In recent years, housing stability has become a central concern for policymakers, researchers, and communities across the United States. Amid a global pandemic that upended employment and strained household budgets, understanding how many families were forced from their homes is more important than ever. This article explores the Idaho Policy Institute formal eviction rate Shoshone County 2020, unpacking what the formal eviction rate means, how it was calculated, and what it reveals about housing stability in rural Idaho during the first year of the COVID-19 crisis.
The Idaho Policy Institute formal eviction rate Shoshone County 2020 provides insights into both the impact of state and federal policies during a health emergency and the lived realities of renters in smaller, resource-limited counties. By examining this rate—a percentage derived from legal eviction actions compared to total renter households—we can better understand housing insecurity at the local level and how external stressors like court closures, moratoriums, and rental assistance shaped eviction outcomes.
What Is the Formal Eviction Rate?
Before diving into the specific case of Shoshone County, it’s critical to define what “formal eviction rate” means. The formal eviction rate is a statistical measure used by researchers to convey how many renting households in a geographic area were legally removed from their homes through court judgments in a given year. In the context of the Idaho Policy Institute formal eviction rate Shoshone County 2020, this figure reflects only those evictions that reached formal court adjudication—excluding informal evictions where tenants leave prior to filing.
The formal eviction rate is calculated by dividing the number of households with formal evictions by the total number of renter households in the county, then expressing that result as a percentage. For example:
Formal Eviction Rate (%) = (Number of Formal Evictions ÷ Total Renter Households) × 100.
This metric differs from the eviction filing rate—which captures cases filed in court that may or may not result in removal—and is often considered a more definitive indicator of housing disruption because it records cases where the court actually ordered the renter removed from their residence.
Idaho Policy Institute and Eviction Data Collection
The Idaho Policy Institute (IPI), based at Boise State University, has taken a leading role in compiling and analyzing eviction data across all 44 Idaho counties since 2019. By obtaining court records from the Idaho Supreme Court, IPI researchers can track eviction filings, formal evictions, and related trends statewide.
In 2020—the year the COVID-19 pandemic began—IPI documented more than 1,893 eviction filings statewide, with 1,127 resulting in formal evictions. This represented roughly 0.6 % of Idaho’s estimated 189,292 renter households, an approximate statewide formal eviction rate for that year.
However, statewide figures mask considerable variability at the county level. Rural counties such as Shoshone, home to a smaller population and unique economic circumstances, were affected differently due to factors like local housing supply, renter demographics, and access to legal or financial assistance.
Shoshone County: A Rural Snapshot
Shoshone County, located in northern Idaho’s Silver Valley, has a relatively small population—around 13,000 residents—with roughly 28 % of its housing units occupied by renters. This equates to approximately 1,588 renter households, according to census-based estimates.
Because Shoshone County’s eviction data is part of the statewide dataset, it is accessible through IPI’s interactive eviction dashboards rather than prominently featured in the main reports. These tools allow users to click on Shoshone County and see detailed statistics including renter household counts, formal eviction totals, and calculated rates.
Understanding the Idaho Policy Institute formal eviction rate Shoshone County 2020 requires consideration of several key influences that defined eviction activity that year:
The Pandemic’s Effect on Evictions
Court Closures and Slowdowns
In spring 2020, the Idaho Supreme Court temporarily closed courtrooms due to public health concerns, leading to a sharp drop in eviction filings and formal eviction actions in April. Once courts reopened in May, there was an immediate increase in filings as landlords resumed legal action where possible.
Federal and State Eviction Moratoriums
Multiple federal policies sought to limit evictions during the early months of the pandemic. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act offered eviction protections for tenants in properties backed by federal programs. Later, the CDC moratorium extended broader protections but required tenants to meet specific eligibility criteria, including income thresholds and declarations of hardship. Many tenants, particularly in rural areas like Shoshone County, rarely accessed these protections—often due to lack of awareness or administrative barriers.
Emergency Rental Assistance
Alongside moratoriums, emergency rental assistance funds were distributed by the Idaho Housing Finance Association and other entities. These programs aimed to help tenants pay overdue rent and prevent evictions. While assistance played a role in reducing potential filings in some parts of the state, the degree to which such support reached renters in smaller counties varied and was often limited by outreach and infrastructure.
