The national moratorium on evictions expires tomorrow, July 31. As a result, Chester County families that have fallen behind on their rent are in danger of losing their homes.

Sema K. Sgaier and Aaron Dibner-Dunlap covered the looming eviction crisis for The New York Times.

Nationwide, more than six million people are now under the threat of eviction, with an estimated $23 billion in outstanding rent debt. The countrywide debt for back rent averages $3,800 per household.

In Chester County, 13.9 percent of renting households are behind in payments to their landlords, lower than the national stats.

But our hole is deeper. Chester County renters are in arrears for an average of $4,303, nearly $1,000 above fellow U.S. lessees.

While the scope of the upcoming eviction crisis could be reduced with help from almost $50 billion in federal Emergency Rental Assistance funds, the rollout has proven to be slow and complicated. Housing economists fear it will aid only a small fraction of those who need it the most.

In addition to the federal program, rental assistance is available from both the county and the state.

Read more about the eviction crisis in The New York Times.