New Research Highlights How Eviction Moratoria During COVID-19 Curbed Child Maltreatment
A groundbreaking study from the University of Georgia has unveiled compelling evidence that federal and statewide policies designed to alleviate economic strain can play a critical role in reducing occurrences of child abuse and neglect. Published in the esteemed journal Pediatrics, the research specifically examines the effect of eviction moratoria established during the COVID-19 pandemic on child maltreatment rates. The findings illuminate how housing security can serve as a pivotal social determinant influencing family dynamics and child welfare, offering deep insights into the intersection of economic policy and public health outcomes.
At the heart of the study lies a systematic analysis of child protective services data collected from hundreds of counties across 17 US states with varying eviction policies during the pandemic. Ten states implemented comprehensive state-level eviction bans, effectively halting evictions for nonpayment of rent, while seven states, including Georgia, opted not to enact such moratoria. Researchers meticulously compared biweekly reporting intervals of child abuse and neglect cases across these two groups, uncovering statistically significant declines in states with eviction halts. These declines are a testament to the profound impact housing security imparted on families during a period marked by widespread economic uncertainty.
Lead author Liwei Zhang, an assistant professor at the University of Georgia’s School of Social Work, emphasizes the nuanced relationship between poverty, parental stress, and child maltreatment. Zhang articulates that most parents inherently wish to protect and nurture their children, but intense economic pressures—such as threat of eviction—can exacerbate situational stressors that inadvertently trigger neglect or abuse. By preventing forced displacement, eviction moratoria acted as a buffer against these destabilizing forces, enabling parents to maintain more consistent caregiving practices and reduce harmful behaviors.
Quantitatively, the study revealed notable decreases in specific categories of child maltreatment. Physical abuse reports dropped by 16%, sexual abuse allegations fell by 21%, and neglect cases were reduced by 12% in states that imposed eviction bans, compared to those without such policies. These figures highlight the differentiated ways in which housing stability buffers multiple forms of maltreatment, underscoring the multidimensional protective effects that targeted economic interventions can provide. They also reinforce theoretical frameworks that link material hardship directly to psychosocial outcomes within vulnerable family systems.
This research underscores secure housing as a fundamental component of child well-being, especially among low-income populations disproportionately impacted by the financial disruptions of the pandemic. The eviction moratorium offered a vital safety net, ensuring families were not displaced due to temporary inability to meet financial obligations. This security, in turn, likely alleviated acute stress and safeguarded parental mental health, factors well recognized to mitigate risk of maltreatment. The study thereby reinforces the importance of viewing housing policy through a child development and social work lens.
Nonetheless, the moratorium also exposed intrinsic tensions within the housing ecosystem. Small, independent landlords—often economically vulnerable themselves—faced financial hardships due to delayed rent payments. Zhang highlights the need for future policy frameworks to balance the interests of both tenants and landlords, creating sustainable systems that can weather future crises without disproportionately disadvantaging one party. Such holistic policy design is critical to ensuring long-term efficacy and equitable burden sharing during widespread economic disruptions.
In addition to practical implications, the study calls for policymakers and researchers to integrate lessons from this unprecedented social experiment into disaster preparedness paradigms. The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed an array of policy shifts, and Zhang argues that retrospective analysis of their impacts is imperative to crafting responsive, evidence-based support measures. Policymakers charged with child welfare and social services should therefore consider economic aids like eviction moratoria as integral to comprehensive child protection strategies during future emergencies.
From a technical perspective, the study employed a quasi-experimental design utilizing a difference-in-differences analytical approach. This method compared trends in maltreatment reporting before and after policy implementation across treated and untreated states, controlling for confounding socio-economic and demographic variables. Utilizing biweekly granular data allowed the authors to discern temporal associations with high precision, strengthening the causal inference linking eviction policy to child maltreatment outcomes. This rigorous methodological framework sets a benchmark for future research at the nexus of social policy and child welfare epidemiology.
Further elaboration on mechanisms suggests that eviction moratoria not only prevent displacement but may indirectly reduce parental psychological distress by sustaining access to stable environments, community resources, and social support networks. Disruptions in these domains are well documented contributors to family instability and increased risk of maltreatment. The findings of this study lend empirical validation to such theoretical constructs, advocating for interdisciplinary policy lenses incorporating economic, psychological, and child protection perspectives.
Moreover, the research highlights systemic intersections between economic instability, housing insecurity, mental health challenges, and substance abuse issues that compound maltreatment risks. Zhang underscores the need for destigmatizing help-seeking behaviors among parents facing hardship, fostering environments where individuals feel empowered to access assistance without shame or fear. This holistic understanding repositions child maltreatment prevention as inseparable from broader social welfare and public health interventions.
While the immediate relief of eviction bans was critical during the pandemic, the study’s authors stress the essentiality of sustainable, long-term policies to address underlying structural poverty, rather than temporary stopgaps. A multidimensional strategy encompassing affordable housing, mental health services, and economic support will be vital in mitigating root causes of maltreatment beyond crisis periods. Lessons drawn from this research advocate for systemic reform geared towards resilience-building in vulnerable populations.
In summary, this seminal study provides robust empirical evidence connecting robust economic assistance policies to improved child welfare outcomes. It posits that effective social safety nets, such as eviction moratoria during times of crisis, can substantially reduce the prevalence of child maltreatment by alleviating parental stress and promoting household stability. As societies continue to grapple with socioeconomic disparities amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, these findings offer critical guidance for policymakers seeking to protect children and families through integrated economic and social interventions.
Subject of Research: Impact of eviction moratoria on child maltreatment rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article Title: State-Based Eviction Moratoria and Child Maltreatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic
News Publication Date: 8-Apr-2025
Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-068174
References: University of Georgia study published in Pediatrics
Keywords: Social welfare, Homelessness, Physical abuse
