More renters faced eviction in Dane County this past year than at any point in the past decade. Landlords filed for 2,656 evictions in 2024, a 9% jump from the prior year, which itself saw a record-setting number of evictions.
Most evictions (83%) were ultimately dismissed, in large part due to the intervention of the Tenant Resource Center’s services, including rental assistance, mediation services, and legal representation by our partner attorneys. The EDDP distributed $10,128,291.95 in financial assistance, provided legal representation for 464 households, and staffed more than 4,000 initial appearances and trials this past year.
Despite these efforts, 363 households still received judgments of eviction. The majority (65%) of these judgments were default judgments, which are awarded when a tenant doesn’t appear at their hearing or trial date. Roughly a quarter of judgments (26%) occurred after a tenant failed to follow through on a stipulated dismissal agreement, such as missing a payment date or failing to vacate on the date they agreed. Less than one percent of judgments were awarded by a judge after an eviction trial.
Roughly 2,353 unique households faced eviction this year. Nearly 90% of these households faced eviction because of non-payment of rent. On average, tenants owed $3,248 at the time of filing the case, with landlords filing for eviction on balances as low as $75.
Nearly 75% of EDDP clients were severely rent-burdened this year, meaning they spend more than half of their income on monthly rent. At the time of intake, the average household was at 15% of the area median income earning $16,413 per year. Nearly 25% of tenants completing an intake reported receiving some kind of rent subsidy.
The average household had two people with one child. Eviction disproportionately impacted people of color, with 55% of households identifying as Black/African American and 23% identifying as white. 14% identified as Hispanic/Latinx; 65% identified as female; and 34% reported having a disability that impacts their ability to remain stably housed.