• Reporting

    CBS News reports on an analysis from a government watchdog group, Accountable.US, which found that many corporate landlords’ profits surged in 2021. Property owners who opposed the federal eviction moratorium claimed the ban would result in billions of dollars in losses for them. The analysis finds, however, that the largest publicly traded property group in the U.S. saw its combined earnings surge more than 50% in 2021 to nearly $5 billion. During that period, its top executives received raises of more than 20%.

    Updated June 13, 2022

    NPR reports that eviction filings continue to increase sharply as federal emergency rental assistance funds start to run out. NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel raised the concern that evictions may eventually stabilize at a rate higher than pre-pandemic levels, partly due to rising rent costs. In some cities, eviction filings rates have reached 150% and even 200% of pre-pandemic averages.

    The Associated Press reported on HUD’s May 9 announcement that it will double the size of its eviction protection program with a $20 million grant providing legal services and representation for families facing eviction

    Updated May 16, 2022

    Soledad O’Brien interviewed NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel on the April 24 episode of Matter of Fact. As eviction protections expire and emergency rental assistance funds run out, eviction filings are far surpassing pre-pandemic averages in an increasing number of cities. Diane highlighted short-term solutions to the current crisis, calling on states and localities to use other resources to supplement their rental assistance programs. She also discussed the urgent need for federal intervention to make homes affordable to the lowest-income people.

    CNN reports that utility shutoffs loom as moratoriums end and energy prices skyrocket. Consumer advocates are concerned about the looming wave of disconnections and are urging those with utility arrearages to reach out to utility companies, state agencies, and local nonprofits. More federal utility assistance is available for low-income Americans than ever before, but such assistance is still not enough to help everyone.

    A Mother Jones analysis of census data and sheriff’s department lockout notices in five California counties from March 2020 to October 2021 found that although evictions occurred at lower rates during the pandemic, they continued to disproportionately impact residents of majority-Latino and majority-minority neighborhoods. The impact is far greater when eviction threats and informal proceedings are taken into account.

    The Associated Press reports that many states have either voluntarily returned federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) or had ERA funds involuntarily recaptured. Nebraska is the only state to have refused to accept any ERA2 funds whatsoever. Those states for which funds have been recaptured are nearly all smaller states under Republican leadership with large rural populations and fewer renters. Treasury officials and many housing advocates argue that reallocation ensures that ERA is distributed to those states most in need.

    ABC News explores how the pandemic and a call to action from Attorney General Merrick Garland in August 2021 spurred the creation of eviction diversion programs across the country. The $46 billion in federal emergency rental assistance and the implementation of eviction diversion programs have helped keep eviction filings significantly below historical averages.

    NPR examines the effect of eviction moratoriums on out-of-court evictions, often referred to as informal or “self-help” evictions. Of the attorneys surveyed by the National Housing Law Project in July 2020, when the federal eviction moratorium was in place, 91% reported being aware of cases of illegal evictions. In a follow-up survey, 35% of legal aid attorneys reported an increase in illegal evictions or lockouts and a rise in court-sanctioned evictions since the federal eviction moratorium was lifted in August 2021.

    CNN reports on a March 2022 analysis by Princeton University’s Eviction Lab, which found that an estimated 1.36 million renters avoided an eviction filing in 2021 as a result of federal emergency rental assistance and other protections.

    Updated May 23, 2022

    According to the latest data from the Eviction Lab, evictions are increasing in most of the 31 cities and six states where it collects data. The upsurge in cases shows the limits of federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) in areas where distribution is lagging and tenant protections are weak.

    Updated January 28, 2022

    The Associated Press reports evictions are on the rise across the country. Advocates say the initial narrative that the end of the federal eviction moratorium did not result in a tsunami of evictions was misleading. The increase in eviction filings can be attributed to courts catching up on the backlog of cases; the limits of emergency rental assistance in areas where distribution lags and tenant protections are weak; and rising housing prices in many markets. The article cites research from NLIHC, the Eviction Lab, and the National Housing Law Project.

    Updated December 20, 2021

    CNN reports the U.S. Department of Treasury will begin reallocating emergency rental assistance (ERA) funds among state and local grantees to ensure ERA goes where it is needed and is being distributed efficiently. The article cites NLIHC’s statement and analysis of the latest ERA spending data and links to NLIHC’s ERA database.

    The Hill discusses findings from a new report released by researchers from UCLA, along with a coalition of researchers who study homelessness. The report found nearly 1,500 people experiencing homelessness died on the streets of Los Angeles during the pandemic. Researchers suspect that their findings are an underestimate given the limits of publicly available data.

    The Associated Press and Newsweek address new federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) data released by the Treasury Department on November 29, highlighting that several large states and cities have exhausted their ERA allocations. “While the overall rate of spending emergency rental assistance has improved, many programs are still too slow in getting assistance to tenants in need,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. “Most slow spenders and poor performers are needlessly delayed by their refusal to use flexibilities and best practices to expedite assistance.”

    Reuters reports states and local governments distributed more than $2.8 billion in emergency rental assistance (ERA) funds to more than 521,000 renters in October, the Treasury Department announced on November 29.

    HuffPost examines rental assistance distribution gaps emerging between states. While some states like California, New York, and Texas are running out of funds, others like Montana and North Dakota have barely distributed any aid.

    The Wall Street Journal and the Hill report the Treasury Department will begin reallocating funds from grantees that have unused emergency rental assistance (ERA) funds. The initial reallocation, set to be revealed in early December, could exceed $800 million. Officials have not specified which jurisdictions would lose and gain funds, but states with large amounts of unused ERA include rural states like Montana and North Dakota. More populous states, including New York and Texas, are expected to exhaust their ERA allocations over the coming week and months.

    The Associated Press reports the Treasury Department says there is little fraud evident in state and local emergency rental assistance programs.

    According to CNBC, states and localities have passed dozens of laws granting tenants additional rights over the past two years. These laws include eviction moratoriums, ERA-related eviction protections, rent control policies, and right to counsel laws. During the pandemic, seven cities and three states passed legislation guaranteeing renters facing eviction the right to legal representation.

    Updated on December 13, 2021

    The Arizona Mirror reports on the Treasury Department’s requirement that slow-spending emergency rental assistance (ERA) programs submit program improvement plans to the department by November 15. The plans must explain how the state and local grantees will address barriers to distributing ERA to households in need. The article highlights NLIHC’s report on ERA spending and performance trends. 

    NPR reports eviction filings have increased sharply since the federal eviction moratorium ended on August 26. The race to distribute federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) is more urgent than ever, but some ERA programs are still implementing practices that delay and block families from receiving aid. 

    The New York Times examines the growing eviction crisis hitting communities across the country, particularly those communities with limited renter protections and poor-performing emergency rental assistance programs. Housing advocates and experts say the true extent of the eviction crisis is understated by available data on evictions. 

    CNBC reports at least eight states and more than 20 cities have eviction protection policies in effect. 

    Bloomberg CityLab discusses the states and localities at risk of losing federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) funds if they do not submit to the Treasury Department a program improvement plan demonstrating their commitment to ensuring ERA reaches households in need. The article highlights some of the worst-performing states and cities, noting that states with Republican governors make up the majority of programs that failed to hit the federal spending threshold. 

    Updated on November 22, 2021

    The Associated Press reports the Biden administration announced on November 9 an extension of the federal government’s 100% reimbursement of eligible COVID-19 emergency response costs to states, tribes, and territories through April 1, 2022.

    Vox reports on a new analysis by JPMorgan Chase, which finds that while landlords lost money early in the pandemic, they were able to cut expenses by even more than revenues fell, resulting in higher cash balances by June 2020 than when the pandemic began. The analysis undermines the narrative that eviction moratoriums imposed an unfair cost on landlords and would harm the apartment industry.

    Updated on November 15, 2021

    The Treasury Department says federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) has prevented a surge of evictions, the Associated Press reports. NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel points to the most recent Treasury data as “evidence of improved program administration in some communities,” but notes the threat of mass evictions still looms. “Many other communities still lag behind – they need to quickly improve programs and get emergency rental assistance to tenants who need it to stay stably housed,” said Diane.

    HuffPost reports that despite delays in distribution, the Biden administration says Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program has helped to prevent a wave of evictions.

    NPR’s Morning Edition examines how eviction filings continue to rise sharply in areas with no COVID-related renter protections. According to the Eviction Lab, eviction filings have increased nationally each month since the federal eviction moratorium was invalidated at the end of August. Officials and advocates say federal rent relief has played a significant role in preventing a catastrophic wave of evictions.

    The Washington Post reports the amount of emergency rent relief reaching tenants and landlords increased slightly from August to September, but some state and local programs have continued to neglect Treasury’s best practices. “There’s no question that the 2 million payments [so far], and the path to 3.5 million payments in 2021, is making a meaningful difference in preventing the feared surge in evictions, but it is still not good enough,” said Gene Sperling, senior advisor the president.

    According to Go Banking Rates, some renters are being evicted while awaiting federal emergency rental assistance (ERA). A family of four in Texas was evicted by their landlord who received assistance from the Texas Rent Relief program. The landlord claimed they never received the funds and evicted the family when the ban was lifted in October. ERA programs across the country, including the Los Angeles County Development Authority, say landlords refusing to accept assistance is a significant barrier to distributing aid.

    Yahoo! Finance reports rental rates are sharply rising across the country at the same time many emergency renter protections and relief have expired.

    Updated on November 8, 2021

    CNBC reports more than $30 billion in federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) has not been spent, but this does not mean renters are no longer struggling. “There’s certainly remaining need in most states and cities,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. The article outlines how renters can access the relief, highlighting NLIHC’s ERA database and dashboard.

    Politico discusses the new emergency rental assistance (ERA) data released by Treasury on October 25, stating the data show the disbursement of rent relief has started to plateau after making more dramatic gains in previous months. About $10.7 billion in ERA has been disbursed as of the end of September, representing less than a quarter of the $46.5 billion Congress authorized in two tranches.

    NPR’s Here and Now shares the story of a single mother who was evicted from her home in July after she contracted COVID-19 and was unable to work. “Congress passed $46.5 billion dollars in emergency rental assistance, but unfortunately, states and localities didn’t have the infrastructure to really get these funds out to tenants and landlords who need it quickly,” said Sarah Hassmer of the National Women’s Law Center, who helped the mother navigate the rental assistance system in Phoenix.  

    Updated on November 03, 2021

    The New York Times reports that while eviction filings remain below pre-pandemic averages, those numbers do not capture evictions that were filed during the pandemic but are only now being executed. The end of the eviction moratorium came as rents surge far beyond pre-COVID prices and the budgets of many renters. Skyrocketing renters are dulling the effectiveness of emergency rental assistance, as landlords choose not to renew leases and then increase rents.

    Updated on October 25, 2021

    NPR’s Planet Money examines the slow distribution of federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) across the country, highlighting issues like burdensome documentation requirements and landlords refusing to participate. NPR notes that Treasury will begin recapturing funds from ERA programs not using the funds.

    The Hill and the Associated Press report that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued an interim final rule prohibiting individuals living in HUD-subsidized housing from being evicted for nonpayment of rent unless the tenants are given a 30-day notice and provided information about federal emergency rental assistance. “This rule is a significant step in raising tenant awareness about the availability of funds that can assist them with past due rent and allowing them additional time to access relief that may stave off eviction entirely,” said HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge.

    A new national poll from NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health founds more than a quarter of renters reported serious problems paying their rent in the past several months. The poll looked at the four largest cities in the U.S. and found that Houston’s rent crisis was by far the worst, with 53% of renters reporting issues paying rent. The poll found that families of color bear a disproportionate share of the pandemic’s socioeconomic impacts.

    Stateline discusses why states with small populations say the Treasury Department’s plan to recapture unspent emergency rent relief and redistribute it elsewhere is unfair, potentially depriving them of millions of dollars to address affordable housing issues.

    Bloomberg Law reports that President Biden’s options to prevent a wave of evictions when the pandemic subsidies will be limited if Congress does not include the housing voucher expansion included in the Build Back Better Act.

    Updated on October 18, 2021

    Matthew Desmond, director of the Eviction Lab and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, wrote an op-ed in the New York Times explaining why the federal eviction moratorium was among the most important public health interventions of the pandemic. Evictions are a public health crisis now and will continue to be after the pandemic has passed. Desmond urges legislators to take advantage of the once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest $327 billion in affordable housing through the Build Back Better Act.

    The Associated Press reports on the Treasury Department’s recently released emergency rental assistance (ERA) reallocation guidance. Treasury officials did not identify any states or localities that could lose money, but the August spending data indicate there are many grantees that have been slow in distributing ERA.
     

    The New York Times reports on the new data released by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on September 24 indicating Treasury disbursed more than $2.3 billion in rental assistance to about 420,000 households in August. “Nearly 1.5 million families helped is meaningful progress, but the overall rate of spending emergency rental assistance remains too slow,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. 

    The Washington Post reports that while the amount of emergency rental assistance (ERA) reaching landlords and tenants increased slightly from July to August, many state and local ERA programs continue to struggle to distribute ERA. Some local program administrators continue to resist the Biden administration’s calls to reduce application requirements. The Treasury Department will release guidance on the reallocation process in the coming days.

    The Associated Press highlights new data from the Treasury Department finding that states and cities distributed nearly 1.4 million emergency rental assistance (ERA) payments in August, picking up the pace from July. Treasury officials pointed to meaningful progress from New Jersey, New York, and South Carolina, as well as from New York, Los Angeles, and Miami-Dade County. Grantees that are not spending funds risk having ERA redirected to other states or cities.

    October 05, 2021
     

    The Associated Press reports Representative Cori Bush (D-MO) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced the “Keeping Renters Safe Act of 2021” on September 21, legislation that would reimpose a national eviction moratorium amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While the bill’s prospects are unclear, housing advocates – including NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel – say the moratorium was critical to keeping renters stably housed as they await emergency rental assistance.

    USA Today and Forbes also report on the “Keeping Renters Safe Act of 2021,” legislation to amend section 361 of the Public Health Service Act to grant the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) permanent authority to enact federal eviction moratoriums to address public health crises.

    Route-Fifty reports the Treasury Department will make the remaining $13 billion in emergency rental assistance (ERA) funds available to high-performing state and local grantees. At least 50 state and local government grantees have met the funding distribution benchmarks that make them eligible for the additional funds. The article highlights that NLIHC’s Diane Yentel testified before Congress on September 10 on reforms needed to expedite ERA distribution (see Memo, 9/13).

    HuffPost reports some landlords would rather evict tenants than accept emergency rental assistance (ERA). The article links to a Twitter thread from NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel about landlords’ refusal to participate in the ERA program.

    Aljazeera reports Goldman Sachs estimates that roughly 750,000 households could be evicted across the United States before the end of the year. Among many severe consequences, mass evictions could exacerbate the existing affordable housing crisis. The article cites findings from NLIHC’s The Gap report.
    September 27, 2021

    Politico reports the Treasury Department announced on September 14 plans to award the remaining $13 billion in federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) to high-performing state and local governments. Houston, Philadelphia, and New Orleans are among the localities expected to receive additional ERA.

    Yahoo News examines how the end of the federal eviction moratorium is impacting the more than eight million Americans currently behind on rent. Just over 3.5 million people report being “likely” or “very likely” to face eviction because of the pandemic. LGBTQ+ renters are faring worse than the general population, with about 19% of LGBTQ renters behind on rent.

    September 21, 2021

    CNN reports on the slow distribution of emergency rental assistance. “The money is getting out much too slowly, and it may not reach many of these families in time,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    Politico reports Texas has emerged as one of the most efficient states in distributing federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) funds. The state, cities, and counties have teamed up to disburse ERA, now totaling at least $616 million — nearly half of Texas’ initial batch of funds. NLIHC’s Diane Yentel credits the state’s success to program administrators’ willingness to learn from their mistakes and course correct.
     

    The Associated Press, Washington Post, Axios, CNN, and Politico report on the Supreme Court’s decision to block the federal eviction moratorium. The court in an unsigned opinion ruled 6-3 on August 26 to end the temporary stay on a lower court ruling seeking to overturn the federal eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on August 3.

    The Associated Press examines how concerns about the slow pace of emergency rental assistance (ERA) distribution across the country have intensified after the Supreme Court lifted the federal eviction moratorium on August 26, putting millions at risk for eviction. “State and local governments are working to improve programs to distribute emergency rental assistance to those in need, but they need more time; the Supreme Court’s decision will lead to many renters, predominantly people of color, losing their homes before the assistance can reach them,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel.

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel joined CBS News to speak about the Supreme Court’s ruling on the CDC eviction moratorium and the availability of federal emergency rental assistance. “What makes this moment so tragic and frustrating,” Diane said, “is that there are sufficient resources to help tenants pay the rent.”

    CNBC outlines what renters need to know now that the federal eviction moratorium has been overturned. The article cites NLIHC Diane Yentel’s statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling and highlights NLIHC’s searchable emergency rental assistance (ERA) database.

    The Hill says Congress is under new pressure to keep millions of renters in their homes after the Supreme Court blocked the new eviction moratorium implemented by the CDC. Members of Congress are urging state and local governments to speed the distribution of emergency rental assistance (ERA) and considering additional legislative action to authorize an eviction moratorium and accelerate the delivery of ERA.

    The Washington Post reports the Supreme Court decision may unleash a wave of evictions, given that as many as 6.4 million households remain behind on their rent. Housing advocates acknowledge it remains unlikely that Congress can enact an eviction moratorium. “Congress absolutely should implement a broad eviction moratorium during the pandemic,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel “They should have done that at any time over the last 18 months. They can’t and they very likely won’t. They don’t have the votes.” Another Washington Post article reports that the Supreme Court ruling overturning the CDC moratorium is unleashing a rapid and uneven wave of evictions across the country, leaving the fate of millions of renters in the hands of local judges, leaders, and sheriffs.

    The New York Times reports the Supreme Court’s ruling that ended the CDC eviction moratorium leaves the Biden administration with few options to help the millions of renters at risk of losing their homes.
    September 8, 2021

    The Associated Press reports that according to the Treasury Department, states and localities have only distributed 11% of the tens of billions of dollars in federal emergency rental assistance (ERA).“Nearly 1 million households assisted is meaningful progress, but the overall rate of spending emergency rental assistance remains much too slow,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. With the Supreme Court considering a challenge to the new CDC eviction moratorium, there is a concern that a surge of evictions will happen before much of the rent relief has been distributed. 

    The New York Times reports on recently released data on Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program showing about 89% of ERA funds have not been distributed. State and local governments distributed just $1.7 billion in rent relief in July as the Biden administration braces for a Supreme Court decision that could strike down the eviction moratorium. 

    CBS News reports on the emergency rental assistance (ERA) data and revised guidance released by the Treasury Department on August 25. The article notes that according to the latest Census Bureau data from early August, more than 7.9 million households are behind on rent.  

    The Associated Press, Politico, and CNN report on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia’s ruling denying the Alabama Association of Realtors’ request to overturn the CDC eviction moratorium. 

    Reuters, Washington Post, and USA Today report the Biden administration is urging the Supreme Court to leave in place the new eviction moratorium issued by the CDC eviction moratorium on August 3. The Alabama Association of Realtors filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court on August 20, just hours after the federal appeals court upheld U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich’s decision to keep the moratorium in place. This marks the second time the realtors have brought the dispute to the Supreme Court. 

    “The emergency rental assistance that Congress provided should be enough to cover all the rent and utility arrears that tenants accrued during the pandemic,” NLIHC’s Diane Yentel told Yahoo Finance. “But the money is getting out much too slowly.” 

    USA Today examines the slow rollout of federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) that is leaving millions of renters across the country at risk of losing their homes. Unnecessary and burdensome documentation requirements, a lack of public education about available resources, and difficult application processes are slowing the distribution of ERA. “States and cities really need to be working overtime and nonstop to get this money out quickly,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. 

    USA Today reports on the Biden administration’s decision to extend 100% cost reimbursement for eligible COVID-19 emergency response costs, including non-congregate sheltering for individuals experiencing homelessness and people with disabilities, through December 31, 2021. President Biden’s initial order, issued on January 21, directed FEMA to fully cover the costs of eligible activities through September. 

