My sister just went thru a similar experience. She has an “apartment” above her garage that she allowed a father and 2 kids to rent at a low rate (she felt sorry for them). The dad was employed, but lowish income. Rent included utilities because there weren’t separate meters.
He paid rent one month and then stopped paying. Ran the heat and A/C max which drove up their utility bills. The eviction process took FOREVER. She had to go to court twice and then finally an eviction notice was made. 30 days after that, the police came and escorted him out of the property.
My sis had quite a mess to clean up, new flooring, paint, etc.
I don’t know what the answer is. Housing is needed, but private citizens can’t be left vulnerable like this. More public housing? Fine. Don’t know how long public housing puts up with people not paying anything.