This just in from the National Low Income Housing Coalition:
A federal district court judge in Georgia today denied a motion for preliminary injunctionfiled by individual landlords and the National Apartment Association to halt implementation of the federal eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). While the judge still needs to rule on the merits of the case, today’s decision is a significant victory for renters and advocates.
In the ruling, Judge J.P. Boulee makes a strong case for why the federal eviction moratorium should be upheld, and cites research from NLIHC and partners, and the Eviction Lab’s Housing Policy Scorecard, as evidence demonstrating why the eviction moratorium is critically needed to slow the spread of COVID-19. This is the first federal district court to rule on the issue of eviction moratoriums during the pandemic.
Despite today’s ruling, we have tremendous work ahead to ensure that a federal eviction moratorium is upheld, improved, and extended, and that renters know about the moratorium and the steps they must take to be protected. Check out NLIHC’s National Eviction Moratorium resource page for more information, including an Overview of the Federal Eviction Moratorium and a Federal Eviction Moratorium: FAQ for Renters. NLIHC and our partners have translated the declarative statement form in 14 languages, and renters and advocates can use this survey to have hard copies of the form mailed to you. Renters in need can also find NLIHC’s compilation of over 440 local rental assistance programs created in response to the pandemic.
While the federal eviction moratorium provides critical relief for struggling renters, it is not enough on its own to prevent evictions. Emergency rental assistance is urgently needed to help renters avoid a financial cliff when the moratorium expires and back rent is owed. Without significant federal intervention, 30 million to 40 million renters could be at risk of losing their homes at the end of the year when the CDC moratorium ends.
Congress and the White House must quickly enact a comprehensive relief package that includes essential housing and homelessness resources. NLIHC’s top priorities – all of which were included in the House-passed HEROES Act – include at least $100 billion in emergency rental assistance; a national, uniform moratorium on evictions; $11.5 billion to prevent and respond to outbreaks among people experiencing homelessness; and at least $13 billion in resources at HUD and USDA to ensure housing stability.
Take Action Today to Urge Congress to Provide #RentReliefNow!