What the Numbers Miss
Like all quantitative measures, the Idaho Policy Institute formal eviction rate Shoshone County 2020 only captures part of the story. Formal eviction filings represent what happened in court—meaning plenty of housing displacement went unrecorded. Evictions that occurred through informal pressure, “pay or quit” notices, or tenant–landlord negotiations without legal proceedings are generally not captured.
The exclusion of informal evictions means that the true displacement rate may be higher, especially in rural areas where “off-the-books” evictions tend to occur more often. Moreover, eviction records do not always reflect the full socioeconomic impacts on families, including forced moves due to unaffordability or property condition issues.
Rural Housing Challenges and Eviction Risk
Shoshone County’s housing landscape complicates eviction dynamics. With low rental vacancy rates—nearly 3 %—finding another rental after an eviction is exceptionally hard, and prospective tenants often face steep competition or credit screening barriers exacerbated by eviction records.
Rural economies also mean limited access to support services. Legal aid, mediation programs, or housing counseling resources are more scarce than in urban centers. In many eviction cases statewide, landlords have legal representation while tenants do not, skewing court outcomes and contributing to higher rates of formal evictions where tenants lack counsel and awareness of their rights.
Interpreting the Idaho Policy Institute Formal Eviction Rate Shoshone County 2020
It is important to interpret the Idaho Policy Institute formal eviction rate Shoshone County 2020 with an understanding of both context and methodology. Small populations translate to volatile rates: just a handful of cases can swing percentages significantly compared to counties with larger renter bases. Moreover, rural eviction dynamics often diverge from statewide patterns due to differences in economic conditions, access to legal counsel, and social support networks.
While IPI’s county-level data provides a clearer picture than aggregated state figures, it also underscores the limitations and silences in eviction data—particularly for informal evictions and non-court-tracked displacement.
Beyond 2020: Housing Stability Trends
Although this article focuses on 2020, later research from the Idaho Policy Institute shows evolving trends. For example, statewide eviction filings and formal evictions increased in subsequent years, but the proportion of filings resulting in formal eviction judgments declined. This shift suggests that mediation programs and rental assistance may be having more impact over time in preventing court-ordered removals.
Understanding these changes helps communities and policymakers tailor interventions that strengthen housing stability, from eviction diversion programs to expanded legal aid.
Conclusion
The Idaho Policy Institute formal eviction rate Shoshone County 2020 offers more than just a number; it provides a lens into how policy, economic stress, public health crises, and local conditions intersect to affect housing security in rural Idaho. While statewide eviction figures help illustrate macro trends, county-level rates like Shoshone’s illuminate the lived realities of renters facing the threat of losing their homes during a tumultuous period.
As researchers continue to refine eviction tracking and as policymakers refine programs to prevent displacement, understanding nuances in data such as those provided by the Idaho Policy Institute will remain crucial. Proper interpretation of eviction rates—especially in rural contexts—plays a vital role in shaping equitable housing policies that support stable communities across Idaho and beyond.
5 FAQs About the Idaho Policy Institute Formal Eviction Rate Shoshone County 2020
1. What exactly is the “formal eviction rate”?
The formal eviction rate measures the percentage of renter households in a given area that were legally evicted through court judgments in a specific year. It excludes informal evictions without court orders.
2. Why is the 2020 data significant for Shoshone County?
2020 marked the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw significant disruptions in eviction activity due to court closures, eviction moratoriums, and emergency rental assistance—impacting both filings and formal eviction outcomes statewide and at the county level.
3. Does the formal eviction rate include informal evictions?
No. The rate only tracks evictions processed through the legal system. Informal evictions—pressure from landlords leading tenants to leave without court cases—are not included.
4. How does this data help local policymakers?
By examining formal eviction rates, policymakers and housing advocates can better target resources such as rental assistance, mediation programs, and tenant legal aid to areas with higher displacement risk.
5. Where can I find detailed eviction data for Shoshone County?
Detailed county eviction statistics, including filing counts and formal eviction rates, are available through the Idaho Policy Institute’s interactive eviction dashboards hoste.