    NBC News, Roll Call, and Politico report U.S. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich on August 13 denied a request from the Alabama and Georgia Associations of Realtors to rule the new CDC eviction moratorium illegal, saying her “hands are tied” by an appellate court ruling maintaining a stay on the previous CDC eviction moratorium. The White House released a statement applauding the ruling. Read NLIHC’s Memo, 8/16 for more information. 

    The New York Times reports Attorney General Merrick Garland and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta held a virtual meeting on August 11 with 35 state supreme court justices, urging them to use every tool at their disposal to avert or delay evictions by ensuring tenants and landlords have access to federal emergency rental assistance. 

    Eric Dunn and Shamus Roller from the National Housing Law Project wrote an op-ed in the Hill on the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 housing crisis. The article discusses the long-lasting and problematic consequences COVID-related eviction records will have on millions of tenants and highlights policy solutions to stop evictions and limit the harm caused by eviction records. 

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel joined the Cross Connection with Tiffany Cross on August 7 to discuss the new eviction moratorium and the urgent need for states and localities to do more to quickly distribute emergency rental assistance (ERA) to millions of renters facing eviction. 

    NLIHC’s Diane Yentel spoke to CBS News to share important information for renters at risk of eviction. She urged renters to apply for emergency rental assistance (ERA) immediately since it may take time for that money to reach them. 

    NPR discusses the new CDC eviction moratorium and the Biden administration’s efforts to urge state and local governments to reduce burdensome documentation requirements and ensure emergency rental assistance (ERA) funds reach tenants. NLIHC’s Diane Yentel explained that some communities are struggling with capacity and continue to impose lengthy application processes with undue documentation requirements. 

    Politico reports the Biden administration’s decision to reinstate the CDC eviction moratorium marked a major political loss for the National Association of Realtors and its housing industry allies – who each year donate millions of dollars to candidates in both parties and often win big policy fights. NLIHC’s Diane Yentel says realtors, home builders, and apartment associations wasted millions of dollars and goodwill “in a public fight to allow landlords to evict struggling tenants during a historic and deadly global pandemic.” She added, “these trade associations painted their members in the worst possible light, all while failing over the last year to achieve their goal of overturning the moratoriums.” 

    NLIHC Vice President of Public Policy spoke to the Hill about the need for state and local governments to improve the distribution of emergency rental assistance (ERA) by making their programs visible and accessible, highlighting that some cities and states are imposing additional requirements beyond those set by the federal government. 

    The Associated Press spotlights California’s Project Homekey, a statewide program started in June 2020 to repurpose vacant hotels, motels, and other unused properties as permanent supportive housing. California spent $800 million – most of it from federal coronavirus relief funds – on Homekey in 2020 to provide shelter for 8,200 people. The administration plans to spend an additional $5.8 billion of state and federal funds over two years to expand the program and create an estimated 42,000 housing units. 

    The Washington Post reports that a group of real estate and landlord groups, including the Alabama Association of Realtors and its counterpart in Georgia, asked a federal judge in D.C. to halt the new eviction protections issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

    Politico reports that in response to a lawsuit brought by the Alabama and Georgia chapters of the National Association of Realtors, the Department of Justice (DOJ) on August 6 urged a federal court to keep the new eviction moratorium in place. DOJ lawyers highlighted that “the trajectory of the pandemic has changed dramatically as a result of the highly contagious Delta variant.” 

    Bloomberg discusses the Biden administration’s continued push for states and localities to accelerate the distribution of billions in emergency rental assistance (ERA). While several states have made significant progress in the last month, other states, like New York, continue to lag. The Treasury Department published on August 4 examples of simplified eligibility forms pulled from successful programs across the country and urged ERA program grantees to adopt best practices. 

    The New York Times reports many local governments and courts did not know how to apply the extension of the CDC eviction moratorium, causing dockets in some places – such as Clark County, Nevada – to overflow with evictions. 

    The 19th examines how the looming eviction crisis could hit the LGBTQ+ community hard. LGBTQ+ people, who are already more likely to experience housing insecurity, may face unique barriers to accessing federal rent relief. 

    Eric Dunn of the National Housing Law Project penned an article in Shelterforce outlining what steps state and local governments can take to stop mass evictions and facilitate housing stability in a longer-term transition out of the pandemic emergency.  

    The Associated Press reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new eviction moratorium for renters living in communities experiencing substantial or high transmission of COVID-19, covering an estimated 90% of all renters. The moratorium protects renters through October 3. The announcement was a reversal for the Biden administration, which had allowed the previous eviction moratorium to lapse. The announcement came after progressive lawmakers pushed the White House to take action. Democratic leaders joined Representative Cori Bush (D-MO), who camped outside the U.S. Capitol, leading a passionate protest urging the White House to urge the Biden administration to prevent evictions. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi had called the prospect of widespread evictions “unfathomable.” The Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and other progressive lawmakers put pressure on the Biden administration to issue an immediate extension. NLIHC applauded the CDC’s decision, noting the eviction moratorium provides state and local governments time to connect tenants with aid. "This is a tremendous relief for millions of people who were on the cusp of losing their homes and, with them, their ability to stay safe during the pandemic,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. “Now, the work of state and local governments to distribute emergency rental assistance to tenants in need becomes all the more critical. The president has given them the time that they and millions of renters needed – they must use it effectively and expedite assistance. The country is watching, and tenants and landlords are waiting.” 

    Forbes reports on the new eviction moratorium, highlighting that the announcement comes on the heels of the emerging Delta variant, which has caused a significant uptick in COVID-19 cases. “President Biden’s bold action and leadership in this moment of crisis will save lives and immeasurable suffering,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. 

    The Washington Post reports the new eviction moratorium is creating confusion for millions of renters who had been on the verge of evictions. For some renters, it is too late. The previous eviction moratorium lapsed on Saturday, July 31, jump-starting the eviction process in some states and cities. The Post spoke with landlords, renters, and housing advocates in five states who confirmed evictions had happened or were imminent. 

    NLIHC’s Diane Yentel joined PBS NewsHour to discuss the importance of the federal eviction moratorium, noting that the moratorium has been a lifeline and a critical public health measure, keeping tens of millions of renters safely and stably housed amid the ongoing pandemic. Diane spoke about the Biden administration’s efforts to urge and empower states and cities to quickly distribute emergency rental assistance. 

    NLIHC’s Diane Yentel joined Janet Shamlian on CBS This Morning to discuss the slow distribution of emergency rental assistance. CBS highlighted that Diane testified before Congress on ERA and the continued need for the federal eviction moratorium. 
    September 2, 2021

    CNBC reports the Biden administration is urging state and local officials to move quickly to distribute federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) to tenants in need. Despite calls by the administration and housing advocates to remove barriers to accessing ERA, just a little more than half of programs are allowing for self-certification. “This is counter to clear direction and guidance from the White House and has the effect of both slowing down the process for everyone and often weeding out some of the lowest-income people most in need,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    Bloomberg reports that housing advocates, including NLIHC’s Diane Yentel, called on Congress to extend the federal eviction moratorium during the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis’s hearing on July 27. Diane highlighted that 6.5 million households remain behind on rent and could face eviction when the moratorium expires and pointed to research showing that increased evictions lead to increased spread of and deaths from COVID-19.

    NLIHC’s Diane Yentel joined CBS46 to highlight the correlation between vaccination rates and eviction filing rates. Recent research from Eviction Lab shows that across nine major U.S. cities, the communities with the highest rates of eviction filings are the same communities with the lowest rates of vaccination.  

    Common Dreams reports Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other housing advocates continue to warn that the expiration of the federal eviction moratorium on July 31 would have devastating consequences for millions of renters and threaten public health as COVID-19 cases surge. "The CDC eviction moratorium is a necessary public health measure to lessen spread of [and] deaths from Covid-19," tweeted NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. "The need clearly remains as Delta surges."

    Bloomberg reports on new data from the Treasury Department concerning the distribution of federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) and housing advocates’ warnings that jurisdictions are not moving quickly enough to stave off an eviction crisis when the federal eviction moratorium expires.

    August 3, 2021

    The Washington Post reports on new data from Treasury showing more than $1.5 billion in emergency rental assistance (ERA) reached households in June, more than the total distributed between January and May. NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel says efforts to ramp up assistance are having a positive effect, but ERA has not come close to reaching all households at risk of eviction. Only about $3 billion of the $46 billion Congress has provided has been spent on rent, utilities, and arrears.

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel and Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY) joined the Cross Connection on July 17 to speak about the affordable housing crisis and how to create a housing safety net in our country. 

    CBS News discusses the race to distribute billions in emergency rental assistance before the federal eviction moratorium ends on July 31. “If the federal eviction moratorium expires and this rental assistance doesn't reach tenants in time, we will be looking at a historic wave of families losing their homes this summer and fall with all the long-term consequences and long-term harm that that does to families and communities and the country,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel.

    As the expiration of the CDC eviction moratorium looms, many tenants fear emergency rental assistance (ERA) will not reach them in time. “There's a cliff at the end of the federal eviction moratorium and unless states and cities do more and do it faster and better to get that emergency rental assistance to the tenants who need it, then we will see a historic wave of evictions and housing instability this summer and fall,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel.

    NPR’s Morning Edition discusses California’s efforts to create permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness by purchasing and converting existing properties into nearly 6,000 new units. Advocates hope Project Roomkey and Homekey are evidence that California is starting to treat homelessness as the public health emergency it is. Diane Yentel, president and CEO of NLIHC, says Project Homekey has become a national model, with Washington and Oregon following in California's footsteps.

    NLIHC’s Diane Yentel spoke to ABC7 News about the pandemic’s impact on low-income renters, efforts to distribute emergency rental assistance, and the need for long-term solutions. “The pandemic exposed and exacerbated the pre-existing affordable housing crisis,” said Diane.

    The New York Times provides information on COVID-related eviction protections, unemployment insurance, student loans, and other pandemic relief programs that are expiring soon. Billions of dollars of federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) remain available, and NLIHC is tracking a list of state and local ERA programs. 

    July 26, 2021

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel joined Good Morning America on July 10 to discuss how complicated application processes and burdensome documentation requirements put in place by state and local emergency rental assistance programs are slowing down the distribution of these critical resources.

    NBC News reports that with the federal eviction moratorium set to expire on July 31, millions remain behind on rent. Governors and mayors are putting in place a patchwork of protections for tenants when the federal eviction moratorium ends. “The good news is that there are sufficient resources to assist tenants in paying the arrears that they owe and, in some cases, even helping them with future rent payments,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. “The problem is that the money is not reaching those tenants in time."

    The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on July 14 dealt another blow to landlords seeking to end the federal eviction moratorium by affirming the district court’s decision in Brown v. the Secretary of Health and Human Services to deny the landlords’ request for a preliminary injunction and uphold the CDC eviction moratorium. In the 2-1 opinion, the majority found that the challengers had failed to show that the landlords were likely to suffer an irreparable injury if the eviction moratorium was left in place.

    NPR’s All Things Considered reports on efforts to accelerate distribution of federal emergency rental assistance and head off eviction cases before they get to court. At a White House Eviction Prevention Summit on June 30, officials warned that the country is in a race with time. “We are asking our state and local governments to do everything they can to fill that void in a hurry,” said White House Senior Advisor Gene Sperling. “Some are ramping up admirably. Some are lagging. But we all have to do better.”

    Marketplace examines the role legal aid can play in preventing mass evictions. While most landlords have legal representation in housing court, tenants rarely do. Philadelphia is one of several cities and states that recently passed right-to-counsel legislation. 

    July 22, 2021

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel spoke to the Washington Post about the growing pressure on the White House and state and local governments to ramp up distribution of federal emergency rental assistance (ERA). NLIHC has worked closely with the Biden administration to improve the ERA process, and the White House and Treasury have adopted many of NLIHC’s recommendations. The federal government, however, should have done more to recognize the urgency and importance of getting these critical resources to households in need.

    The Washington Post discusses the White House Eviction Prevention Summit and examines the Biden administration’s efforts to ensure emergency rental assistance (ERA) reaches those who need it most. At the summit, NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel outlined three factors that could ensure ERA reaches the lowest-income renters at greatest risk of eviction.

    Business Insider reports that only $1.5 billion of the $46 billion in federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) has reached renters. The CDC eviction moratorium expires on July 30, and 1.2 million households may face eviction. The article highlights a blog post from the Treasury Department that emphasizes the urgent need to ramp up ERA distribution efforts.

    The Wall Street Journal reports on new data from the Treasury Department showing that only a fraction of federal emergency assistance (ERA) has reached tenants and landlords. “These data are a five-alarm fire,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. “Having millions of families lose their homes would be tragic under any circumstance—but it would be especially so when it’s entirely avoidable with abundant resources yet to reach them.”

    The Associated Press highlights states’ efforts to distribute $46 billion in federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) before the CDC eviction moratorium ends on July 31, putting millions at risk for eviction. The article cites NLIHC’s ERA research.

    The Washington Post reports the Supreme Court on June 29 voted 5-4 to keep the federal eviction moratorium in place until the end of July, rejecting the Alabama Association of Realtors’ request to lift the stay put in place by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The White House is ramping up efforts aimed at preventing evictions, in particular, by speeding the distribution of federal emergency rental assistance. These efforts are led in part by Gene Sperling, American Rescue Plan coordinator and senior advisor to President Biden. The Associated Press, NPR, New York Times, The Hill, NBC, Reuters, CBS, and CNN also reported on the Supreme Court’s decision to leave the CDC eviction moratorium in place.

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel joined Morgan Radford on NBC Nightly News on June 24 to discuss the extension of the federal eviction moratorium and action needed to distribute emergency rental assistance to millions of renters facing eviction. 

    According to an investigation by the Center for Public Integrity and the Associated Press, state leaders nationwide set aside at least $2.6 billion from the CARES Act’s Coronavirus Relief Fund for emergency rental assistance (ERA), but a year later, more than $425 million of that has not made it to tenants or landlords. “It could have saved lives,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. “There has been pretty compelling, clear research that has shown in places where eviction moratoriums were allowed to expire and tenants were evicted for nonpayment of rent, it led to increases in deaths from COVID-19.”

    The Hill reports on the Biden administration’s efforts to distribute billions of dollars in rental assistance to avert a wave of evictions this summer. “Time is of the essence, and we need to do everything in our power to prevent each and every painful unnecessary eviction that we can prevent,” said Gene Sperling, American Rescue Plan coordinator and senior advisor to the president, on NLIHC’s June 28 national call.

    CBS News reports on research from the Eviction Lab showing that across nine major U.S. cities, the neighborhoods with the highest rates of eviction lawsuits are also the areas with the lowest vaccination rates. NLIHC Chief Operating Officer Paul Kealey said this research demonstrated the critical need to extend the federal eviction moratorium, an action NLIHC urged the Biden administration to take. The CDC extended the federal eviction moratorium through July 31, 2021. 

    NPR’s Consider This examines what might happen when the federal eviction moratorium expires at the end of July.

    July 14, 2021

    Reuters, the Washington Post, and the New York Times reported earlier in the week that the Biden administration was expected to extend the federal eviction moratorium by 30 days and was ramping up efforts aimed at preventing evictions, in particular by speeding the distribution of emergency rental assistance. “Extending the moratorium is the right thing to do—morally, fiscally, politically, and as a continued public health measure,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. “Allowing evictions to proceed when there are tens of billions in resources to prevent them would be wasteful and cruel.” The administration later extended the moratorium.

    Pew Stateline says states are preparing for a flood of evictions when the federal eviction moratorium expires. NLIHC’s Diane Yentel had urged the Biden administration to extend the moratorium until emergency rental assistance funds reach all renters and landlords who need it, and the CDC announced on June 24 an extension of the federal eviction moratorium through July 31.

    ABC News reports on concerns about a potential wave of evictions as the federal eviction moratorium nears expiration. With a disproportionately large share of those facing evictions or foreclosures being low-income or people of color, this potential housing crisis would exacerbate existing housing inequalities.

    NPR reports that Black renters are likely to be hit hard when the federal eviction moratorium expires. Black renters experience eviction at twice the rate of white renters in the U.S., and evidence shows this has been the case during the pandemic as well.

    According to CNBC, approximately 800,000 older people may be at risk of eviction when the federal eviction moratorium expires. Difficulty in getting rehired, insufficient retirement savings, and a lack of affordable housing have left many seniors vulnerable to financial shocks, like the one caused by the pandemic.

    The New York Times discusses the struggles facing owners of mobile homes amid the pandemic. Many who have struggled to keep up with mortgage payments are at the whim of five financing firms that dominate the mobile home financing market.

    June 28, 2021

    The Associated Press reports that more than 4 million people fear being evicted or foreclosed upon in the coming months. Two studies released on June 16 find that the nation’s housing availability and affordability crisis is expected to worsen significantly following the pandemic. “The latest data confirm two things – emergency rental assistance is very slow to reach renters in need, and millions of renters remain behind on rent and at heightened risk of evictions,” says NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. “President Biden must extend the eviction moratorium to give more time for rental assistance to reach renters and landlords and to avoid a historic wave of evictions this summer and fall.” Among those renters fearing the expiration of the federal eviction moratorium on June 30 is Victor Richardson, a 78-year-old individual with a disability who uses a wheelchair. Richardson is facing eviction from his assisted living center in Tucson, Arizona, and has a court hearing early next month.

    As state and local governments distribute emergency rental assistance to tenants in need, NPR reports that millions could face eviction when the federal eviction moratorium expires on June 30. “It is a race against the clock at this point to get the money to the tenants who need it to avoid eviction,” says NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. While some programs are struggling to distribute aid, other programs appear to be more efficient and effective. A Houston landlord who owns or manages 1,800 rental units says her local ERA program is working well and that the federal funding has helped her residents stay housed.

    CNBC reports a growing number of states and localities will continue to ban evictions after the federal eviction moratorium expires on June 30. Moreover, renters who have applied for federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) have additional rights. In at least 28 states, programs that provide federal ERA bar landlords from evicting tenants for at least the period they received assistance for, and in some cases for between 30 and 90 days afterward, according to Andrew Aurand, NLIHC vice president for research.

    “We’ve avoided some of the worst outcomes so far, but the crisis is not over,” NLIHC’s Diane Yentel told the New York Times. “If the Biden administration allows the federal eviction moratorium to expire before states and localities can distribute aid to households in need, millions of households would be at immediate risk of housing instability and, in worst cases, homelessness.”

    Common Dreams reports that attorneys general in nearly two dozen states submitted an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold the CDC eviction moratorium. The article cites NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel’s tweets highlighting how little emergency rental assistance states have distributed to tenants with less than three weeks remaining before the national eviction moratorium is set to expire.

    KTNV reports on housing advocates’ concerns that the nearly $50 billion in federal emergency rental assistance may not reach renters before the federal eviction moratorium expires at the end of June. “That's about 15 million people who are at heightened risk of losing their homes when the eviction moratorium expires and that's almost twice as many families that lost their homes during the foreclosure crisis,” says NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. Watch the video clip here.

    With the eviction moratorium expiring on June 30, CNBC reports that many states have given out less than 5% of federal rental assistance. NLIHC’s Andrew Aurand says that despite guidance from the Treasury Department discouraging burdensome documentation and allowing self-certification, just half of the 400 programs allow self-attestation and make that option clear to applicants. “These documentation requirements are a barrier to the same renters who likely have the greatest need for this assistance,” says Andrew Aurand.

    The Intercept reports that many states and localities make tenants jump through hoops to access federal emergency rental assistance (ERA). Despite revised guidance from Treasury discouraging burdensome documentation, NLIHC Research Analyst Rebecca Yae says ERA programs are establishing onerous documentation requirements that slow down the distribution of these critical resources.

    NPR reports that Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, is seeking answers from a corporate landlord after a report by the Private Equity Stakeholder Project found the firm has been filing for evictions much more over in predominantly Black neighborhoods during the pandemic.

    Route Fifty reports attorneys general from 22 states and the District of Columbia asked the Supreme Court not to end the federal eviction moratorium, warning that its expiration would unleash an unprecedented and “catastrophic” wave of evictions.

    The Washington Post reports Airbnb announced a new policy on June 15 to prevent landlords from using its platform to rent a property that becomes available after evictions. Airbnb says it is partnering with cities to identify spaces where people have been evicted. The policy preventing listings of such properties will last through at least 2021.

