The scourge of evictions in Maricopa County is inching toward a historic peak, with numbers from the first nine months of 2024 signaling a potential breaking point not seen in nearly two decades. As reported by Fox10 Phoenix, Maricopa County has recorded an alarming tally of 65,651 eviction cases from January through September, surpassing previous years' counts and inching close to the disheartening record set back in 2005. This surge in eviction filings puts 2024 on track to eclipse the previous high-water mark of 83,687 total evictions witnessed 19 years prior.
Despite a slight reprieve in September, with 7,537 eviction cases filed, down from August's 7,957 filings, the specter of housing insecurity looms large over the residents of Maricopa County. The figures from August were notable for being the second-highest monthly filings in the county's history, with an unsettling 50-case increase over July and trailing just behind January 2024's peak, according to 12 News.
Yet, an eviction filing does not necessarily spell immediate displacement, as the Justice Courts of Maricopa County clarifies, as per 12 News. Landlords who file evictions might see their issues with tenants resolved outside courtrooms, and tenants often have the option to settle "past-due" amounts before the gavel falls.
The staggering numbers speak volumes about the current housing dynamic, with 2024's first nine months overshadowing the likes of 2006's cases and the 61,916 of 2005, per 12 News.
