State-Based Eviction Moratoria and Child Maltreatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Abstract

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic crisis increased housing difficulties for families in the United States, putting children at increased risk of eviction and Child Protective Services involvement. For the first time at the national level, policymakers issued eviction moratoria with implementation approaches varying across states. This study examined whether state-based eviction moratoria were associated with changes in child maltreatment report rates.

Methods: This study used child maltreatment report data from 318 counties in 17 states from January 1, 2019 to mid-August 2021. Difference-in-differences analyses were conducted to compare changes in maltreatment rates in counties that continuously implemented eviction moratoria with those that never did during the study period. County rates of overall child maltreatment, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect were measured at the biweekly level using administrative data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System.

Results: Eviction moratoria were significantly associated with reduced biweekly reports of physical abuse (b [coefficient estimate] = -0.073; 95% CI, -0.119 to -0.027), sexual abuse (b = -0.034; 95% CI, -0.051 to -0.018), and neglect (b = -0.217; 95% CI, -0.346 to -0.088), representing reductions of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect by 16.04%, 21.12%, and 12.17%, respectively. Eviction moratoria were negatively associated with overall child maltreatment report rates, but the coefficient was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: Eviction moratoria may help prevent child maltreatment. Policymakers may consider providing sustainable housing assistance to support financially struggling families, both immediately following a public health crisis and over the long run.