    June 22, 2021

    Time outlines what people need to know about the federal eviction moratorium, which is set to expire June 30, and explains how renters can access over $46 billion in federal rental assistance. “The challenge now is to get that money to the lowest income renters and the small landlords who need it…before the eviction moratorium expires,” says NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    The Wall Street Journal reports that strict eligibility rules and overburdened local officials are preventing much of the $46 billion in federal rental assistance from reaching struggling renters. While Treasury released guidance in May to expedite payments by loosening documentation requirements and allowing direct-to-tenant aid, research from NLIHC shows that many local governments have been slow to act.

    Reuters reports a group of landlords filed an emergency petition on June 3 urging the U.S. Supreme Court to end the federal eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). NLIHC’s Diane Yentel noted that if landlord groups “spent even a quarter of [their] effort instead convincing landlords to apply for and accept the money, maybe they wouldn’t feel such a pressing need to evict low-income tenants who fell behind on rent during the global pandemic.” 

    The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on June 2 denied a request by the Alabama Association of Realtors to lift the stay of a lower court ruling overturning the CDC eviction moratorium. NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel referred to the landlords’ appeal as “astonishing,” given the $50 billion in federal emergency rental assistance made available by Congress.

    “It’s something of a race against the clock at this point to get these historic emergency rental assistance funds to the lowest-income and most marginalized, most vulnerable tenants,” NLIHC’s Diane Yentel told CNN Newsource.

    As the federal eviction moratorium nears its end, Route Fifty reports that some states and localities are extending their eviction moratoriums as they scramble to distribute emergency rental assistance (ERA). NLIHC Policy Analyst Kim Johnson says jurisdictions are working to balance the need to distribute aid quickly with a desire to incorporate equity in the process to ensure the hardest-hit households can access the funds.

    NLIHC Vice President of Research Andrew Aurand spoke to Marketplace about the nearly 400 rent relief programs currently accepting applications and the barriers to distributing money quickly.

    CNBC reports that states are speeding up distribution of more than $46 billion in federal emergency rental assistance (ERA). NLIHC’s Andrew Aurand spoke to CNBC about ERA programs and barriers to distributing these critical funds.

    CNBC reports that more than 10 million people, or 14% of renters, in the U.S. are behind on housing payments, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. With so many renters still behind on rent, the expiration of the federal eviction moratorium on June 30 could result in a wave of evictions.

    NPR reports on a study from the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, which found that Pretium Partners, a corporate landlord, has filed four times as many evictions in predominantly Black counties in Georgia than it has in white counties in Florida.

    An article in Time reports the United States may soon face a wave of single mothers being evicted. The article describes the need to use the most effective form of homelessness prevention to address the looming crisis: expanding housing vouchers.

    June 14, 2021

    Vox reports on challenges in distributing federal emergency rental assistance (ERA), highlighting NLIHC’s ERA resources. “The money came late,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. “The money came when tenants had already accrued nearly $50 billion in rent arrears. So now we’re playing a game of catch-up.” 

    The Washington Post examines why a flood of federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) has been slow to reach those who need it most. Despite new ERA guidance from Treasury urging programs to adopt less burdensome standards, NLIHC’s ERA dashboard finds that only about 155 of the 364 programs have done so. 

    CNBC outlines how struggling renters can apply for federal emergency rental assistance (ERA). NLIHC Vice President for Research Andrew Aurand discusses the unprecedented need for ERA, noting that “when the moratorium expires, we could have millions of renters at risk of eviction.”

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel spoke to ABC News about urgent efforts to get emergency rental assistance to renters before the federal eviction moratorium expires, and the need for Congress to invest in long-term solutions.

    NLIHC Vice President for Research Andrew Aurand, Ingrid Gould Ellen of the NYU Furman Center, and Vincent Reina of the Housing Initiative at Penn wrote an article in Shelterforce outlining five ways to ensure that emergency rental assistance reaches communities of color with high levels of need.

    Despite the Biden administration’s decision to fully cover the costs of eligible non-congregate sheltering through FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program, Grist found that as of April 7, only 23 local governments, including one federal tribe, have submitted funding requests.

    NLIHC Policy Analyst Noah Patton spoke to Shelterforce about why state and local governments should be taking advantage of the unprecedented support from FEMA to house people experiencing homelessness in hotels and motels during the pandemic. Whether cities or states choose to continue or expand non-congregate sheltering (NCS) programs in light of FEMA’s decision to fully cover eligible costs speaks to those communities’ priorities, says Patton.

    NPR reports that communities across the country are concerned with what will happen when the federal eviction moratorium expires at the end of June. These worries are magnified in communities, such as in Spokane, Washington, that were already struggling with rising homelessness before the pandemic. The segment highlights concern from Spokane homeless advocates and nonprofit organizations who are racing to distribute federal rental assistance.

    To prevent a surge of evictions when moratoriums expire, Route Fifty says cities and states are seeking to provide new legal protections for renters by establishing “right to counsel” programs that ensure tenants facing eviction have legal representation. At least 11 states have introduced right to counsel legislation this year, and nine cities have laws in place.

    Reuters reports that U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson in Nashville on May 21 denied a Tennessee landlord’s request to block the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s rule requiring debt collectors, including attorneys for landlords who file eviction cases, to provide tenants written notice of their eligibility for the CDC eviction moratorium.

    Despite eviction protections, Mother Jones reports that Bay area city officials and lawyers have seen an uptick in cases of landlord harassment, lockouts, utility shutoffs, and other tactics to get around the moratorium.

    The Hill reports that U.S. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich agreed on May 14 to delay the enforcement of her ruling that struck down the federal eviction moratorium. In a 10-page ruling granting the emergency stay, Judge Friedrich said the CDC’s “strong interest in controlling the spread of COVID-19 and protecting public health” outweighed other factors, such as the potential loss of revenue to landlords. The Supreme Court may be asked to consider the CDC eviction moratorium. In a four-page letter to Judge Friedrich on May 17, the landlord group said they intend to ask both the intermediate appeals court in Washington and the Supreme Court to overturn her stay.

    Reuters reports that a national landlord group brought its case challenging the CDC eviction moratorium to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Alisa Klein of the Department of Justice highlighted that U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee in Atlanta correctly denied the injunction last year.

    Reuters reports on the Treasury Department’s allocation of an additional $21.6 billion for emergency rental assistance (ERA) under the American Rescue Plan Act and the new ERA guidance aimed at assisting more renters directly.

    The New York Times reports on the Biden administration’s new guidance intended to make it easier for tenants to access the $46 billion in federal emergency rental assistance, highlighting that housing advocates have praised the revised guidance.

    CNBC reminds readers that the federal eviction moratorium remains in effect as the Department of Justice appeals the ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich. The article outlines what struggling renters should know about the CDC moratorium, state and local eviction protections, and rental assistance.

    According to the New York Times, it remains unclear how wide an impact the U.S. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich’s ruling on the CDC eviction moratorium will have on renters. The article cites statements from NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel on the numerous conflicting court rulings at the district court level, with several judges ruling in favor of the moratorium and several ruling against.

    Reuters reports that after the Department of Justice sought a stay, Judge Dabney Friedrich agreed to put her ruling on the CDC moratorium on hold until May 12 to give landlords time to file legal papers opposing the delay. NLIHC’s Diane Yentel says the moratorium should remain in place at least until federal emergency rental assistance reaches renters in need.

    CNBC Make It reports on Judge Dabney Friedrich’s ruling on the CDC eviction moratorium, highlighting housing experts’ concerns that the ruling puts tenants at risk just as emergency rental assistance is making its way to renters in need of these critical resources. “The Biden administration should continue to vigorously defend and enforce the moratorium, at least until emergency rental assistance provided by Congress reaches the renters who need it to remain stably housed,” said NLHC’s Diane Yentel.

    CBS MoneyWatch reports on efforts by the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to target corporate landlords’ eviction practices. "Conservatively, there are probably thousands of families who are being evicted every week without knowledge of their rights under the CDC moratorium," said Diane Thompson, senior adviser to the CFPB's acting director, in a recent conference call.
     
    June 4, 2021

    While large landlords have been critical of the federal eviction moratorium, arguing the ban is putting their finances in jeopardy, a CBS Money Watch review of the financial statements and loan records of the nation’s largest landlords indicates large property owners have predominantly been profitable during the pandemic. The argument that landlords need the eviction moratorium to end because of financial hardship is “very hard to make,” says NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    The Associated Press outlines how struggling households can access the two rounds of federal emergency rental assistance. The article directs renters to NLIHC’s emergency rental assistance database.

    The New York Times reports that only a small portion of the more than $46 billion in federal emergency rental aid has reached landlords and tenants. Housing experts, however, point out that careful preparation by state and local governments may ensure these resources reach tenants with the greatest needs. “Getting the money out fast isn’t necessarily the goal here, especially when we focus on making sure the money reaches the most vulnerable people,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. The article cites research from NLIHC, NYU Furman Center, and the Housing Initiative at Penn.

    CNN provides an overview of the historic $70 billion in housing and homelessness resources provided in the federal coronavirus relief packages. Housing experts hope these critical funds are distributed quickly – but also strategically. “This funding could be transformational and reduce homelessness across the country. It won’t end it, but it could make a real dent,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel.

    CNBC examines how the tireless efforts of housing organizers, activists, and policy experts over the past year have helped keep tens of millions of renters in their homes. NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel says these victories over the past year – the federal eviction moratorium and billions of dollars in housing and homelessness resources – are the result of decades of work by affordable housing advocates and activists.

    Reuters reports on its investigation into large corporate landlords, like Invitation Homes, that are driving the eviction crisis and have continued forcing tenants from their homes, despite the federal eviction moratorium. In response to media reports and housing advocates’ repeated calls to strengthen and enforce the CDC moratorium, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission announced in late March they would start investigating eviction practices, particularly by major multistate landlords.

    May 3, 2021

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel and Giridhar Mallya, senior policy officer with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, address what it will take to address the COVID-19 eviction crisis. They urge the Biden administration to strengthen and enforce the eviction moratorium and ensure that emergency rental assistance reaches the households most in need. Beyond these federal actions, lawmakers must advance anti-racist policies and enact long-term, structural reforms to ensure that people with the lowest incomes have a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.

    CNBC reports on the roadblocks states and localities face in distributing more than $45 billion in federal emergency rental assistance (ERA). NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel says most programs are not providing direct-to-tenant assistance if landlords refuse to participate, despite having the option to do so. Additionally, some states are delaying distribution of critical aid by imposing unnecessary and burdensome documentation requirements.

    CNBC reports on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Interim Final Rule that will allow tenants to sue debt collectors who violate the CDC eviction moratorium. Attorneys for landlords and other debt collectors who wrongly evict tenants could also face federal and state prosecution. Housing advocates have pointed out that the moratorium has failed to protect many tenants due to a lack of enforcement.

    NLIHC’s Diane Yentel joined Scripps National News to discuss the CFPB’s new Interim Final Rule that establishes new measures to enforce the CDC eviction moratorium.

    The Hill reports on the CFPB’s new rule designed to bolster the federal eviction moratorium. Housing advocates have urged the Biden administration to strengthen and enforce the CDC moratorium and close loopholes that landlords have exploited to continue evicting tenants despite the ban.

    The Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP) published a report on April 14 detailing how Progress Residential and Front Yard Residential, owned by private equity firm Pretium Partners, LLC, have filed to evict more than 1,300 residents during the pandemic, with most evictions filed after the CDC eviction moratorium went into effect. The report comes after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission announced it would investigate evictions by major multistate landlords and private equity firms.

    Bloomberg reports corporate landlords backed by private-equity firms are seeking to evict thousands of tenants despite the federal eviction moratorium. The article highlights the report from the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, which found that firms controlled by Pretium Partners, LLC have sought evictions against 1,300 residents in seven states, with a disproportionate number of filings in areas with majority Black populations.

    The Washington Post reports that HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge unveiled on April 8 nearly $5 billion in new grants to state and local governments to address homelessness. These funds, provided through the American Rescue Plan Act, can be used to provide tenant-based rental assistance and acquire and convert hotels and motels into permanent supportive housing.

    The Washington Post reports on efforts to distribute nearly $50 billion in emergency rental assistance as the CDC eviction moratorium faces more legal challenges. Quickly distributing so much money is challenging, and NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel notes that only about half the states have created an emergency rental assistance program to do so.

    An IRS spokesman told CNN there are no plans to reinstate the non-filers tool, a simple online form to allow low-income people who are not usually required to file tax returns to provide their contact information to the agency, for the third round of economic impact payments. People will need to file a 2020 tax return to receive the stimulus payments and any other expanded credits they may be eligible for, such as the child tax credit or the Earned Income Tax Credit. See NLIHC’s FAQ on Economic Impact Payments (EIP) and guidance for helping people experiencing homelessness access their EIPs.

    An op-ed in the Hill urges courts and governments to take immediate action to ensure people who are struggling financially can participate meaningfully in eviction hearings – where payment plans get worked out to keep renters in their homes and landlords receiving incomes. The authors, who are conducting a study of access to justice during COVID-19, argue that action must be taken to ensure the digital divide does not become a justice divide.

    The Associated Press explains the rationale behind the federal eviction moratorium and the multiple research studies examining the connection between evictions and health.

    A new study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins and the University of Pennsylvania uses computer modeling to suggest that eviction moratoriums enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the infection rate and protected from the spread of infections not only those who would have lost their housing, but also entire communities. 

    The New York Times spotlights California’s Project Homekey, a statewide program to acquire and convert hotels, motels, and other distressed properties into permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness. Through Project Homekey, California has established a national model to create tens of thousands of housing units for less than the cost of new construction and in a fraction of the time. The American Rescue Plan allocates $5 billion for developing affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness, including through acquisition and conversion.

    Yahoo! Finance interviewed Dr. Alison Hill, one of the authors of a new study finding that eviction moratoriums authorized during the pandemic have protected from COVID-19 not only people who could have lost their homes, but also entire communities.

    The Hill reported on April 15 that the Biden administration is coming under fire from housing advocates who say the administration is turning a blind eye as landlords continue to violate the federal eviction moratorium. NLIHC Vice President of Public Policy Sarah Saadian said the Department of Justice should enforce the CDC eviction moratorium and discussed the need for a national eviction database.

    April 28, 2021

    NBC News reports that evictions are continuing at “full steam,” despite the federal eviction moratorium. “Many landlords have flouted the order and its protections,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. “It’s especially disappointing because the Biden administration knows very well what the flaws and the shortcomings are and still failed to correct any of them.”

    An op-ed in Newsweek, written by an individual who has first-hand experience with homelessness, urges Americans to acknowledge the nation’s looming eviction crisis and recognize the urgent need for action. The article points to NLIHC’s HoUSed campaign as a solution for addressing the impending homelessness crisis.

    “Eviction moratoria will only be effective if they are strengthened to protect all renters throughout the crisis and used alongside supportive measures like rental assistance and the right to counsel,” writes Emily Benfer in the Appeal.

    PBS NewsHour reports on the challenges facing renters as they juggle complicated rental assistance systems and confusing eviction laws.

    Marketplace discusses how landlords are exploiting loopholes in the CDC eviction moratorium to evict tenants. Tenant advocates are also seeing landlords employ illegal tactics to force out renters, such as changing the locks and shutting off utilities. To protect renters, the moratorium must include access to free legal representation.

    The Thomas Reuters Foundation reports on access to justice concerns related to remote eviction proceedings. As legal proceedings have shifted online, the most at-risk tenants are left without the tools they need to show up in court.

    John Pollock of the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel penned a piece in the Appeal outlining potential federal funding sources to expand local right to counsel efforts.

    April 17, 2021

    Common Dreams reports on the CBS analysis that revealed major property owners have largely seen profits, some of them massive, during the coronavirus pandemic. The article links to a Twitter thread from NLIHC’s Diane Yentel on the extension of the CDC eviction moratorium.

    NPR reports the CDC extended the federal eviction moratorium through June, but it did not address the moratorium’s shortcomings. "It's disappointing that the administration didn't act on the clear evidence and need to also strengthen the order to address the flaws that undermine its public health purpose," says NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. "That will result in some continued harmful evictions during the pandemic."

    The Associated Press reports on the extension of the federal eviction moratorium through June, highlighting housing advocates’ disappointment that the Biden administration merely extended the ban without addressing its shortcomings. “The CDC simply extended President Trump’s original order, leaving the loopholes and flaws in place, a disappointing decision that will result in more harmful evictions during the pandemic,” said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of NLIHC.

    Politico reports the CDC extended the federal eviction moratorium without making substantive changes to the order, despite housing advocates urging the Biden administration to strengthen and enforce the ban. “While the Biden administration is well aware of the shortcomings in the moratorium order that allow some evictions to proceed during the pandemic, the CDC director did not correct them,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. The heads of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission issued a joint statement announcing they will monitor and investigate eviction processes to ensure they are complying with the law, pointing to reports that major multistate landlords are violating the moratorium.

    CNN reports the CDC extended the federal eviction moratorium through June, but it did not improve and strengthen the moratorium, as housing advocates have urged the Biden administration to do.

    The Hill reported on efforts by Democratic lawmakers and housing advocates to urge the Biden administration to extend the federal eviction moratorium. “The historic levels of emergency rental assistance underscore how important it is for the Biden administration to extend, strengthen, and enforce the moratorium,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. “Without this protection, renters will be at risk of losing their homes at the very same time that billions of dollars are on the way to help stabilize them.”

    CNBC reports on NLIHC’s national letter, signed by more than 2,200 organizations, urging President Biden to extend the federal eviction moratorium beyond its March 31 expiration and to improve and enforce its protections. “Increased evictions lead to increased spread of, and potentially deaths from, COVID-19,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    The Associated Press examines how the American Rescue Plan Act could permanently alter the United States’ social safety net. Housing advocates, including NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel, say the relief packages should stave off rental debts for now, but economic hardships and the need for additional housing assistance will extend past the end of the pandemic.

    NPR reports the CDC has sent a proposal to extend the federal eviction moratorium to the Office of Management and Budget for regulatory review. Housing advocates have warned that allowing the moratorium to lapse before emergency rental assistance funds reach households would result in a tsunami of evictions.

    The American Prospect reports on the CDC’s proposed extension of the eviction moratorium, noting the urgent need for the Biden administration to extend and improve the moratorium.

    Prioritizing vaccines for people experiencing homelessness is vital to an equitable and effective public health response, write Margot Kushel, Barbara DiPietro, and Bobby Watts. Bringing COVID-19 vaccines to people experiencing homelessness requires a tailored approach.

    The American Independent explores how the American Rescue Plan will help address the COVID-19 eviction crisis.

    A Government Accounting Office (GAO) report finds federal, state, and local eviction moratoriums have reduced evictions during the pandemic, but some eligible renters have not been protected by the federal eviction moratorium due to a lack of awareness of the moratorium or its requirements. The report recommends that the CDC, in coordination with other relevant federal entities, develop and implement a communication and outreach plan designed to ensure eligible renters and property owners are aware of and invoke the eviction moratorium. The report cites NLIHC’s rental assistance database and research analysis.

    MarketWatch discusses the Government Accounting Office (GAO) report, which found that a lack of awareness and enforcement of the CDC eviction moratorium could be contributing to continued evictions despite the ban. Housing advocates continue to urge the Biden administration to extend the moratorium to provide time for federal rental assistance to be distributed and to strengthen and enforce the moratorium. “If the federal eviction moratorium were allowed to expire, many of those tenants would be evicted before the money reaches them,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel.

    The GAO Blog discusses the new Government Accounting Office (GAO) report on eviction moratoriums and what might happen when the federal eviction moratorium ends on March 31. The article provides a link to NLIHC’s emergency rental assistance database.

    Shelterforce explores state and local efforts to expand or revive non-congregate sheltering programs and purchase hotels as long-term housing solutions for people experiencing homelessness. NLIHC’s Diane Yentel describes FEMA’s decision to provide full reimbursement for non-congregate sheltering costs as a “game changer” and discusses the need for states and cities to plan exit strategies for people in hotels and motels. “The next step can’t be to send people back to the sidewalk they were sleeping on before the pandemic. That’s immoral and unacceptable,” said Diane Yentel.

    CNBC reports that a federal judge in Ohio has ruled that the CDC exceeded its authority when it enacted the federal eviction moratorium. “This order could immediately result in a flood of evictions of struggling renters resulting in increased spread of, and potentially deaths from, COVID-19,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel.

    The Department of Justice released a statement stating that the decision in Skyworks v. CDC, which concluded that the federal eviction moratorium exceeds CDC’s statutory authority, only applies to the particular plaintiffs in that case.

