The nonprofit Oklahoma Policy Institute reports 1,137 evictions have been filed in Oklahoma since mid-March and there have been nearly 159 foreclosures. Those numbers are as of April 1.
The evictions and foreclosure notices were filed after a statewide emergency was declared and evictions were suspended due to the coronavirus.
The pandemic has forced businesses across the state to close or cut hours and many workers have been laid off. In March, more than 43,000 Oklahomans filed new claims for unemployment benefits.
The Oklahoma Policy Institute’s data suggests hundreds of Oklahomans could be forced out of their homes after the pandemic ends and the state of emergency is lifted.
The nonprofit has found some courts are still holding eviction hearings over the phone and have evicted people who didn't answer when the court called.
