The Eviction Moratorium that was just passed in December is set to expire at the end of this month, on January 31 so, I want to talk about what President elect Joe Biden is proposing to prevent the expiration from happening; but let me start with some information that may be of immediate help to you, if you are facing rental issues right now, since the new Administration’s plans do not address your right now reality…
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The following are various forms of pandemic assistance housing in budgeting resources that may provide immediate assistance and relief depending on your situation*:
- Justshelter.org – Justshelter.org is an organization that provides information to help you know and understand your rights, helps prevent eviction by connecting you with resources within your local community, and also can assist with emergency housing
- NLIHC.org – The National Low Income Housing Coalition allows you to perform a search by state for programs, so that you receive information based upon your local area; they also provide information on eviction protection; another bonus is that their site allows you to access an affordable housing database that contains inventory of affordable housing all across the country
- 211.org – 2-1-1 is an organization that connects you to a specialist who can then connect you with local resources that assist with emergency shelter, housing assistance, food supplement program assistance, help with your utility bills, and all sorts of other programs, and is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week and help remains confidential
- LSC.gov – Legal Services Corporation which is a nonprofit organization that was started by Congress to provide legal aid to lower income individuals
*Please be sure to discuss your personal situation with a state agency representative or community specialist in your particular area. Talk with a legal aid to make sure you understand your rights, and also to make sure you understand what is considered to be reasonable vs. unreasonable payment arrangements based upon your individual situation. The same applies if you have not been able to successfully obtain a mortgage forbearance with your mortgage company and need to make some type of arrangement outside of any foreclosure ban – seek legal aid to understand your rights.
OK now let’s talk about Biden’s new eviction moratorium proposal… so keeping in mind what the American people have had to go through because of COVID, the length of unemployment for many, and the hits that many small businesses have had to take etc., there is a proposal to extend the moratorium on evictions to September 30th, to give the American people and our economy more time to recover; this would include a ban on foreclosures up until September 30th.
So, the funding breakdown for the extension plan includes $25 billion toward rental assistance, $5 billion toward utilities assistance, and $5 billion toward emergency housing. This is another plan that I’ll be following and will provide an update; and in the meantime, please look into the pandemic assistance resources provided at the beginning of the post.
One other very important point I’d like to make about evictions is that I’ve heard stories about landlords getting around the Eviction Moratorium, by using other provisions in the lease agreement; in other words claiming that the lease has been violated for other reasons beside unpaid rent; so just a word of caution, don’t ‘wild out’ or give an easy way to find a loophole around the Eviction Moratorium while everything is being worked out while you’re hoping for a breakthrough, so that you don’t grant any legal way to get you out of the residence in the meantime.
Please stay encouraged the Lord has not forgotten about you. “Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Don’t lose hope, good news is coming. And just remember that you are loved and we are all essential – and that includes you!
Shelly