    “Now that Congress has appropriated $46 billion to address rent arrears, these lawsuits to overturn the moratorium are frivolous,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. “These landlords will be made whole, but it will take time to get the money into their hands. Their eagerness to overturn the moratorium, despite unprecedented resources to pay rent arrears, only underscores the need to be sure the moratorium is extended at least until resources are expended. For some of these landlords, it appears it was never really about the money.”

    MSNBC’s Joy Reid began her interview with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge on March 18 by citing statistics from NLIHC. When asked what HUD can do about the housing crisis, Secretary Fudge responded, “as a result of the American Rescue Plan, HUD can do an awful lot.”

    NPR’s Morning Edition reports that landlords struggling to stay afloat see a lifeline in federal rent relief funds. A Houston landlord is going door to door offering to help residents apply for the federal emergency rental assistance dollars that are starting to flow to landlords and tenants.

    People reports on the COVID-19 housing and eviction crisis, highlighting how millions of renters are behind on their rent payments and at risk of eviction when the federal eviction moratorium ends on March 31. The article discusses our country’s pre-existing affordable housing crisis, noting that people of color are disproportionately impacted by housing instability and eviction.

    The New Republic reports that mothers, particularly women of color, experience evictions at higher rates. The author discusses immediate and long-term solutions to addressing our country’s affordable housing crisis.

    March 31, 2021

    The Washington Post reports that the recent ruling on the CDC eviction moratorium may create confusion and uncertainty for renters about their rights and protections under the order. “The protections still stand now, but I do think there will be landlords now taking cases to local housing courts and filing evictions by citing this case,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. 

    CNBC reports on the eviction moratorium ruling, highlighting housing advocates' concerns that the ruling could trigger a flood of eviction filings. “All eyes now are on the Biden administration to see how and if they plan to vigorously defend the CDC eviction moratorium in the courts,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. 

    MarketWatch reports on the federal judge’s ruling on the CDC moratorium, citing NLIHC’s Diane Yentel’s concerns that landlords may cite this ruling as they continue to pursue evictions despite the protections under the moratorium. 

    Reuters discusses the recent ruling on the CDC eviction moratorium, noting that several other federal courts across the country have rejected similar legal challenges seeking to block the federal eviction moratorium. 

    CNBC spoke with housing experts, including NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel, about how renters can apply for federal rent relief dollars. While federal rental assistance funds could help millions of renters remain housed, advocates worry that some people will run into challenges trying to access the funds. 

    CNBC discusses how the American Rescue Plan Act could help millions of households at risk for eviction. “The American Rescue Plan Act provides urgently needed COVID-19 relief resources for America’s lowest-income renters and people experiencing homelessness,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. “If enacted, these investments will help prevent millions of low-income people from losing their homes during the pandemic.” 

    The latest COVID relief package making its way through Congress does not include an extension of the federal eviction moratorium set to expire this month because the budget reconciliation process does not allow for it. CNBC reports that advocates continue to urge President Biden to extend the federal eviction moratorium to prevent a flood of evictions, particularly since federal rental assistance and direct payments will take time to reach people. “An eviction moratorium buys that time,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. 

    Marketplace reports that while Congress approved $25 billion in rental assistance more than two months ago, very little has gotten to renters and landlords. According to NLIHC’s Diane Yentel, as of March 1, 15 states and about two dozen local governments have started accepting applications. This number, however, is expected to pick up significantly in the coming weeks and months. According to several different estimates, millions of Americans are behind on their rent by an average of $5,000 or $6,000. 

    A new documentary for Time follows two single mothers in New Orleans whose uncertain housing situations reflect what is happening across the country. This dire reality is particularly impacting women of color. For the two women profiled in this documentary, the pandemic and economic fallout have compounded existing anxieties that have lingered 15 years after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. 

    Next City outlines why responses to the COVID-19 housing crisis can and should address the dangerous conditions in which many tenants live. Substandard housing is a public health hazard, one which has become more dangerous in the pandemic. 

    Emily Benfer, co-creator of the COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard with the Eviction Lab at Princeton University, explains the American’s eviction crisis and discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic and economic fallout have only fueled the existing eviction catastrophe. In addition to bolstering the federal eviction moratorium and providing targeted rental assistance, the federal government must rectify the longstanding discriminatory housing policies that led to this crisis. 

    March 08, 2021

    The Economist reports research demonstrating that eviction moratoriums in the U.S. have helped to slow the spread of COVID-19, likely saving thousands of lives. The researchers estimate that policies limiting evictions reduce COVID-19 infections by 3.8% and deaths by 11%.

    NPR reports that the pandemic has exacerbated racial disparities in housing instability and eviction and could widen the gap for years to come. Black renters face higher rates of housing instability and eviction. During the pandemic, Black people have been more likely than white people to lose their jobs and three times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19.

    Stateline examines the struggles tenants are facing amid a patchwork of state and local rent relief efforts. Some states, such as Michigan, have not accepted federal rent relief funds due to partisan standoffs, and other states have struggled with the logistics of distributing rental assistance, leaving tenants at risk for eviction.

    CityLab discusses a new study by RAND Corporation demonstrating that falling behind on rent or being evicted takes a toll on the amount of sleep people get. While the study predates COVID-19, the pandemic has called attention to the connection between housing instability, poor sleep, and serious health problems that, in turn, make people more susceptible to COVID-19.

    Time reports on the looming eviction crisis, examining the challenges facing renters and mom-and-pop landlords. Almost half of the nearly 49 million rental units in the U.S. are owned by small landlords. The article highlights how racial inequities in housing are visible in our current eviction crisis and discusses how President Biden’s housing platform includes universal housing vouchers.

    March 01, 2021

    CityLab reports that Republican state lawmakers are slowing emergency rental assistance funds from Congress, forcing some cities and counties to pursue workarounds by seeking aid directly from the federal government. Federal rent relief has met resistance from Republican-led legislatures in Idaho and Michigan. These threats to stall or block rent relief distribution have real-world consequences for tenants, as states have a limited amount of time to spend the money from the Treasury Department before losing the aid.

    NPR shares the story of a Florida family whose landlord moved forward with the eviction process, even though the family submitted the required CDC paperwork to their landlord. In some cases, landlords are pretending they have not received the CDC declaration and are moving forward with the eviction process, says Shamus Roller, executive director of the National Housing Law Project.

    USA Today reports the pandemic is forcing more Americans to live in cars and RVs, and like every measure of homelessness and poverty, people of color are disproportionately represented among vehicle dwellers. This “hidden homeless crisis” is expected to worsen as the government safety net frays.

    A recent report from Apartment List, an online rental housing platform, found that rent debt is concentrated among minority tenants. The report found that 53% of Black renters have unpaid housing bills, compared with 38% of Hispanic renters, 27% of Asian renters, and 21% of white renters.

    The Appeal discusses the growing momentum in cities, states, and in Congress to ensure every tenant facing eviction has a guaranteed right to counsel. John Pollock of the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel highlights that access to legal representation can make the difference between stability and catastrophe for families.

    NPR’s Ari Shapiro spoke with Lee Camp, a St. Louis attorney who represents tenants, about how the COVID-19 recession has affected housing insecurity. “On the back end of this pandemic, we will see families saddled with debt like we have never seen. We will still likely be dealing with mass evictions, which will turn into homelessness into the streets,” said Camp.

    The New York Times reports that some officials fear frigid weather is a greater risk for people experiencing homelessness than the coronavirus. Cities and communities are struggling with how to shelter people who are homeless without exposing them to COVID-19.

    NBC News reports that mobile home residents are one of the hardest-hit groups facing eviction amid the pandemic. When mobile home residents find themselves facing eviction, they risk not only losing the lot they are renting but also their home equity.

    February 22, 2021

    A USA Today analysis found that Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) will overwhelmingly benefit white Americans living in less populated states, even though most Americans affected by the pandemic and economic recession live in the most populated states. “A more precise formula would better target resources to communities with the greatest needs if it were based on the number of cost-burdened and low-income renters," said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    CityLab reports on the growing number of eviction filings in the U.S. and the many renters who are falling through the cracks of federal, state, and local eviction protections. “Generally speaking, the CDC moratorium is doing what it was intended to do. But there are many shortcomings in the order and an alarming number of evictions despite the moratorium,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. “We have been calling on Biden and CDC Director Walensky to not only extend the moratorium, but to strengthen and improve and enforce it.”

    Vice examines the shortcomings of the federal eviction moratorium that have allowed landlords to continue evicting tenants, noting that NLIHC and over 2,000 organizations are calling on the Biden administration to extend, strengthen, and enforce the moratorium. NLIHC’s Diane Yentel notes that while the moratorium is generally doing what it was intended to do, there are an “alarming number of evictions” occurring despite the order.

    Medical Xpress discusses new research that finds eviction and utility shut-off moratoriums reduce COVID-19 infection rates and COVID-related deaths. NLIHC’s Diane Yentel highlights the inextricable link between housing and health and the critical need for long-term investments in affordable housing.

    The New York Times examines the pandemic’s toll on housing, noting that COVID-19 has exacerbated our country’s existing affordable housing crisis. Low-income tenants are doubling up with others, accruing debt, and falling behind on bills to remain housed. These financial scars will linger long after mass vaccinations.

    An op-ed in the Hill urges Congress and the White House to include a $44 billion affordable housing conversion initiative in the next COVID relief bill. With a sharp infusion of federal funds, tens of thousands of hotels and other distressed commercial properties can be converted into permanent affordable housing.

    Reuters reports that tenant unions and anti-eviction activist groups across the country have seen their memberships explode during the pandemic. The article discusses how a months-long campaign by KC Tenants culminated in the delay of 854 evictions in Jackson County in January.

    A Marketplace-Edison Research Poll examining sleeplessness found that 35% of Americans surveyed were losing sleep over their financial situations, specifically pandemic-related issues such as missed rent or mortgage payments, layoffs, and income loss. Lower-income individuals consistently get less sleep than those with higher incomes. The pandemic is magnifying existing disparities, contributing to more sleeplessness, particularly in lower-income neighborhoods where people often live in overcrowded housing.

    February 17, 2021

    Housing advocates are concerned that President Biden’s extension of the federal eviction moratorium does not address the moratorium’s significant shortcomings. In addition to strengthening and enforcing the moratorium, additional funding for rental assistance is urgently needed. “Eviction moratoriums postpone housing instability, but they don’t prevent evictions – because the rent is still due,” NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel told NBC News.

    USA Today explains why millions of Americans may face eviction despite President Biden’s executive order extending the federal eviction moratorium through March 31. Because the moratorium’s protections are not automatic, marginalized renters – such as seniors, immigrants, and the lowest-income renters – are at greater risk for eviction. “They are often the ones that are most in need of the protections but the least aware of the actions they need to take to receive it,” says NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    Peter Hepburn of the Eviction Lab outlines how the formula that the Treasury Department used to allocate emergency rental assistance funds will lead to significant inequities. The formula, which was used to distribute money in the Coronavirus Relief Fund, does not make sense in the context of rental assistance.

    An op-ed in the New York Times discusses how the lack of reliable, consistent data on eviction across the U.S. leaves the Biden administration and state and local governments with limited ways to track and assist communities most at risk of eviction and homelessness. The authors urge the government to create a federal eviction database, which the bipartisan “Eviction Crisis Act” would establish.

    Jim Parrott and Mark Zandi published an op-ed in CNN Business discussing the country’s looming eviction crisis and how President Biden’s stimulus plan could protect millions of struggling renters. The authors urge policymakers to ensure states and localities can efficiently and effectively distribute the $25 billion in emergency rental assistance and pass President Biden’s proposed $35 billion for rental assistance.

    The Los Angeles Times reports that millions of renters are facing a snowballing financial burden that threatens to deplete their savings, harm their credit, and force them from their homes. It could take renters, especially those with the lowest-incomes, years to recover. “We are setting up millions of people for long-term harm and a cycle of economic and housing instability,” said Emily Benfer, chair of the American Bar Association’s COVID-19 Task Force Committee on eviction.

    An op-ed in Newsweek by John Pollock and Emily Benfer discusses how the federal eviction moratorium’s shortcomings, logistical challenges with distributing rent relief, and the inadequacy of $20 million to address tenant representation nationwide means a tsunami of evictions will continue to threaten the U.S. Local, state, and federal governments and the courts must take action to prevent the looming eviction crisis.

    February 08, 2021

    CNBC reports on a new analysis from Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, and Jim Parrot, a fellow at the Urban Institute, demonstrating that nearly 20% of renters in the U.S. are behind on their payments. The findings show that renters owe an astonishing $57.3 billion in back rent, with the average renter owing $5,600 in rent and being nearly four months behind. The article discusses the letter NLIHC and more than 2,000 national, state, and local organizations and elected officials sent to President Biden, calling on the administration to strengthen and enforce the federal eviction moratorium.

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel discusses the Treasury Department’s FAQ on the $25 billion rental assistance program, noting that NLIHC is urging Secretary Janet Yellen to rescind the guidance. “It is unfortunately and unnecessarily restrictive. It is requiring localities to have burdensome documentation, including some that could do long-term harm to some tenants, like requiring eviction notices in hand before people can get those funds,” Diane said.

    Sarah Saadian, NLIHC vice president of public policy, spoke to Business Insider on the importance of strengthening and enforcing the CDC eviction moratorium, the public health impacts of eviction, and the critical need to ensure emergency rental assistance and other resources are distributed equitably.

    Wired explores the lasting impact of COVID-19 on homelessness in the U.S., noting that advocates are hopeful that pandemic-related efforts to address the health and housing needs of individuals experiencing homelessness will be expanded and improved.

    Two lawyers who represent low-income tenants penned an op-ed for CNN outlining why the federal eviction moratorium should remain in effect long after the pandemic is over. The authors argue that state and local jurisdictions, which typically regulate when eviction is permissible, can and should prevent forced displacements.

    CBS News discusses the $25 billion emergency rental assistance program established by Congress in December, highlighting who is eligible and how to apply for aid.

    CNN Business examines the multiple economic disasters facing President Biden: evictions, unemployment, and hunger. The article mentions that despite the federal eviction moratorium, many landlords are using legal loopholes to evict tenants.

    NextAdvisor reports on President Biden’s extension of the federal eviction moratorium through March 2021 and the steps renters must take to be protected.

    The Washington Post examines international efforts to vaccinate people experiencing homelessness.

    February 01, 2021

    President Joe Biden on January 20 signed an executive order instructing federal agencies to extend eviction and foreclosure moratoriums through March 31. “President Biden and the CDC Director must not only extend, but also strengthen and enforce the moratorium, and they must do so with all due haste,” NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel told HuffPost.

    NPR reported on President Biden’s plans to extend the federal eviction moratorium through the end of March. “Without this action by President Joe Biden, millions of renters could have lost their homes during this surge in COVID-19,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. However, she adds, the moratorium along is insufficient and needs to be strengthened and enforced.

    The Washington Post reported that President Biden planned to sign an executive order extending the federal eviction moratorium. “Extending it is good and important, but on its own insufficient,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. “The existing moratorium is flawed, and many tenants are being evicted in spite of the protections. It needs to be not only extended but strengthened and enforced.”

    “The existing moratorium is flawed, and some landlords exploit loopholes to evict tenants despite the protections,” NLIHC’s Diane Yentel told CNBC. “No federal agency is enforcing the order’s penalties for unlawful evictions.” In addition to extending the moratorium, housing advocates are calling on the Biden administration to strengthen and enforce the moratorium. Advocates are also urging Congress to provide additional funding for emergency rental assistance.

    CNN reports that President Biden called on several federal departments and agencies to extend their eviction and foreclosure moratoriums until at least the end of March. President Biden’s COVID-19 relief proposal would provide $35 billion in rent, utilities, and homelessness resources. The article cites NLIHC’s research note on the need for emergency rental assistance.

    Bloomberg reported on President Biden’s plans to extend the federal eviction moratorium and ask the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Housing and Urban Development to consider extending foreclosure restrictions and forbearance relief.

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel spoke to NBC News about why simply extending the CDC eviction moratorium is insufficient.

    Next City discusses housing advocates’ expectations from the Biden administration. NLIHC Vice President of Public Policy Sarah Saadian says President-elect Biden’s “day one” priority should be extending the federal eviction moratorium through the duration of the pandemic and expanding it to automatically protect all renters.

    CNet reports on the housing provisions and protections included in President-elect Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief proposal, linking to a Twitter thread on the proposal from NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. “All of these resources and protections are badly and urgently needed. And, we’ll still need more to ensure housing stability for low-income renters and to keep people experiencing homelessness,” tweeted Diane Yentel.

    Vox reports on the homelessness crisis in the United States, noting that homelessness and the affordable housing crisis are policy choices. Rates of eviction and homelessness are expected to increase due to the pandemic, with 30 million renters at risk of eviction.

    January 25, 2021

    The Associated Press reports that housing advocates across the country held rallies on January 13, calling on the incoming Biden administration to extend and strengthen the federal eviction moratorium. “The eviction moratorium has to be extended in order to continue to create protection for tenants while states and localities work to get emergency rental assistance out to tenants who need it most,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    “We are urging President-elect Biden on his first day and hour in office, as one of a set of emergency actions that we expect him to take, to sign a new executive order and implement a new strengthened and enforced eviction moratorium for the duration of the pandemic,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel on BBC World News.

    NLIHC Vice President of Public Policy Sarah Saadian spoke to the Florida Phoenix about the COVID-19 housing crisis and solutions to address the affordable housing crisis. “President-elect Biden ran on a really strong housing platform that includes long-term solutions, too, so we know how to better address the next disaster that happens. We’ve learned there are really big gaps in our safety net systems,” said Sarah Saadian.

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel spoke to ABC15 about the critical need for President-elect Biden to take immediate action to prevent tens of millions of renters from losing their homes. NLIHC will submit a national sign on letter to the Biden administration, urging them to extend, strengthen, and enforce the CDC eviction moratorium.

    NLIHC’s Diane Yentel spoke with WFTV about the pre-pandemic affordable housing crisis in Florida and across the U.S. and the long-term solutions needed to address this crisis.

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel spoke to ABC15 about the critical need for President-elect Biden to take immediate action to prevent tens of millions of renters from losing their homes. NLIHC will submit a national sign on letter to the Biden administration, urging them to extend, strengthen, and enforce the CDC eviction moratorium.

    NLIHC’s Diane Yentel spoke to News Nation Now about the critical housing provisions in the COVID-19 relief bill and the need for more comprehensive solutions.

    “Eviction moratoriums are an essential protection because they keep tens of millions of people housed who would otherwise be losing their homes in the middle of this pandemic,” NLIHC’s Diane Yentel told Yahoo Finance. Diane discussed the critical need for additional housing resources and protections.

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel spoke on CBS News about the urgent need for Congress to extend the federal eviction moratorium and provide emergency rental assistance. Watch the full clip.

    BBC World News interviewed NLIHC’s Diane Yentel about the pending tsunami of evictions and the urgent need for an extended eviction moratorium and emergency rental assistance.

    NLIHC’s Diane Yentel spoke on NPR's Morning Edition about the tens of millions of renters in dire need of eviction protections and why the CDC eviction moratorium needs to be strengthened.

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel spoke to Denver7 about the $25 billion in emergency rental assistance enacted in the COVID-19 relief package and NLIHC’s work to track and analyze state and local emergency rental assistance programs.

    Millions of renters in the U.S. are facing eviction legal battles without legal aid. Fewer than ten cities and counties guarantee tenants the right to a lawyer in housing-related disputes. While the push for the right to counsel preceded the pandemic, it is particularly urgent in light of the looming eviction crisis.

    Popular Science discusses how a new wave of evictions in 2021 could fuel a rise in COVID-19 cases. Without extending eviction protections beyond January, tens of millions of people will face eviction, further exacerbating the pandemic’s public health impacts.

    Shelterforce discusses the looming eviction crisis and provides an overview of the bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill being debated in Congress. According to NLIHC Vice President of Public Policy Sarah Saadian, the $25 billion for emergency rental assistance is critically needed to keep families housed this winter.

    The Appeal examines how landlords have continued to evict renters, despite a patchwork of local and federal protections. “One of the most significant flaws is that the moratorium is not automatic, renters need to know it exists, know they are eligible, and know what steps they need to take in order to get the protection,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel.

