Maricopa County is poised to set a troubling new record for eviction filings in 2024, according to recent reports. Data from the county's justice courts indicates that eviction filings could surpass the previous high of 83,687 recorded in 2005. With 79,858 eviction filings already processed this year, as per ABC15, 2024 is shaping up to be a record-breaking year for displacement actions within the county's borders.
In November alone, the Maricopa County justice courts received over 6,500 eviction cases, which is alarmingly consistent with the county's trends during this time of year. Despite a temporary decrease in eviction proceedings during the season, which traditionally begins in November and extends into March, current numbers fall in the top fifth for filings since the year 2000. This comparison is especially stark when considering that the November numbers were the second lowest of the year but still contributed significantly to the unprecedented total, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix.
While eviction is a legal mechanism, its human toll cannot be overlooked. Judge Anna Huberman, who presides over such cases almost daily, has noticed a new pattern emerging — people being evicted after shorter tenures in their homes, particularly when an initial lease deal ends. "Lately it’s been kind of common that I’ve seen several cases where the tenants are barely there for 23 months, and then they’re in court with an eviction," Huberman told FOX 10 Phoenix.
The most affected areas and the apartment complexes that are leading in these eviction filings have also been identified. Courts in the inner suburbs of Phoenix, such as Kyrene and Manistee, have the highest concentration of filings. The Tides on 71st complex topped November's filings at 38, closely followed by Acero on Algodon with 34 filings, according to ABC15. These figures suggest a clustering of eviction actions in certain residential areas.
The rise in eviction filings comes as Arizona maintains some of the swiftest eviction processes in the country, theoretically allowing residents to be removed from their homes within as few as 18 days. This expedited system contributes to the precarity faced by many tenants, including one individual who recounted to FOX 10 Phoenix about being evicted despite being assured their rent would be caught up by assistance agencies. Eviction not only displaces individuals but also often results in significant emotional and financial strain for those involved.
Judge Huberman, while tasked with upholding the law, expressed her distress over having to evict residents who find themselves in dire circumstances. "Just last week I had someone tell me that she had to quit her job because of a disability. Her disability hasn't yet kicked in, and now we’re evicting someone who can’t work and has nowhere to go," she said, in a report by FOX 10 Phoenix. This scenario highlights the complexities judges face when the legal system intersects with individual hardships.
Not all eviction filings lead to actual evictions, as the Arizona Multihousing Association points out that typically only 30% of such filings culminate in the removal of tenants. Despite the seasonal slowdown in eviction filings, the rapid pace at which they are being recorded raises concerns about potentially record-breaking eviction numbers in Maricopa County as 2024 comes to a close.
