On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced an order to temporarily halt residential evictions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. The moratorium is in effect through December 31.
The moratorium applies to covered tenants facing eviction for nonpayment of rent who present a signed declaration to their landlords that they meet certain income and hardship criteria.
The order says violations of the eviction moratorium may result in criminal penalties.
“In the context of a pandemic, eviction moratoria — like quarantine, isolation, and social distancing — can be an effective public health measure utilized to prevent the spread of communicable disease,” explained the Department of Health and Human Services in the order. “Eviction moratoria facilitate self-isolation by people who become ill or who are at risk for severe illness from COVID-19 due to an
underlying medical condition. They also allow State and local authorities to more easily implement stay-at-home and social distancing directives to mitigate the community spread of COVID-19. Furthermore, housing stability helps protect public health because homelessness increases the likelihood of individuals moving into congregate settings, such as homeless shelters, which then puts individuals at
higher risk to COVID-19. The ability of these settings to adhere to best practices, such as social distancing and other infection control measures, decreases as populations increase. Unsheltered homelessness also increases the risk that individuals will experience severe illness from COVID19.”
The federal moratorium included in the CARES Act expired in late July, and Congress has refused to pass a bill to help the growing number of people in financial distress.
The Trump administration’s moratorium will apply to all rental units nationwide. Renters will be eligible for the moratorium’s protection if they received a stimulus check, and they must be able to prove that they made an effort to receive government assistance and that they could not afford rent.