    CNN calls attention to research indicating that communities of color are disproportionately impacted by the eviction crisis. According to NLIHC, communities of color represent 80% of people facing eviction. Business Insider also reports that people of color are most at risk of losing their home when the federal eviction moratorium ends.

    The Daily podcast shares the story of a single mother of two from Georgia struggling to remain in her home amid the pandemic. Matthew Desmond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and principal investigator of the Eviction Lab, joins the podcast to discuss the eviction crisis.

    NBC News reports that vital housing assistance, such as rapid rehousing, may be unavailable to families that do not meet the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) definition of homeless, including those who have had to move in with other households during the pandemic.

    Politico examines how the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating long-existing racial disparities in housing, highlighting that Black and Latino tenants will be disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 eviction crisis. “Structural racism leaves people of color disproportionately low-income, rent-burdened, or homeless. These inequities compound the harm done by COVID-19,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    The New York Times reports that jurisdictions across the U.S. are scrambling to distribute critically needed federal CARES Act funds to struggling tenants before the December 30 deadline. “The idea of reverting that money back to the Treasury just as the eviction moratoriums expire and renters are on the brink is absurd and cruel,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel.

    NBC News reports that landlords have continued to evict tenants despite the CDC eviction moratorium. The article highlights advocates’ concerns about a wave of evictions when the federal eviction moratorium expires on December 31. “If policymakers don’t intervene, we are facing the very real possibility of tens of millions of people losing their homes this winter,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel.

    CNBC discusses the essential housing provisions included in the bipartisan coronavirus relief bill, including the $25 billion for emergency rental assistance and one-month extension of the CDC eviction moratorium. The article cites NLIHC’s Diane Yentel’s statement on the compromise relief bill.

    U.S. News & World Report examines how allowing the federal eviction moratorium to expire at the end of the month will further fuel the raging pandemic. NLIHC’s Diane Yentel outlines the urgent need to extend the moratorium and provide emergency rental assistance.

    USA Today reports that state and local programs to house people experiencing homelessness in non-congregate shelters, such as hotels and motels, across the U.S. are abruptly ending, causing concern that hotel residents will be forced back into congregate shelters, encampments, or the streets.

    USA Today explains why millions of people in America could face eviction after the holidays and outlines how people can help struggling renters and organizations that serve people experiencing homelessness.

    The New York Times reports that residents of weekly rentals are concerned about being forced from their homes if they are unable to pay rent. It is unclear if the CDC eviction moratorium protects tenants of weekly rental lodgings, which has resulted in some owners pushing out renters who cannot pay rent.

    According to new data released by researchers at the University of Chicago and the University of Notre Dame, nearly 8 million Americans have fallen into poverty over the past five months. Since June, poverty has risen the most for Black Americans and those with high school degrees or less.

    States are grappling with what steps to take next as they brace for the impending eviction crisis. Eviction moratoriums instituted by 44 states beginning in March have mostly expired, but some states are considering extending eviction bans. Advocates are urging Congress and state officials to extend moratoriums and fund rental assistance programs.

    An op-ed in USA Today outlines the urgent need for Congress to enact a COVID-19 relief package that includes accessible emergency rental assistance and a uniform, enforceable eviction moratorium.

    January 15, 2021.

    The Washington Post reports on the federal stimulus benefits that will expire this month, noting that millions of Americans will lose unemployment benefits, access to paid sick leave, and protections against evictions. “The only thing that remains between the renter and being kicked out on the street is expiring on December 31,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    Common Dreams reports Moody’s Analytics estimates that renters will owe up to $70 billion in back rent when the federal eviction moratorium expires at the end of December. The article highlights NLIHC’s Diane Yentel’s calls for Congress to provide rent relief and extend the federal eviction moratorium.

    CNBC examines why tens of thousands of evictions have occurred despite the federal eviction moratorium. “The CDC or Department of Justice isn’t enforcing the moratorium the way they should be. It allows landlords to move forward wrongfully, without consequence,” said NLIHC Vice President of Public Policy Sarah Saadian.

    The Center for Public Integrity discusses the impending eviction crisis, noting that millions of renters are on the brink of eviction and financial ruin. The article highlights the millions of dollars renters owe in back rent. “This is debt that renters will never be able to afford to pay off,” said NLIHC’s Sarah Saadian.

    ABC News reports on the looming eviction crisis, highlighting NLIHC research estimating that 6.7 million renter households are unable to pay their rent and will be at risk of eviction. An ABC News analysis found that during the pandemic, the rate of evictions in majority Black and Latino neighborhoods has been twice that of mostly white neighborhoods.

    The Washington Post reports on economists’ warnings that many unemployed families will be unable to pay rent and utilities without additional stimulus aid from Congress. According to Moody’s Analytics, renters will owe up to $70 billion in back rent when the federal eviction moratorium expires on December 31.

    NBC News reports on the challenges facing homeless shelters this winter amid the ongoing pandemic. Advocates are concerned that the coming winter and expiration of the CDC eviction moratorium will further strain our country’s overstretched shelter system.

    Ted Koppel of CBS News spoke with Matthew Desmond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and principal investigator of the Eviction Lab, about COVID-19 and the impending eviction crisis. “Ten million people have lost their jobs, rents have continued, and we're seeing millions of people at the threat of eviction, during a time when your home is your best medicine,” said Matthew Desmond.

    Pew Charitable Trusts Stateline examines statewide efforts to purchase hotels to house people experiencing homelessness, including California’s Project Homekey and Oregon’s Project Turnkey.

    Emily Benfer, Gregg Gonsalves, and Danya Keene – three housing and health experts – contributed an article to the Appeal, explaining how the impending wave of evictions will significantly worsen America’s COVID-19 crisis. The authors urge the CDC to extend its eviction moratorium.

    Pew Charitable Trusts examines how courts across the nation have taken varied approaches to eviction cases amid the pandemic and various federal, state, and local eviction moratoriums. The authors encourage policymakers and court leaders to study the impact of emergency eviction orders to identify the most effective strategies to maintain the transparency, equity, and efficiency of the court process.>

    The Los Angeles Times’ editorial board urges Congress and the White House to take immediate action to prevent a catastrophic wave of evictions when the federal moratorium expires at the end of the year.

    December 19, 2020

    The Associated Press reports that despite the federal eviction moratorium, renters continue to be evicted amid the pandemic. “By the time President-elect Biden takes office on January 20, we may be in the midst of a historic eviction crisis in our country if no action is taken between now and then,” says NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    The Nation reports that despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eviction moratorium, thousands of tenants across the country are losing their homes during the pandemic. While the moratorium is keeping many people in their homes who would otherwise be evicted, far too many tenants are falling through the cracks. NLIHC’s Diane Yentel discusses the moratorium’s various shortcomings that undermine its public health impact.

    “For nine months, this tsunami on the horizon has been completely predictable and entirely preventable; we’ve known the solution to this for months, [the problem] is the lack of political will,” NLIHC’s Diane Yentel told Vox. “We’ve been saying for nine months now that it’s going to take at least $100 billion in rental assistance.”

    CBS News discusses the joint report from NLIHC and the University of Arizona estimating that 6.7 million households, or 19 million people, could be evicted in the coming months. “What we really need is rental assistance,” says NLIHC Vice President of Research Andrew Aurand. “The underlying problem is renters struggling to pay their rent because we’re in an economic crisis, and the moratorium doesn’t address that.”

    Nation of Change discusses new research indicating that lifting statewide eviction moratoriums was associated with increased COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates. The article mentions NLIHC’s concerns about renters falling off a financial cliff when the moratorium expires and our continued calls for emergency rental assistance.

    CNBC reports on a new research study on the impact of eviction moratoriums and COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates. The study found that the expiration of state eviction moratoriums has led to hundreds of thousands of additional coronavirus cases, raising significant concerns about what will happen when the national eviction moratorium expires at the end of the year.

    Popular Information discusses the impending eviction cliff and new research analyzing the impact of lifting eviction moratoriums on COVID-19 cases and mortality.

    Dr. Kathryn Leifheit of UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health spoke with NPR’s All Things Considered about a new research study finding that lifting state eviction moratoriums was associated with increased COVID-19 incidence and mortality. 

    According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, there has been a 70% increase in people using credit cards to pay their rent this year. 

    Emily Benfer, Wake Forest law professor and chair of the American Bar Association’s COVID-19 Task Force Committee on Eviction, spoke to C-SPAN’s Washington Journal about the COVID-19 housing crisis and impending surge of evictions.

    The Associated Press reports on the pandemic-related resources and protections that are expiring at the end of the year. The article discusses the expiration of the CDC federal eviction moratorium and experts’ warnings of a wave of eviction.

    State and national organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, filed documents last week in the U.S. District Court in Akron in support of the CDC eviction moratorium. Landlords from across northern Ohio filed a lawsuit in October to halt the federal eviction moratorium.

    Technology Review discusses how virtual eviction hearings are significantly exacerbating an already problematic situation. While remote proceedings are meant to limit the spread of COVID-19 in courtrooms, legal aid organizations have observed troubling practices in virtual hearings, including a lack of consistency and accessibility issues.

    Al Día reports that mass evictions have continued to occur despite the CDC eviction moratorium, adding to the COVID-19 death toll. Researchers of a new study on the impact of lifting state eviction moratoriums recommend further investigating the association between lifting moratoriums and racial disparities in COVID-19 cases and deaths.

    WABE discusses the devastating, long-lasting consequences of evictions for tenants.

    Weather.com highlights how frigid temperatures and the ongoing pandemic are impacting homeless shelters across the country.

    An op-ed in the Washington Post discusses why Congress must act quickly to provide rental relief and address the nation’s existing affordable housing crisis. Without federal intervention, we will see a wave of evictions and foreclosures that will do “untold damage” to millions of families and the broader economy. 

    Bloomberg reports that millions of Americans expect to lose their homes as the coronavirus rages and the CDC eviction moratorium is set to expire at the end of the year. 

    Amid the pandemic’s school closures, decreasing capacity at shelters, and higher family mobility, more than 423,000 students experiencing homelessness dropped off schools’ radar during the pandemic. The report, prepared by SchoolHouse Connection and Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan, finds that as many as 1.4 million children and youth experiencing homelessness may be unidentified and unsupported by their school during the pandemic.

    December 9, 2020

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel joined Tonya Mosley on NPR’s Here and Now to discuss the urgent housing crisis, how we got here, and what the federal government must do to prevent a tsunami of evictions this winter. “The eviction crisis that we’re facing is not only entirely predictable, it’s completely preventable,” said Diane Yentel. “But preventing it requires that Congress and the White House act to implement new protections and provide new resources.”

    Yahoo! News discusses what the Biden administration will face in January 2021 in terms of unemployment, housing, utilities, and food insecurity. “One of [Biden’s] first emergency actions must be implementing a broad and uniform moratorium on evictions. Then he and the new Congress must quickly enact a COVID-19 relief package that includes at least $100 billion in emergency rental assistance to keep renters stably housed during the pandemic,” says NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    An article in Route Fifty discusses the new report from NLIHC and the Innovation for Justice program at the University of Arizona on the costs of the COVID-19 eviction crisis to public health and social safety net programs. “In addition to the cruelty of throwing people out of their homes during a pandemic, a wave of evictions would create significant downstream costs for public health and social service systems,” says NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. 

    Shelterforce examines how President-elect Biden would address the COVID-19 housing crisis. NLIHC Vice President of Public Policy Sarah Saadian speaks about the urgent need for the Biden administration to enact a stronger eviction moratorium and work with Congress to pass a relief package that includes targeted emergency rental assistance. “I think people aren’t really giving enough thought to what a huge wave of evictions will mean for our economy and for public health,” says Sarah Saadian.

    USA Today discusses the intimidation tactics landlords have been using to force tenants from their homes during the pandemic. Landlords have used loopholes and certain exemptions in the CDC’s eviction moratorium to evict tenants for nonpayment of rent. NLIHC Vice President for Research Andrew Aurand states that without federal rental assistance, 30 to 40 million people will be at risk for eviction in January.

    Marketplace reports the economic fallout from the pandemic is disproportionately impacting the lowest-income renters. The article discusses a joint research note from NLIHC and the Innovation for Justice Program at the University of Arizona, which finds that a wave of evictions could increase the public costs to health and social service systems. A surge in evictions could increase costs for homeless shelters, emergency rooms, child welfare services, and more, says NLIHC Research Analyst Dan Threet.

    The Washington Post reports that without congressional action, about 12 million Americans will lose unemployment insurance at the end of the year. The national eviction moratorium also expires on December 31, causing significant concern that many jobless Americans could become homeless.

    Despite the CDC moratorium, MarketWatch reports thousands of evictions are occurring across the country. The article reports that a single mother of three children in North Carolina was evicted despite seeking protections under the federal moratorium. Lawyers at Legal Aid of North Carolina state that politically-appointed magistrates, who rule on eviction cases, have disregarded the federal and state moratoriums.

    USA Today discusses the coronavirus relief benefits set to expire at the end of the year, including the eviction and foreclosure moratoriums. Despite the CDC’s eviction moratorium, landlords could have initiated eviction proceedings, leaving millions of renters at risk of losing their home in early January.

    60 Minutes examines the short- and long-term impacts the impending eviction crisis could have on students. 60 Minutes previewed a new study, led by Dr. Kathryn Leifheit from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, which finds that evictions led to a total of 433,700 excess COVID-19 cases and 10,700 additional deaths in the U.S. from the beginning of the pandemic until the CDC order in September.

    The State of the Nation’s Housing 2020 report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University shows affordability challenges worsening for renters, with COVID-19 further exacerbating these challenges. Housing challenges are compounded by racial disparities, with households of color far more likely to be cost-burdened and less likely to be homeowners compared to white households.

    The Washington Post reports on the challenges local governments face in distributing federal Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars into the hands of people and communities with the greatest needs. 

    The Wall Street Journal reports nearly 13 million individuals will lose unemployment benefits at the end of the year. The expiration of these benefits coincides with the end of the national eviction moratorium and as coronavirus cases surges across the country.

    The findings from a new study from researchers at the University of California at San Francisco, “Comparison of infection control strategies to reduce COVID-19 outbreaks in the United States: A simulation study,” support the need for continued non-congregate housing arrangements for people experiencing homelessness. Read NLIHC’s Memo article about the study.

    November 30, 2020

    CNET discusses the CDC national eviction moratorium, highlighting the steps renters must take to receive protection under the order. The article also provides a list of resources for tenants facing financial hardship, including NLIHC’s state and local rental assistance database.

    Multi-Housing News discusses growing concerns about the future of rental payments and advocates’ calls for significant federal rental assistance to prevent mass evictions and protect the nation’s rental housing system. “There is an opening now for a COVID-19 relief package before the end of the year,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. “It will be difficult to get done and at the level we all know is needed…but the door has been opened and it’s a possibility.”

    CNBC’s Make It discusses housing experts’ concerns about a tsunami of evictions that will occur if Congress fails to pass another relief package that includes rental assistance and an extended moratorium. The article highlights NLIHC research estimating that $100 billion in emergency rental assistance is needed to prevent an eviction crisis.

    An article in Live Science discusses findings from a new study indicating that preventing evictions could play a critical role in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Across a wide set of scenarios, researchers found that evictions could lead to significant increases in coronavirus infections.

    BBC discusses the results of a new research study posted in EClinical Medicine, which found that Black people are twice as likely as white people to catch the coronavirus. The findings also indicate Asian people are 1.5 times more likely than white people to be infected and may be more likely to need intensive care. The lead researcher notes that ethnic minorities are more likely to experience certain risk factors for coronavirus, including living in multigenerational housing.

    The Columbia Journalism Review interviewed Matthew Desmond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and principal investigator of Princeton University’s Eviction Lab, about our country’s existing eviction crisis and Eviction Lab’s COVID-19 Tracker.

    An article in the November issue of the Princeton Alumni Weekly discusses scholars’ warnings that without eviction moratoriums, the U.S. will face a tsunami of evictions.

    November 17, 2020

    In a Marketplace article about the COVID-19 housing crisis, NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel discusses the shortcomings of the CDC eviction moratorium and the critical need for federal action to prevent tens of millions of renters from losing their homes when the moratorium expires on December 31.  

    CNN interviewed NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel about the COVID-19 eviction crisis and the long-term impacts of evictions, housing insecurity, and homelessness. “There’s real harm done to individual people, to families, to kids, to communities, and really to our whole country when we allow homelessness and housing poverty to persist,” said Diane Yentel. 

    Money shares a state-by-state guide to eviction and foreclosure policies, highlighting concerns from NLIHC’s Diane Yentel about how renters will pay back rent when the federal eviction moratorium expires on December 31. “We will see a tremendous number of evictions in the dead of winter during a COVID-19 spike,” said Diane Yentel. 

    The Washington Post reports that the U.S. economy faces significant new strains in the next several months amid a spike in coronavirus cases and the expiration of federal benefits – a period when Washington could be consumed by political gridlock. The article notes millions of renters could face eviction when the federal moratorium expires at the end of the year, citing research from NLIHC and partners.  

    Buzzfeed News examines how the pandemic is exacerbating the barriers to voting faced by people experiencing housing insecurity. “This threat of homelessness and eviction has grown more rapidly in the coronavirus pandemic and recession than we have seen in previous recessions, and most of our solutions to this point have simply delayed the pain but not cured the wound,” said NLIHC Director of Field Organizing Joey Lindstrom. 

    Salon reports that without additional federal coronavirus relief, 12 million Americans will owe more than $5,000 in missed rent by December. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia estimates that outstanding rent debt could reach $7.2 billion by the end of the year. 

    The Associated Press reports the federal government defended its national eviction moratorium before a federal judge on October 30, arguing the CDC order has helped prevent the spread of COVID-19 and did not overstep the authority provided by Congress. The arguments are part of a federal lawsuit, Tiger Lilly LLC v. HUD, filed by seven landlords in Memphis seeking to overturn the CDC eviction moratorium. 

    Axios reports on the looming triple threat of cold weather, new spikes in coronavirus cases, and the expiration of eviction moratoriums. The article discusses efforts to protect people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic and the growth of outdoor homeless encampments. 

    Verywell Health examines how COVID-19 evictions are creating a ripple effect of health issues, such as higher risks for contracting and experiencing severe cases of COVID-19, depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. 

    The Washington Post reports that Westminster Management, an apartment company co-owned by White House senior advisor Jared Kushner and other investors, has filed hundreds of eviction filings against tenants with past due rent during the pandemic. The company has sent letters to tenants threatening legal fees and filing eviction notices in court – the first legal step toward evicting tenants. 

    The Associated Press reports on a federal judge’s denial of a preliminary injunction of the CDC eviction moratorium. “The Court finds that the public’s interest in controlling the spread of COVID-19 is not outweighed by Plaintiffs’ interests in preventing the constitutional violation and economic harm alleged here,” Judge J.P. Boulee writes in his order. 

    MarketWatch discusses how the nation’s eviction crisis could prevent some Americans from voting. People who have been displaced from their homes may need to re-register to vote, but there is a significant chance they are not aware of this. 

    Poynter provides a brief overview of the shortcomings of the CDC eviction moratorium and lawsuits seeking to overturn the CDC order. 

    UN-Habitat outlines why housing must be at the heart of COVID-19 response and recovery efforts across the world. 

    November 10, 2020

    Bloomberg CityLab reports on lawsuits seeking to overturn the CDC moratorium. The article notes NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel’s concerns that landlords seeking to pressure or intimidate renters into leaving sooner will take advantage of the CDC guidance that says landlords may initiate eviction proceedings at any time. 

    NBC News reports that from September to October 17, large corporate landlords have filed nearly 10,000 evictions in 23 counties in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas. New eviction filings jumped after the CDC released guidance on the moratorium on October 9. 

    The National Association of Home Builders and a group of Ohio landlords filed a lawsuit on October 23 challenging the CDC eviction moratorium. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, seeks to overturn the federal eviction moratorium. 

    The Wall Street Journal reports on the emerging rental housing crisis in the U.S., which threatens to evict millions of renters and leave landlords short billions of dollars. The rental housing crisis demonstrates the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on households with children, women, and people of color. 

    The Washington Post examines how landlords have found loopholes in the CDC national eviction moratorium to evict tenants. Resistance from landlords and the order’s ambiguous wording, which gives local judges room for interpreting the moratorium, have enabled evictions to continue despite the moratorium. 

