After a month of uncertainty surrounding the end of the federal eviction moratorium, which was scheduled for June 30th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced an extension of the protective measure until July 31st. The extension is welcome news to the more than six million Americans behind on their rent and at risk of being evicted from their homes.
The change comes after efforts made by housing advocates to encourage an additional postponement of the deadline because much of the $45 billion allocated by Congress for rental assistance has yet to reach renters in need. While the one-month extension gives more time for funding to reach communities, we can expect many families to still be experiencing the lasting financial impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and still be at risk of eviction at the end of July.
At Family Promise, we believe that it is crucial that housing relief funding reaches providers and communities before the eviction moratorium ends. But more importantly, we need to adopt a long-term focus on addressing issues that caused housing instability long before the pandemic hit. We know that racial, gender, and economic disparities impact housing status in America and that this impact was exacerbated by the pandemic.
For more information on how to get help if you are at risk for eviction or on how to get involved click here.
If you are a member of the press who would like to connect with an expert at Family Promise to discuss the upcoming end of the eviction moratorium, email Katie Coughlin at kcoughlin@familypromise.org.
