarf Cincinnati's 13,605 and Cleveland's 6,048. Both Columbus and Cincinnati have a 10% filing rate, but Cincinnati is only up 6% compared to its pre-COVID averages. Cleveland boasts an impressive 27% decrease from its averages before COVID.

The Eviction Lab also found eviction filings are not distributed evenly across the city, with 25.4% of eviction filings coming from the same top 100 buildings. Ten apartment complexes evicted 100 or more people between August 2023 and August 2024, three of which were owned by the same company, 5812 Investment Group LLC.

The top three "eviction hotspot" companies were Columbus Park Apartments with 147 evictions, College Park Apartments with 133 filings and The Villages at Eden Crossing with 116 filings, according to Eviction Lab data.

The Eviction Lab also found evictions disproportionately affect Black, Latino and women renters. According to the Eviction Lab's data, 53% of renters in Columbus are white but white tenants made up just 36% of eviction filings.

Columbus leaders previously told NBC4 that more tenants were evicted in 2023 than fit into Nationwide Arena. Columbus City Council is working to fix that, especially as 2024 is anticipated to break 2023's record number of evictions, by considering investing in legal aid for those facing evictions.

According to a report for City Council, every $1 invested into an eviction help program would have an estimated return of at least $4 in money that would otherwise go toward assistance programs. The program had its second committee reading on Dec. 5, and continues to move through legislative channels.

The city already has some resources in place to help tenants facing eviction, including the Legal Aid Society of Columbus and Housing for All Columbus.