    Common Dreams reports that despite the CDC moratorium, and with assistance from the CDC’s new guidance on the order, corporate landlords have ignored the ban and issued eviction notices to thousands of renters. The article cites new data from the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, which found large corporate landlords filed 10,000 eviction actions in five states between early September and October 17. 

    November 4, 2020

    MarketWatch answers four lingering questions about the CDC eviction moratorium. NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel discusses the CDC guidance on the order, noting the FAQ puts more power back in the hands of landlords. 

    Reuters discusses the surge in displacement and homelessness that will occur in January if Congress and the White House do not pass a coronavirus relief package that includes financial assistance for tenants and landlords.

    Marketplace examines how without additional federal coronavirus relief aid, renters are struggling to keep up with their payments. According to the latest Marketplace-Edison Research Poll, 64% of Americans fear they will miss a rent payment, putting them at risk of losing their home.

    The Private Equity Stakeholder Project reports that despite the CDC eviction moratorium, eviction filings by corporate landlords in the counties it tracks nearly doubled last week (October 12-18) compared to the prior two weeks.

    Marketplace reports that a Georgia property owner is among those challenging the CDC eviction moratorium. 

    The Hechinger Report examines how seven months into the pandemic, many families are going without basic needs. With help slow to come from Washington, meeting basic needs like food and shelter has become a daily challenge for families.

    Northern District of Georgia Judge J.P. Boulee heard arguments on October 20 in the New Civil Liberties Alliance’s lawsuit challenging the CDC’s authority to impose the eviction moratorium. Leslie Vigen of the Department of Justice argued in defense of the CDC eviction moratorium, saying that “invalidating the order would result in millions of evictions through the country leading into the winter flu season.”

    As the U.S. faces a looming eviction crisis, housing advocates and policymakers are calling for right to counsel policies that provide all tenants free legal representation in eviction court. Advocates are turning to New York City, where evictions have decreased by 40% since renters were guaranteed legal representation in court.

    October 26, 2020

    The Washington Post reports on the Trump administration’s new guidance on the CDC eviction moratorium. The guidance weakens the order’s protections, leaving millions of renters facing a renewed threat of eviction. “To understand, ask yourself the question: Why would a landlord want to start eviction proceedings in October for an eviction that can’t happen until January? The answer: to pressure, scare, and intimidate renters into leaving sooner,” says NLIHC’s Diane Yentel.

    Common Dreams discusses housing advocates’ warnings that the new Trump administration guidance on the CDC eviction moratorium will harm renters and public health. NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel raises concerns that the guidance provides opportunities for landlords to intimidate renters into vacating their homes sooner.

    Many small landlords are struggling to maintain payments on their properties, raising concerns that residential landlords will have their properties foreclosed on, and the holdings will be bought by big corporations. Comprehensive rental assistance is needed to support landlords and tenants and protect the affordable housing supply.

    Commercial Appeal reports U.S. District Court Judge Mark Norris has scheduled a hearing on the federal lawsuit filed by seven Memphis landlords challenging the CDC eviction moratorium. Judge Norris will hear the case on October 30. Neighborhood Preservation Inc, a Memphis nonprofit agency, asked Judge Norris for permission to intervene on the side of the U.S. government.

    In These Times reports on the Trump administration’s new guidance on the federal eviction moratorium, which provides landlords more power to evict tenants. The weakening of the order’s protections followed a flurry of lawsuits from landlords and real estate trade groups.

    The New York Times reports eight million people have slipped into poverty since May, with the crisis disproportionately impacting Black and Latino communities. Two new studies demonstrate the effectiveness of the CARES Act and document the rise in poverty that has occurred as the expanded federal aid dwindled. 

    Politico reports that without federal intervention, an estimated 13.4 million people will lose their unemployment benefits on December 31, 2020. The CDC national eviction moratorium is also set to expire on December 31.

    October 19, 2020

    MarketWatch reports on the financial cliff facing renters and landlords as Trump abandons federal stimulus talks. “It’s extraordinarily reckless and irresponsible for Trump to blow up negotiations now, when so many renters and small landlords are struggling and when there is growing bipartisan agreement on the urgent need for emergency rental assistance,” says NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    NBC News reports that with stimulus talks stalled, renters and landlords are bracing for a new wave of evictions. NLIHC’s Diane Yentel explains that when landlords fall behind on rent, it can have detrimental impacts on the number of affordable housing units.

    Mother Jones examines how California farmworkers’ housing and economic insecurities are magnifying the twin crises of the pandemic and unprecedented wildfire season.

    Voice of America reports on the millions of renters in the U.S. who are facing eviction amid the pandemic. The article mentions the joint report released by NLIHC, the Aspen Institute, and other national partners.

    Emily Benfer, chair of the American Bar Association’s COVID-19 Task Force Committee on Eviction and co-creator of the COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard, and Nestor Davidson, professor at Fordham University School of Law, examine the importance of affirming local governments’ power and flexibility to respond to COVID-19 and the eviction crisis.

    Bloomberg City Lab discusses the eviction and foreclosure moratorium included in the $2.2 trillion COVID-19 relief package passed by House Democrats. The revised relief package also includes $50 billion in emergency rental assistance funds.

    Newsweek compiled state-by-state guidelines to eviction protection during the coronavirus pandemic.

    Governing examines the impacts of COVID-19 and the looming eviction crisis on the entire rental market. Millions of renters are at risk of losing their homes when the CDC moratorium expires, and small landlords who rely on rental income may default on their mortgages and be forced to sell properties to institutional investors. There is an urgent need for robust federal rental assistance.

    October 14, 2020

    NPR discusses the inextricable connection between housing stability and health. The article links to the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign’s sign on letter urging congressional leaders to include critical housing resources and protections in the next COVID-19 relief package to support housing stability, promote good health, and reduce risk factors that lead to higher health care utilization.

    Politico examines how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting every aspect of well-being in the U.S., including housing stability. The article discusses the looming housing crisis and links to NLIHC’s rental assistance database.

    According to a report released by the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA), U.S. renters will owe up to $34 billion in back rent by January 2021. This rent shortfall estimate does not include any interest or feeds landlords may charge. State housing finance agencies in 33 states have implemented emergency rental assistance programs in the last six months, but they will be unable to meet the overwhelming need for aid without additional federal support.

    The Associated Press reports at least 26 lawsuits against eviction moratoriums across the U.S. have been filed by property owners this year, including several federal challenges to the CDC eviction moratorium.

    NPR Weekend Edition reports that despite the CDC’s moratorium, landlords have filed tens of thousands of eviction notices.

    According to a CNN analysis of Eviction Lab data, neighborhoods with elevated rates of medical conditions that put people at high risk of complications from COVID-19 have seen disproportionately high rates of eviction filings over the last six months.

    Vice reports corporate landlords are still filing eviction cases, despite the CDC eviction moratorium. According to the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, corporate landlords filed 5,214 eviction cases in the month following the national moratorium.

    The New York Times Magazine shares the stories of elderly Americans facing homelessness amid the pandemic. An analysis estimates that in the next 10 years, the number of seniors experiencing homelessness in the U.S. will nearly triple – and that was before the COVID-19 pandemic.

    WYNC’s The Takeaway discusses the rise in homelessness amid the coronavirus pandemic. Anna Orso, a reporter with the Philadelphia Inquirer, speaks about the confluence of the racial justice movement and the movement for affordable housing taking place in Philadelphia.

    A Shelterforce article discusses the challenges navigating the eviction process and the long-lasting impacts of eviction. The author outlines actions that can be taken at the federal, state, and local levels to mitigate the looming eviction crisis, highlighting the urgent need for $100 billion in emergency rental assistance.

    October 5, 2020

    MarketWatch explores why the CDC eviction moratorium, without federal rental assistance, will not solve the looming eviction crisis. The article discusses why Congress must pass $100 billion in rental assistance and how these funds might be distributed. “The key is to get more funding into the hands of folks in the least bureaucratic way,” says NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    Time reports on the impact months of eviction uncertainty are having on millions of families’ mental health. The article highlights advocates’ calls for emergency rental assistance and long-term policy solutions to address our nation’s affordable housing crisis.

    In an op-ed in the Washington Post, Alieza Durana and Anne Kat Alexander of Princeton’s Eviction Lab point to the spike in eviction filings between federal eviction moratoriums as a sign the eviction crisis will get much worse if Congress fails to pass rental assistance.

    Knowable Magazine examines the life-altering impacts of evictions that extend far beyond the immediate loss of one’s home. Before COVID-19, millions of people received eviction notices each year, and this number is expected to increase due to the pandemic and its economic fallout.

    In an op-ed in the Boston Globe, Emily Benfer, professor at Wake Forest University School of Law and co-creator of the COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard with the Eviction Lab, outlines the reality of the eviction crisis and urges policymakers to swiftly intervene to prevent a tidal wave of evictions.

    CNBC compiled a list of resources for people struggling to pay their bills, including their rent and mortgage. The article includes a brief overview of the CDC moratorium, a link to NLIHC’s state and local rental assistance database, and additional resources for renters and homeowners.

    A new poll of more than 3,000 people from NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found nearly 1 out of 5 respondents reported struggling to pay rent and mortgage. The poll found Black and Latino households were twice as likely as white families to report they are struggling to pay or have fallen behind on housing payments.

    The Wall Street Journal reports that the coronavirus pandemic threatens to widen the longstanding gap in homeownership between Black and White Americans, which could have broader implications for wealth disparities. 

    An op-ed in The Hill, written by the CEO of the Community Preservation Corporation and former commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, urges Congress to pass an emergency rental assistance program for tenants impacted by COVID-19, similar to the $100 billion included in the House-passed “HEROES Act.”

    Forbes reports the National Apartment Association is joining the New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) in its lawsuit challenging the legality of the CDC eviction moratorium.

    Vice reports on a new company called Civvl that aims to make it easy for landlords to hire process services and eviction agents as gig workers. “Legal court evictions are on hold. But most of these management companies, they’re not necessarily evicting people through courts,” said Javier Ruiz, a counselor on the Tenants’ Rights hotline for the Metropolitan Tenants Organization. “They’re just evicting people through pressure. So that’s why I see a company like [Civvl] would be coming in.”

    September 29, 2020

    Yahoo! Money reports on how quickly rental assistance programs are running out of funding, citing NLIHC’s research on rental assistance. NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel discussed the need for at least $100 billion in rental assistance in addition to the federal eviction moratorium.

    Marketplace outlines what renters need to know about the CDC eviction moratorium. NLIHC Vice President of Public Policy Sarah Saadian spoke about the CDC declaration form and why rental assistance is needed to keep millions of renters housed after the moratorium is lifted.

    Bloomberg reports eviction filings by corporate landlords surged after the CDC enacted its recent moratorium. Institutional landlords filed more than 900 eviction cases across eight metropolitan areas from September 2 to September 8, according to the Private Equity Stakeholder Project. The increase in evictions highlights key challenges to implementing the moratorium.

    A Popular Information investigation reveals 62 corporate landlords who have received taxpayer bailouts are pursuing evictions despite the federal moratorium. Landlords are trying to exploit the fact the moratorium is not self-executing.

    Bloomberg reports that in many cities, landlords are filing far fewer eviction filings since the CDC imposed a federal moratorium on September 4. “New filings did drop in all sites, in some cases dramatically,” says Peter Hepburn of Princeton University’s Eviction Lab. “With that being said, we’re still seeing a larger number of new filings in several cities.” Hepburn points to the significant variation in how the federal moratorium is being implemented. 

    The New York Times reports that interpretations of the CDC eviction moratorium vary state to state, and even judge to judge. Housing advocates and legal aid lawyers are working to inform tenants of their rights under the moratorium and discussing the need for uniform enforcement of the federal order.

    Axios spoke to Matthew Desmond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and professor who leads Princeton University’s Eviction Lab, about the CDC eviction moratorium. “[F]rom a tenant’s point of view, this eviction moratorium is a giant reprieve. But it doesn’t solve their problem, which is, ‘What am I going to do when my bill comes due?” said Desmond.

    BeLatina reports on the disproportionate impact of the pandemic and its economic fallout on communities of color. As federal COVID-19 assistance becomes scarce, underserved communities fear losing their homes.

    A Washington Post op-ed urges Congress to take immediate action to address the COVID-19 economic crisis by prioritizing robust rental assistance, federal supplement unemployment insurance, food aid, and other critical resources included in the “HEROES Act.”

    NPR Morning Edition reports that despite the federal ban, many renters are still getting evicted. A reporter for Houston Public Media found that of the 100 eviction cases they observed, only one renter was able to use the CDC order to block their eviction.

    Vice reports that landlords are still trying to evict tenants despite the federal eviction moratorium. Housing experts warn that varied interpretations of the order and inconsistent applications will create widespread confusion among property owners and renters.

    The National League of Cities discusses the impact of the looming eviction crisis on school-age youth. The CDC moratorium has delayed but not alleviated the impending eviction cliff.

    September 22, 2020

    The Washington Post argues that without federal action to provide rental assistance, the CDC eviction moratorium will only delay mass evictions until January. The CDC order has halted evictions temporarily, but Congress must take action to prevent an eviction crisis when the federal moratorium ends. 

    CNBC reports on housing advocates’ concerns that loopholes in the CDC eviction moratorium and inconsistent state applications leave renters vulnerable to eviction. There are concerning signs that landlords are continuing to evict tenants despite the federal ban. 

    NPR compiled a list of recommendations and resources for tenants who are unable to pay the rent, including information from NLIHC, the National Housing Law Project, and Princeton University’s Eviction Lab. 

    The ABA Journal discusses warnings from housing lawyers that the impending eviction crisis will upend the housing market and devastate entire communities. There are concerns that landlords are attempting to find loopholes in the order and proceed with evicting tenants for other reasons. “They are banking on the tenants not knowing their rights and then not having legal representation,” says Rafael Bautista, co-director of the San Diego Tenants Unions. 

    USA Today examines how the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating existing housing disparities in the U.S. The article argues that while the federal eviction moratorium is an essential measure, it is delaying, not preventing, the eviction crisis. 

    CNBC released an FAQ about the CDC eviction moratorium. 

    NPR’s Planet Money discusses the pandemic’s impact on the housing market, noting that the current market reflects America’s increasing inequality. While the housing market is booming, there is a significant shortfall in rental demand across the country. 

    “It’s incredibly important to keep people in their homes, not only from a public health standpoint, but from a human dignity standpoint and to make sure people aren’t cast into homelessness because of this pandemic,” Matthew Desmond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and principal investigator of Princeton University’s Eviction Lab, told MSNBC’s Kasie Hunt. 

    September 15, 2020

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel spoke with Judy Woodruff on PBS NewsHour about what the CDC’s eviction moratorium means for renters and landlords. “The eviction moratorium is essential, but it’s a half-measure… Emergency rental assistance absolutely has to be paired with this eviction moratorium. And only Congress can provide those resources,” said Diane Yentel. 

    NLIHC’s Diane Yentel spoke with Yahoo! Finance about the administration’s new eviction moratorium, the urgent need for emergency rental assistance, and the need for substantial, sustained investments to address our nation’s underlying affordable housing crisis. 

    NPR reports on the CDC’s eviction moratorium. “My reaction is a feeling of tremendous relief,” says NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. “It’s a pretty extraordinary and bold and unprecedented measure that the White House is taking that will save lives and prevent tens of millions of people from losing their homes in the middle of a pandemic.” 

    Marketplace reports on the CDC’s eviction moratorium, highlighting advocates’ concerns that an eviction moratorium on its own is not enough. “Because eventually those moratoriums expire, and they create a financial cliff for renters to fall off of when back rent is owed,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. 

    NLIHC’s Diane Yentel and Shamus Roller, executive director of the National Housing Law Project, spoke about the Trump administration’s eviction moratorium on KALW’s “Your Call.” “Because the moratorium is not paired with substantial emergency rental assistance, the executive merely postpones evictions nationwide; it does not prevent them,” said Diane Yentel. 

    CityLab reports on the CDC’s eviction moratorium, highlighting the importance of spreading awareness about the protections to renters at risk of losing their homes. Rental assistance must be a top legislative priority when Congress returns to session on September 8, says NLIHC’s Diane Yentel.  

    The Washington Post reports on the White House’s eviction moratorium, highlighting concerns from Democratic lawmakers and housing experts. NLIHC’s Diane Yentel described the new policy as “long overdue and badly needed,” while also calling on Congress and the White House to enact a coronavirus relief bill with at least $100 billion in emergency rental assistance. 

    The New York Times discusses the CDC’s eviction moratorium, quoting NLIHC’s Diane Yentel’s statement on the order. While NLIHC welcomes the moratorium, Congress and the White House must enact a relief bill that includes rental assistance. The New York Times also released an FAQ about the new order. 

    Truthout reports on the administration’s eviction moratorium, highlighting statements from NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. The article also discusses three NLIHC-supported housing bills: the “Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act,” “Eviction Crisis Act,” and the “Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program Act.” 

    Common Dreams discusses reactions to the White House’s eviction moratorium from housing advocates and policy experts, including NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. “While an eviction moratorium is essential, it is a half-measure that extends a financial cliff for renters to fall off when the moratorium expires and back rent is owed,” said Diane Yentel. 

    Curbed NY provides an overview of the administration’s eviction moratorium, linking to NLIHC’s Diane Yentel’s Twitter thread on the announcement. The article also highlights concerns about the moratorium from landlords. “Not only does an eviction moratorium not address renters' real financial needs, a protracted eviction moratorium does nothing to address the financial pressures and obligations of rental-property owners,” said the president of the National Multifamily Housing Council. 

    Bloomberg refers to the CDC’s eviction moratorium as an “unprecedented use of executive authority” that will likely face legal challenges from landlords. Administration officials say the CDC can take emergency measures when it determines that state and local governments have not taken sufficient steps to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.  

    The New York Times explains why the administration’s eviction moratorium alone will not prevent a housing crisis. Rental assistance is needed to support both tenants and landlords. The article highlights the House-passed “HEROES Act,” which includes $100 billion in emergency rental assistance. 

    Reuters explains the administration’s sweeping eviction moratorium. The article also mentions the House-passed “HEROES Act,” which, among other provisions, includes $100 billion in emergency rental assistance and a national, uniform moratorium. 

    A two-month investigation by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland found that confusion about the federal eviction moratorium enacted in the CARES Act led to selective enforcement. 

    Matthew Desmond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and principal investigator at Princeton University’s Eviction Lab, outlines the urgent need for Congress to prevent evictions and protect the security and health of American families in an op-ed in the New York Times. “Our efforts to defeat COVID-19 and recover from the economic damage it has wrought will be deeply compromised if we fail to help keep families in their homes,” he writes. 

    Legal aid attorneys and housing advocates told CNBC that the federal eviction moratorium enacted in the CARES Act failed to protect many struggling tenants because it lacked an enforcement mechanism. Fewer than half of states required landlords to attest that their evictions did not violate the CARES Act. 

    The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism finds that people experiencing homelessness in rural America suffer from a lack of appropriate care and access to health resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    An article in the New Republic discusses the dangerous confluence of a looming eviction crisis, flu season, colder temperatures, and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

    CNBC reports that “mom and pop” landlords are being disproportionately harmed as more and more renters are unable to afford rent. Without congressional action, small landlords and their tenants will fall deeper behind on their payments, leading to more evictions for renters and more mortgage defaults for landlords. 

    CNN’s Kyung Lah shares stories of people facing eviction in Houston due to the economic stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    The Washington Post examines housing advocates’ concerns that an eviction crisis still looms without federal rent relief alongside the eviction moratorium. Rental relief is key to stabilizing the market, but any additional rental assistance must come from the federal government since city and state governments are unable to meet the overwhelming need for aid. 

    The Hill reports that the Trump administration’s new eviction moratorium likely will face several legal and political challenges. The article discusses concerns from housing advocates and the real estate industry that without rental assistance, the expiration of the ban will create a dangerous housing crisis in the new year. 

    The Washington Post reports on opposition to the Trump administration’s new eviction moratorium from landlords, home builders, and other housing industry groups. Objections to the action concern the federal government’s failure to provide rental assistance alongside the moratorium. 

    The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism found that essential workers who are homeless face the greatest risk of COVID-19. Experts say between 25-50% of people experiencing homelessness work. During the pandemic, this means many employees who are homeless are working low-wage essential jobs that put them at risk of the coronavirus. 

    Stacey Vanek Smith and Cardiff Garcia of NPR’s Planet Money examine why millions of renters in the U.S. could soon face eviction. 

    The National Journal reports on the impending eviction crisis, noting that millions of people in the U.S. could lose their homes if the federal government does not intervene. The article discusses the need for rental assistance, a broad national eviction moratorium, and access to legal counsel for all tenants. 

    While the Trump administration’s eviction moratorium will prevent millions from losing their homes ahead of the election, the pandemic is creating additional barriers to voting for people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. 

    The Appeal examines why housing insecurity brought on by the pandemic threatens to disenfranchise millions of voters.

    September 10, 2020

    The Washington Post reports that President Trump’s attempts to bypass Congress on stimulus relief have produced limited economic relief and prevented very few evictions. “If Congress does nothing, we are very likely to see millions of renters face displacement of eviction, starting in September and October,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    The Washington Post reports on data indicating that millions of people across the country are behind on their rent. “When our collective health depends on our ability to stay in our homes, we all have a stake to ensure that tens of millions of people don’t lose theirs,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel.

    Bloomberg reports on the historic eviction crisis facing the U.S., explaining that formal evictions are not the only threat facing renters. Eviction is a legal process, but the mere threat of eviction often pushes renters to move out.

    The New York Times reports that legal aid lawyers are preparing to defend renters in housing courts. For tenants, especially those with low-incomes, having legal representation can be the difference between being evicted or being allowed to remain in their home.

    Despite being one of the populations at greatest risk of contracting and becoming severely ill from the coronavirus, people experiencing homelessness have been largely ‘invisible victims of the crisis.’ The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism developed a vulnerability index to understand which counties’ homeless populations might struggle the most in a COVID-19 outbreak.

    The Howard Center for Investigative Journalism found that, as of early August, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development had distributed less than one-third of the $4 billion provided by the CARES Act.

    HuffPost discusses how Cincinnati’s new law requiring landlords to accept alternatives to a security deposit could help renters survive the pandemic-triggered eviction crisis. NLIHC’s Diane Yentel says that alternatives to security deposits provide much-needed assistance to get families into homes, but there is an urgent need to address the underlying causes of the U.S.’ affordable housing crisis.

    The Guardian reports on the U.S.’ looming eviction crisis, discussing the joint report released by NLIHC and nine other institutions that found 30-40 million people in America are at risk of eviction.

    NPR shares stories of people struggling to remain in their homes after the federal supplemental unemployment benefit and eviction moratorium expired. Without federal intervention, including emergency rental assistance, a uniform eviction moratorium, and expanded unemployment benefits, millions of renters in the U.S. will face eviction.

    CNET explains that starting August 24, millions of renters who were protected from eviction by the CARES Act could lose their homes. The article provides resources for renters who are facing a potential eviction.

    The Guardian reports that millions of Americans are struggling to afford food and pay their rent and utility bills after the federal supplemental unemployment benefits expired at the end of July.

    CNN’s Kyung Lah shares stories of people facing financial stress and eviction after the federal eviction moratorium and relief benefits expired at the end of July.

    Mother Jones reports that housing advocates and voting experts are concerned that the U.S.’ upcoming eviction crisis will create barriers to voting by mail. “Those who are being most impacted by the COVID crisis may end up being largely excluded from the democratic process as a result,” says Brian Miller, executive director of Nonprofit VOTE.

    Diana Li, an eviction lawyer at the Legal Aid Society, spoke to Vox about the long-standing structural issues the pandemic has brought to light, the lack of respect landlords have for the moratorium, and why New York’s court system was not prepared for pandemic.

    September 2, 2020.

    The Washington Post reports that despite President Trump’s repeated claims that his administration and executive order would protect people from losing their homes, evictions have continued across the country. “It risks doing more harm than good by giving people a false impression that Trump is doing something to prevent evictions,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel on the president’s executive order.

    Newsweek discusses housing advocates’ warnings that the expiration of the federal eviction moratorium will lead to a surge in COVID-19 cases, increase in poverty, and future housing shortages. NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel spoke to Newsweek about the president’s executive order and need for robust emergency rental assistance.

    U.S. News & World Report outlines what tenants can expect from President Trump’s August 8 executive order, highlighting advocates’ concerns that the order, which does not halt evictions, might give renters a false sense of security. NLIHC’s Diane Yentel discusses the urgent need for housing and homelessness resources and what renters can do to prevent eviction.

    Administration officials told Politico that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will extend a ban on evictions and foreclosures for homes backed by the Federal Housing Administration through the end of the year. The move will cover far fewer homes than did the four-month eviction moratorium that expired on July 24. “The very limited number of covered properties with renters living in them are already covered under existing law, the ‘Protecting Tenants in Foreclosure Act,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel.

    “The stock market is still going up and up, right? Meanwhile, everybody I know is out of a job. Everybody is behind on the rent. Most of us are becoming homeless,” said Tusdae Barr in an interview with the Washington Post on being evicted during the pandemic. “I’m worth nothing on paper, so who’s going to rent to me?”

    Federal coronavirus relief aid has kept many tenants housed, but the New York Times reports that as this support ebbs, tenants are forced to take increasingly desperate measures to pay rent - with potentially devastating long-term effects. Solely focusing on eviction rates can paint a misleadingly optimistic picture of the devastating situations millions of tenants are facing.

    CNBC reports that evictions are expected to skyrocket as eviction protections come to an end. The federal ban on evictions expired last month, and many states that enacted eviction moratoriums have allowed them to expire. 

    The United Nations’ expert on housing rights warned of an impending eviction tsunami and urged governments around the world to ban all evictions until the pandemic ends. “Losing your home during the pandemic could mean losing your life,” said Balakrishnan Rajagopal, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on the right to housing. “The right to life and adequate housing are intrinsically linked.”

    According to Shelterforce, homeless service providers report that the shift from congregate shelters to hotel rooms has had dramatically positive impacts on their clients.

    The Fulcrum reports that the looming eviction crisis could create significant barriers to voting in the November election. Like most forms of disenfranchisement, the mass eviction crisis is expected to impact minority communities the most.

    The World Economic Forum examines eviction protections implemented around the world in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The article highlights research from NLIHC, Princeton University’s Eviction Lab, and the Aspen Institute.

    The Washington Post reports that residential segregation plays a significant role in coronavirus disparities. According to a new study, counties with the highest percentage of white residents have had the lowest rates of coronavirus infections. Residential segregation, structural racism, and social determinants of health were noted as key factors driving higher rates of coronavirus diagnoses among communities of color.

    HuffPost examines how the pandemic-triggered eviction crisis could compound voter suppression in November’s presidential election. People who have recently been evicted likely will face complicated hurdles in order to vote.

    Pop Culture reports on President Trump’s executive order on evictions, citing NLIHC’s statement on how the executive order is an “empty shell of a promise.”

    NPR’s "On Point" podcast discusses the looming eviction crisis.

    Voice of America reports on the millions of U.S. renters at risk of eviction by the end of the year. Housing advocates are calling on Congress to provide immediate relief and implement long-term policy initiatives to address the country’s affordable housing crisis.

    An article in Beyond Chron examines how mass evictions could impact the presidential election this November by causing millions of displaced tenants to lose their voting rights.

    Realtor.com outlines steps renters can take to fight an eviction during the coronavirus pandemic.

    Vox shares the stories of three renters, in vastly different situations, who have been adversely impacted by their landlords’ actions.

    August 25, 2020.

    In an interview on MSNBC , NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel stated, “If there is not a significant and sustained federal intervention, there will be a tremendous increase in evictions across our country. We estimate that anywhere between 30-40 million renters are at risk of losing their homes before the end of the year if Congress does not act.” Watch the full interview: https://bit.ly/30GZayH  

     “Evictions risk lives. They drive families deeper into poverty. They risk further burdening our already overstretched hospital systems,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel in a CNN video on COVID-19 and the looming eviction crisis. “They make it more difficult than ever for us to truly contain the pandemic as a country.”

    Politico reports on the shortcomings of President Trump’s executive order extending the eviction moratorium. “Layering a patchwork of state and local eviction moratoriums on top of the limited federal moratorium gave some level of protection to most renters, but these protections are expiring rapidly,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel. “Today, renters in 30 states – including many with surging coronavirus cases – lack any federal or statewide protections against eviction.”

    NPR Morning Edition reports on how Trump's executive order on housing neither bans evictions outright nor provides rental assistance – actions that need to be approved by Congress. Housing activists say it will do little to stop the tidal wave of evictions that's coming. "There's tremendous urgency," adds Diane Yentel. "There are millions of renters who can't sleep at night because they don't know what they're going to do if they become homeless."

    The Guardian reports on the wave of evictions that is sweeping across the United States after federal protections expired at the end of July. The article discusses housing advocates’ critiques of President Trump’s executive order and concerns about the looming eviction crisis and rise in homelessness.

    NBC News reports that landlords could exploit tenants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to fast-track evictions, upgrade newly vacant units, and offer them at a premium price. 

    ABC News shares the stories of families struggling to stay afloat without federal relief aid. As lawmakers are still locked in a stalemate over a coronavirus relief package, the U.S. faces the most severe housing crisis it has ever seen.

    Marketplace examines how missed rental payments could impact the affordable housing supply. Research indicates that tenants in Class C properties, which tend to be older and serve low- to moderate-income tenants, are struggling to pay the rent at much higher rates than tenants in higher-end properties.

    Vice reports on the potential for Great Depression levels of homelessness by year's end. “Without a significant and sustained federal intervention, America will experience an increase in homelessness the likes of which we haven’t seen since the Great Depression,” said Diane Yentel.

    Bloomberg CityLab reports that President Trump’s executive order does not require any concrete action to prevent a coronavirus housing crisis. “The President alluded to ‘stopping evictions,’ but the executive order fails to provide any meaningful relief to the millions of renters who are at risk of losing their homes,” said NLIHC’s Diane Yentel in her statement about the executive order.

    CNBC explains that President Trump’s executive order does not extend the eviction moratorium or offer immediate assistance to help prevent evictions. The article cites Diane Yentel’s statement on the executive order. 

    Shelterforce republished Diane Yentel’s statement on President Trump’s executive order.

    The New York Times reports how President Trump’s attempts to circumvent Congress to provide coronavirus relief has resulted in confusion and uncertainty.

     A New York Times opinion piece explores the impact of the affordable housing crisis on the millions of families who will lose their apartments.

    The New York Times reports how President Trump’s attempts to circumvent Congress to provide coronavirus relief has resulted in confusion and uncertainty.

     A New York Times opinion piece explores the impact of the affordable housing crisis on the millions of families who will lose their apartments.

    Politico reports on housing advocates’ concerns that President Trump’s executive order may be worse than inaction by reducing the urgency to reach a deal with Congress and giving renters a false sense of security. The article cites NLIHC’s Diane Yentel’s statement on the executive order and Representative Maxine Waters’ (D-CA) statements during NLIHC’s national call on August 10.

    CNN discusses a report released by NLIHC and nine other institutions and organizations. The report found that without significant federal intervention, 30-40 million people in the U.S. are at risk of eviction by the end of the year.

    Newsweek reports on how the President’s new eviction executive order may not help the up to 40 million people in the United States could be at risk of eviction in the next few months. The risk is highest in California, where more than 4 million people face losing their homes, followed by New York, Texas, Florida, Ohio and Illinois. The article cites NLIHC’s statement on President Trump’s eviction order.

    Politico reports that federal housing aid during the pandemic disproportionately benefits white households over minorities, with Black households most at risk of eviction.

    The Guardian explains why President Trump’s executive order will do little to help 

    homeowners and renters, citing NLIHC’s statement on why the order is an “empty shell of promise.”

    Bloomberg examines how the coronavirus pandemic has exposed disparities in America’s rental housing that will likely grow wider. While landlords of more expensive apartments have collected most of their rent payments during the pandemic, owners of older, more affordable units have not, threatening our country’s affordable housing supply.

    Fast Company reports that while President Trump claimed that he would protect people from evictions, his executive order fails to protect renters. The order does not even extend the limited federal eviction moratorium included in the CARES Act.

    A report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) found that the COVID-19 pandemic is leading to more precarious housing situations, particularly for Black and Hispanic renters. Learn about the main findings of the forthcoming CEPR report here.

    August 19, 2020.

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel, Peter Hepburn of Eviction Lab, and Sam Gilman of the COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project spoke about the unprecedented wave of evictions that will occur in the coming months. “It’s very clear that if the federal government doesn’t intervene – and do it soon – we will have a tremendous wave of evictions and a spike in homelessness across the country,” said Diane Yentel. Watch the Washington Post video here.

    The Washington Post reports that experts and renters are bracing for an unprecedented eviction crisis in the coming months as discussions about the next coronavirus relief package have stalled. “In many ways, the [eviction] wave has already begun in places where eviction moratoriums have lifted,” said Diane Yentel.

    The Washington Post reports that President Trump has repeatedly promised over the last week to take executive action to enact a federal eviction moratorium. It is unclear whether President Trump would reinstate the CARES Act moratorium, which only covered about one-third of renters, or enact a broader moratorium. “The answer to the challenge of a complicated patchwork [of eviction bans] is a single uniform federal moratorium,” said Diane Yentel. “An eviction moratorium must be paired with at least $100 billion in rental assistance.”

    The Nation interviewed Diane Yentel, president and CEO of NLIHC, and Emily Benfer, co-creator of the Princeton Eviction Lab’s COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard, to discuss the unprecedented wave of evictions that our country will experience if Congress does not intervene. 

    The Washington Journal interviewed Diane Yentel, president and CEO On NLIHC, to discusses coronavirus' effect on renters now that the federal moratorium on evictions has expired.

    USA Today reports that Black and Latino households make up a disproportionate share of people in America who reported having little to no chance of being able to pay August’s rent. “Our housing system reflects tremendous disparities in race. And people of color are most at risk for evictions,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. “These inequities are being compounded by COVID-19.”

    The Washington Post published an OpEd on the affordable housing crisis by Senator Elizabeth Warren and Carrol Fife, director of the Oakland office of the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment. The OpEd makes the case that Congress immediately pass strong federal legislation to guard against the coming wave of evictions and foreclosures, including emergency rental assistance. Longer term solutions include passage of the American Housing and Economic Mobility Act, which would invest $445B in the national Housing Trust Fund over ten years. 

    KCUR, Kansas City Public Radio, highlights the impact of evictions on children. “Even before the pandemic we had an affordability crisis,” said Mike Koprowski, national campaign director for the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “We think there’s going to be a wave of evictions if Congress doesn’t act on another relief package. It’s going to further disrupt kids whose lives and learning processes have already been upended by school closures.”

    A new analysis by Politico found that federal housing aid during the coronavirus pandemic disproportionately benefits white households over minorities, with Black households most at risk. The federal assistance favors homeowners over renters, and because white households are more likely to own homes — a long-standing trend with roots in racist housing policy — they have more access to aid. Black households are more likely to rent than any other group, so they will be hardest hit with evictions likely to proceed in states without moratoriums, including Texas and Georgia.

    The Washington Post Power Up discusses housing advocates’ concerns about the eviction cliff and updates from Capitol Hill about the next coronavirus relief package. Congress is negotiating a deal on eviction protections and President Trump has threatened to take unilateral action if a deal is not finalized.

    The Associated Press reports on experts’ concerns that many states are bracing for a wave of evictions as moratoriums expire. Along with exacerbating an existing affordable housing crisis, the spike in eviction filings is raising concerns that housing courts could spread the coronavirus.

    An op-ed in the Hill makes the case that there has never been a more opportune moment to make a permanent and equitable investment in housing for people experiencing homelessness. 

    Yahoo reports that, without federal intervention, up to 40 million Americans may face eviction in the next several months, and the crisis will disproportionately impact communities of color, especially women. The article provides an overview of solutions that the U.S. can take to prevent the looming eviction crisis.

    An article in Health Affairs examines the connection between evictions, COVID-19, and health equity. The authors discuss several policy solutions to stem the tide of evictions and explore the critical role that the health care sector plays in advocating for eviction prevention measures and sustainable affordable housing solutions.

    The Markup reports on the harmful long-term impacts that COVID-19-related eviction filings will have on tenants. Regardless of whether eviction filings end up in a payment plan or an eviction, any filing or debt to a past landlord can stain a renter’s record and limit their housing options for years.

    Emily Benfer, Wake Forest law professor and co-creator of the Princeton Eviction Lab’s COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard, discussed COVID-19 and the looming eviction crisis on the Johns Hopkins Public Health on Call podcast.

    CNN’s Alexandra Field reports on the many challenges facing people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic and the dire predictions that millions of people could become homeless as a result of COVID-19 and its economic fallout.

    CNN outlines what renters can do if they are unable to pay August rent, linking to NLIHC’s rental assistance program list.

    Bloomberg reports on the pandemic’s impact on affordable housing production and the urgent need for Congress to enact emergency housing assistance. “We have this immediate need for $100 billion in rental assistance just to keep people housed now. And that doesn’t address the need for permanent affordable housing,” said NLIHC Vice President of Research Andrew Aurand. “Even in the face of this pandemic, all evidence points to the fact that the Republican proposal may not have any money for housing or a pittance,” said NLIHC Vice President of Public Policy Sarah Saadian. “If this moment doesn’t motivate you to support housing, what will?”

    The New York Times examines how overcrowding, not density, has defined many coronavirus hot spots. Evictions are already ramping back up, and many people who are evicted may be forced into overcrowded living situations - compounding the conditions that increase the spread of the coronavirus.

    The Washington Post reports that in recent weeks, Latinos and Native Americans have made up an increasing share of COVID-19 deaths. In hot-spot states and in states where the total number of deaths has decreased, Latinos make up an increasing share of those deaths. Overcrowded housing, exposure to air pollution, and jobs in the meatpacking industry place Latinos at particularly high risk for coronavirus infection and death.

    Invisible People posted an article outlining the urgent need for Congress to enact $100 billion in emergency rental assistance. The article discusses NLIHC’s rental assistance database and the “Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act.”

    Matthew Desmond, Pulitzer Prize winning author and principal investigator at Princeton University’s Eviction Lab, spoke with Democracy about the looming eviction crisis.

    In an MSNBC interview, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) expressed confidence that there will be an agreement on the next relief package. Speaker Pelosi also said that while President Trump might be able to extend the eviction moratorium through an executive action, it would be of limited use without money for rental assistance attached. Speaker Pelosi told CNBC that she hopes President Trump takes steps to extend the eviction moratorium, but noted that a moratorium on its own is insufficient.

    “Upon departing the Oval Office for Ohio, I’ve notified my staff to continue working on an Executive Order with respect to Payroll Tax Cut, Eviction Protections, Unemployment Extensions, and Student Loan Repayment Options," President Trump wrote on Twitter.

    Pew Trusts Stateline discusses housing advocates’ concerns about the looming eviction crisis. “Eviction moratoriums, on their own, aren’t enough,” said Diane Yentel. “They must be paired with substantial and sustained rental assistance.”

    The Associated Press reports that White House chief of staff Mark Meadows threatened that President Trump is exploring options to use executive authority to extend a partial eviction moratorium and address unemployment benefits.

    According to the Washington Post, the Trump administration has asked federal agencies to identify the CARES Act funds that they have not yet spent. White House officials are trying to determine whether these dollars could be redirected and used for other purposes, like the eviction moratorium or temporary unemployment benefits. 

    Axios Re:Cap spoke with Alieza Durana of the Eviction Lab at Princeton University about the looming eviction crisis.

    The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has already set records for being so active. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that this will be an “extremely active” hurricane season.

    August 11, 2020.

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel discussed the urgent need for emergency rental assistance and a national, uniform eviction moratorium on ABC7 News. Watch a clip here.

    Politico reports on how cities across the country are bracing for a surge of evictions as the federal eviction moratorium expired on July 24 at midnight. “If the federal ban is not extended, if the state and local eviction moratoriums that are scheduled to expire in the coming weeks do, and if no emergency rental assistance is provided, then from the end of August through fall, millions of Americans will be evicted from their homes,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    Marketplace examines the long-term, harmful outcomes of eviction filings. “There’s this spiraling down into poverty that can happen from just one eviction filing,” said Diane Yentel.

    Diane Yentel spoke with  CBS News about the expected wave of evictions in the coming months. About 13 million people could face eviction as a result of the expiration of the federal eviction moratorium. 

    CNBC reports on the Senate Republican proposal for the next relief package, noting that it does not include an extension of the federal eviction moratorium or adequate housing relief. The article cited Diane Yentel’s statement about the proposal: “This funding is a drop in an ocean of need among unsubsidized renters and people experiencing homelessness.”

    HuffPost calls attention to the millions of people in America who will be unable to pay rent this Saturday, August 1. If Congress does not intervene, millions of Americans will be evicted in the coming months. “The looming eviction crisis is both completely predictable and entirely preventable,” said Diane Yentel.

    “We’re going to work on the eviction, so that people don’t get evicted...We ought to stop evictions because that expires very soon,” said President Trump, according to Jeff Stein with the Washington Post. The federal eviction moratorium expired last Friday, July 24. Then, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on July 26 unexpectedly told CNN’s Jake Tapper that the Trump administration will extend the federal eviction moratorium that expired on July 24. Time also reported on Kudlow’s announcement that the administration would extend the moratorium. 

    CNBC posted an article outlining what people can do if they are facing eviction now that the federal eviction moratorium has expired.

    The Washington Post reports that President Trump called for an extension of the eviction moratorium, despite the Senate Republicans excluding it from their proposal.

    Reuters reports that U.S. renters owe $21.5 billion in back rent. Making matters worse, the federal eviction moratorium expired on July 24, and the supplemental unemployment benefits expire on July 31. Senate Republicans proposed a plan on July 27 that did not mention housing, evictions, or reinstating the eviction moratorium.

    CNBC reports that 40 million Americans may be evicted as a result of the pandemic - four times the amount seen during the Great Recession. Despite record high unemployment levels and growing coronavirus cases, the federal eviction moratorium expired and statewide eviction moratoriums in more than 30 states have lifted.

    The New York Times editorial board writes about Senate Republicans’ failure to intervene and protect millions of Americans from losing critical federal aid. Almost 40 million people in America do not expect to be able to pay their next rent or mortgage payment, and nearly 30 million people reported that they did not have enough to eat during the week ending July 21.

    An article in the Conversation examines why our country’s landlord-leaning eviction court process will exacerbate the impending COVID-19 eviction crisis.

    An opinion piece in the Washington Post examines the adverse impacts that eviction has on children’s educational outcomes, cognitive development, and health. The author makes the case that if we are concerned about keeping students safe and educational equity, we must prioritize eviction prevention.

    CNBC reports on how the impending eviction crisis will harm some states more than others and highlighted that Black and Latino tenants are especially at risk of eviction. 

    The coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating inequities across the country, especially in housing. According to the Washington Post, the affluent are taking advantage of the least expensive mortgage rates in history to buy bigger homes, while renters are facing significant job losses and growing threats of eviction.

    Forbes reports that after the federal eviction moratorium expired on July 24, mass evictions are set to begin, and communities of color will be most impacted. Senate Republicans are expected to unveil their proposal for the next COVID-19 relief package, and if eviction and housing protections are not included, a surge of evictions and rise in homelessness will shatter communities across the country.

    An op-ed in the Hill makes a case for why the Senate and the president must immediately enact the rental assistance and nationwide eviction moratorium included in the House-passed HEROES Act.

    24/7 Wall St. used U.S. Census Survey data to track which areas in the country are most struggling to pay rent or mortgage during the coronavirus pandemic. The analysis found that in some parts of the country, less than 15% of adults are missing, or will likely soon miss, a rent or mortgage payment. In other parts of the country, more than one-third of adults cannot afford their housing payments.

    USA Today discusses 24/7 Wall St.’s report on which states have the largest share of the population struggling to pay rent or mortgage, and highlighted the finding that many of the states where the largest portions of adults cannot afford to make housing payments are also some of the poorest states.

    CBS News reports on the millions of Americans that are facing homelessness after the federal eviction moratorium expired on July 24 at midnight.

    August 4, 2020.

    Reuters reported on the dangers of evicting people during a pandemic. As the number of evictions increases in areas where the coronavirus is rising, displaced families are doubling up with relatives or moving into shelters. “In these cases where social distancing is difficult or impossible, the likelihood of them contracting and spreading coronavirus increases exponentially,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    Illegal evictions have been reported across the country, and if Congress extends the federal eviction moratorium in another relief bill, advocates are urging Congress to include penalties for landlords who attempt to skirt the rules. “There should also be clearly delineated enforcement mechanisms and steep penalties for landlords who flout the law,” Diane Yentel told the New York Times.

    NPR’s “Morning Edition” reported on advocates’ concerns that without federal intervention, the wave of evictions already happening across the country will become a tsunami. Like so many other parts of this crisis, people of color will be disproportionately harmed. “It’s very clear that without a sustained federal intervention, there will be a wave of evictions and a spike in homelessness across the country,” said Diane Yentel.

    USA Today reported on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, which found that 24 million Americans reported having little to no chance of being able to pay next month’s rent. Black and Hispanic households represent a disproportionate share of those in danger. “Our housing system reflects tremendous disparities in race. And people of color are most at risk for evictions. These inequities are being compounded by COVID-19,” said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of NLIHC.

    Vice examined how mass evictions due to Congressional inaction could be significantly destabilizing for communities of color. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 56% of the nearly 24 million people who have little to no confidence in their ability to pay next month’s rent are Black or Latinx.

    ProPublica found that the federal eviction moratorium was largely successful in keeping millions of renters from facing eviction during the pandemic. As the protections fade, landlords are preparing to return to court. “The next three weeks are going to be critically important. There will be a bill at the end of it, one way or another, and the scope and extent of it will determine if a tsunami of evictions will happen,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. 

    In an article on the looming eviction crisis in the Los Angeles Times, NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel called attention to the need for Congress to provide broad rental assistance and other protections for tenants. While expanded unemployment insurance has been significant and helpful, it is insufficient to ensure housing stability for low-income renters.

    An article in Marketplace highlighted advocates’ warnings of a potential wave of evictions when the expanded unemployment insurance benefits and eviction moratoriums expire at the end of the month. The article highlights that the tsunami of evictions will disproportionately impact people of color. “People of color are most at risk of eviction. They are disproportionately rent burdened,” said Diane Yentel.

    NBC News reported on the significant challenges facing low-income renters as the expanded unemployment benefits and federal eviction moratoriums expire at the end of July. Without significant federal intervention, our country will experience an avalanche of evictions. The people disproportionately impacted by evictions – including people of color, seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children – are those most vulnerable to the pandemic.

    An analysis from the Center for Public Integrity analyzed 8,089 eviction cases filed between March 27 and July 10 and found a clear pattern: landlords are filing eviction cases in poor, non-white neighborhoods across the jurisdictions it examined. “It’s deeply troubling. We’ve known for some time that there is a tremendous risk of extremely low-income renters being harmed by this crisis and being evicted, and we’ve known that such evictions would have a disproportionate impact on Black and brown and extremely low-income and historically marginalized people,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. 

    The Hill discussed the wave of evictions that may come as the federal eviction moratorium expires July 24 at midnight. The article highlighted a series of bills, encompassing measures from the House-passed HEROES Act, that Senate Democrats are pushing to protect low-income renters.

    The New York Times editorial board outlined the urgent need for Congress to take immediate steps to protect low-income renters and, in the coming months, to take action that will ensure every American has access to affordable housing.

    MSNBC’s Ali Velshi explained the looming eviction crisis and why millions of Americans could be forced out of their home if Congress doesn’t intervene now.

    The Lily examined the disproportionate impact evictions have on Black women, and how the pandemic is expected to exacerbate this disparity. 

    Marketplace reported that across the country, rental assistance programs have been quickly overwhelmed by need. 

    CNBC reported on the expiration of the federal eviction moratorium, the need for Congress to act swiftly, and what tenants can to do if they are worried about eviction.

    The Washington Post discussed housing advocates’ calls for Congress to intervene to prevent a significant rise in evictions. The article highlighted the House-passed emergency rental assistance bill.

    Matt Desmond of Princeton University’s Eviction Lab spoke with NPR’s “Morning Edition,” calling attention to the millions of Americans who are facing the threat of eviction as the federal eviction moratorium is set to expire July 24.

    Shelterforce spoke with advocates, researchers, lawyers, and other experts to discuss how an eviction crisis would impact evicted individuals and their families, shelter systems, public health, and the rental housing market.

    The COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project estimates that between 19 million and 23 million renter households are at risk of eviction by September 30, 2020. The data indicate that both geography and discrimination play significant roles.

    An op-ed in the Hill made the case that dramatic federal intervention is needed to ensure that the public health crisis is not exacerbated by an eviction crisis. Failing to act will exacerbate the public health crisis and the racial justice crisis in housing.

    The Appeal examined how our country’s flawed legal system will exacerbate the impending evictions cliff. COVID-19 is placing Black and Latinx people at a disproportionately higher risk of eviction, fueling our existing housing crisis.

    The Los Angeles Times examined how the coronavirus pandemic is worsening Black Americans’ housing crisis. Across the United States, Black people faced the greatest housing insecurity before COVID-19, and now, along with Latino workers, they face the greatest job losses.

    July 28, 2020.

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel joined Vox’s “Today, Explained” podcast to discuss the current situation for low-income renters in the United States, the urgency of enacting emergency housing provisions to keep families stably housed during the pandemic, and the long-term investments needed to end our country’s affordable housing crisis.

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel and Executive Director of the New York Housing Conference Rachel Fee coauthored an op-ed in the New York Daily News, urging Congress to take immediate action to protect renters impacted by the current health and economic crisis.

    HuffPost wrote an article highlighting findings from NLIHC’s Out of Reach 2020 report. “What the report shows us is just how steep of an affordable challenge low-income renters had even before the coronavirus. And it highlights the tremendous challenges that these same low-income renters face now during the coronavirus and its financial fallout,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    NBC reported on the impending tsunami of evictions that would exacerbate already high homeless rates across the country. “Before the coronavirus even came to our country, we were in a housing crisis and had a shortage of seven million homes available to low-income renters. The longer the crisis, the deeper in the hole they fall,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    CNBC reported on NLIHC’s Out of Reach 2020 report findings, discussing the relevance of its findings in terms of the coronavirus pandemic and economic fallout. The article highlights NLIHC’s policy priorities, including significant investments in affordable housing and emergency rental assistance.

    Law360 reports on the wave of evictions that is already happening across the country as federal coronavirus relief resources and protections expire. “In fact, the wave has already begun - evictions are happening now, and they’re happening in states where new coronavirus cases are surging,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    Yahoo! News reported on housing experts’ concerns that millions of Americans will lose their homes amid the pandemic in the coming months if Congress fails to act. “Congress must step up now to provide relief to keep renters and homeowners in their homes and make sure that we don’t emerge from this crisis with greater racial and economic disparities than we had before,” said Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH).

    The Wall Street Journal discussed the looming eviction crisis as the federal eviction moratorium and supplemental unemployment benefits expire at the end of July. House Democrats voted in May to expand the eviction moratorium, provide $100 billion in rental assistance, and other critical resources. The article stated that Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, declined to comment on any Republican plan to ensure families are stably housed during and after the pandemic.

    An op-ed in Bloomberg outlined the urgent need for a widespread, longer-lasting eviction moratorium and emergency rental assistance. The author argued that the impending wave of evictions would be both a humanitarian disaster and an economic crisis.

    An article in Popular Science examined why a potential wave of mass evictions would compound this year’s turbulent hurricane season. Communities across the country could soon face the dangerous confluence of COVID-19, mass evictions, a dangerous hurricane season.

    Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) spoke about how the coronavirus pandemic and economic fallout will exacerbate our nation’s affordable housing crisis and how this will disproportionately harm Black and brown people on the Appeal’s “The Briefing” on July 14. Watch the episode here.

    Habitat for Humanity International on July 15 held a discussion on housing stability during the COVID-19 pandemic. The special guests included Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro. Watch the discussion here.

    Like the 2008 crisis, the United States is facing another wave of mass displacement due to the coronavirus pandemic, and there is still no federal database to track evictions and foreclosures. Without a federal system to track foreclosures and evictions, we will never know the full scope of the pandemic’s impact on the housing crisis.

    July 20, 2020.

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel wrote an op-ed in Barron’s discussing the impending eviction crisis and the disproportionate impact it will have on people of color. The piece urges that immediate federal action, including a uniform national eviction moratorium and at least $100 billion in emergency rental assistance, can prevent the imminent influx of evictions and their harmful outcomes. 

    Newsweek discussed the upcoming wave of evictions that could force people into homelessness and exacerbate the spread of COVID-19. “The confluence of increasing evictions in communities with surging coronavirus is deeply worrying and threatens tremendous harm to families and communities,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    CNBC reported on a potential surge in evictions and increase in homelessness as eviction moratoriums expire later this month. “State and local eviction moratoriums are expiring rapidly, and courts are beginning to address the backlog and new eviction cases. And they’re putting people out of their homes in the middle of a pandemic, and in places where COVID-19 is ranging out of control,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    The Washington Post examined why evictions are likely to skyrocket this summer and the disproportionate impact this will have on Black renters. Evictions are also starting to increase in areas where coronavirus infections have recently spiked. “That wave [of evictions] has already begun. We are trying to prevent it from becoming a tsunami,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    Yahoo! Money reported on the concerns of housing advocates and legal aid groups as cities suspend eviction moratoriums. “We’re seeing now a really frankly horrifying confluence of increasing evictions in states where new coronavirus cases are surging. We’re running out of time. The stakes couldn’t be higher right now, and every day of inaction is putting more low income people at risk of losing their homes,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. 

    Next City examined the urgent need for federal intervention to prevent a wave of evictions and an increase in homelessness. NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel discussed the states that have allowed their eviction moratoriums to expire and explained why Congress is “running out of time” to take action that will minimize the damage.

    Vox examined America’s looming housing catastrophe, highlighting that the pandemic didn’t create the housing crisis, but it has exposed what already existed. “Until we solve that underlying shortage of homes affordable and available to the lowest-income people, then we’re going to face the same crisis during the next pandemic or the next wave of this pandemic or the next natural disaster next year. Because this is a crisis on top of a multi-year, already existing affordable housing crisis,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    NBC News discussed housing advocates’ fears that the United States will experience a rise in homelessness as the federal eviction moratorium and patchwork of state moratoriums quickly expire. 

    The New York Times reported that immigrant and renter advocates across the country are being inundated with complaints about landlords using illegal tactics to pressure vulnerable tenants to pay rent or force them out of their homes.

    Politico created an interactive map using data from the Urban Institute about pre-pandemic rent cost burdens and how COVID-19 has impacted America’s rental crisis. 

    NPR interviewed Emily Benfer, co-creator of the Eviction Lab COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard and director of the Health Justice Advocacy Clinic at Columbia Law School, about what actions government officials must take to avoid a housing crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. 

    The New York Times reported on new federal data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that reveals that Black and Latino people have been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus across the country, throughout hundreds of counties in urban, suburban, and rural areas, and across all age groups. The data also shows pockets of disparity involving Native American people.

    CNBC spoke with Emily Benfer, co-creator of the Eviction Lab COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard and director of the Health Justice Advocacy Clinic at Columbia Law School, about the looming eviction crisis and the urgent actions the United States must take to prevent an estimated 20 million to 28 million people from being evicted.

    Dwell magazine examined how the expiration of state and local eviction moratoriums across the country may lead to a surge in evictions and foreclosures.

    An article in Forbes argues that the federal government has the financial resources to extend critical financial assistance and keep families stably housed. 

    CNBC Make It reports that almost one-third of households have not made their full housing payments for July yet, marking the fourth month in a row that a historically high number of households were unable to pay. According to a survey by Apartment List, approximately 19% of American households made no housing payment during the first week of the month, and 13% paid only a portion of their rent or mortgage. The results indicate that renters are especially vulnerable, with about 36% of renters missing their July housing bill, compared to 30% of homeowners. 

    July 13, 2020.

    As coronavirus housing protections expire, experts and advocates warn of an eviction tsunami. The surge of evictions has already begun in cities and states that have resumed evictions, and in some cases, these are locations that are also seeing sharp increases in coronavirus cases. “Without a significant federal intervention, there will be a wave of evictions and a spike in homelessness across the country. Our work now is to prevent it from becoming a tsunami and we’re running out of time,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    CNBC reported on a potential surge in evictions and increase in homelessness as eviction moratoriums expire later this month. “State and local eviction moratoriums are expiring rapidly and courts are beginning to address the backlog and new eviction cases. And they’re putting people out of their homes in the middle of a pandemic, and in places where COVID-19 is ranging out of control,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    The Washington Post examined why evictions are likely to skyrocket this summer and the disproportionate impact this will have on Black renters. Evictions are also starting to increase in areas where coronavirus infections have recently spiked. “That wave [of evictions] has already begun. We are trying to prevent it from becoming a tsunami,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    Buzzfeed News outlines steps that tenants can take if their landlord attempts to evict them during the crisis, citing advice from NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel and other housing experts.

    “We’re about to face this perfect storm for people of color in this country in a few weeks when we have a wave of evictions dealing with the pandemic and its effects that have already hit communities of color and low-income communities the hardest,” said former Housing and Urban Development Secretary and former presidential candidate Julian Castro in an interview in the Atlantic.

    Last Week with John Oliver addressed the looming eviction crisis on last night’s episode. Their team spoke with NLIHC and many other housing advocates and experts to develop the episode. Watch the clip here. Read an article about the episode in Deadline Hollywood.

    The Tennessean reported on the looming eviction crisis as eviction moratoriums expire. Tennessee was among the 24 states that allowed eviction proceedings to resume this month. On June 24, Bedford County residents planned a courthouse vigil for 62 renters who are now facing eviction. “We are very concerned about a wave of evictions and a spike in homelessness unless there’s some sort of federal intervention,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    NBC News discussed housing advocates’ fears that the United States will experience a rise in homelessness as the federal eviction moratorium and patchwork of state moratoriums quickly expire.

    The New York Times reported that immigrant and renter advocates across the country are being inundated with complaints about landlords using illegal tactics to pressure vulnerable tenants to pay rent or force them out of their homes.

    Politico created an interactive map using data from the Urban Institute about pre-pandemic rent cost burdens and how COVID-19 has impacted America’s rental crisis.

    NPR interviewed Emily Benfer, co-creator of the Eviction Lab COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard and director of the Health Justice Advocacy Clinic at Columbia Law School, about what actions government officials must take to avoid a housing crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

    Vox examines how the pandemic is exposing our country’s housing crisis and discusses legislation introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representatives Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-IL) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) that would enact a nationwide eviction moratorium. “Renters who have lost their job or had their income reduced shouldn’t have to fear losing their homes in the middle of a pandemic. Housing is a human right and an absolute necessity to keep families safe during this crisis, and Congress must step in now to help keep people in their homes,” said Senator Warren.

    Reuters examines how pandemic prison releases have contributed to a severe need for housing at a time when overstretched shelter systems are working to accommodate residents while maintaining social distancing guidelines.

    Axios discusses the legislation Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced on June 29, which would extend and expand a nationwide eviction moratorium.

    The Boston Globe reported on Senator Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) bill that would extend and expand the nationwide eviction moratorium. “This economic crisis is also a housing crisis. We need some short-term, emergency solutions to make sure families can stay in their homes,” said Senator Warren on NLIHC’s national call on coronavirus, housing, and homelessness.

    The Hill reports on how millions of tenants are at risk of eviction in late July as the federal eviction moratorium and supplemental unemployment benefits expire this month. Despite Democrats’ efforts to immediately enact a coronavirus relief package, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has vowed not to move the House-passed HEROES Act.

    Lisa Rice, president and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance, spoke with Marketplace about the threat of mass evictions as moratoriums expire. Evictions may disproportionately impact Black and Latino households, who are twice as likely to be renters as white households.

    The Progressive discusses the looming surge of evictions as moratoriums expire across the county. By early July, thirty states are expected to begin eviction proceedings.

    Next City examines New York City’s effort to move people experiencing homelessness into hotels and discusses how advocates from seven different nonprofits are collaborating on the “Homeless Can’t Stay Home” campaign.

    Shelterforce spoke with six regional and state housing advocates, including NLIHC state partners and board members, about the connections among racial equity, housing, and the pandemic.

    July 7, 2020.

    National Journal examined advocates’ concerns that homelessness will surge across the country unless Congress takes immediate action. “What we’re seeing now is a crisis on top of a crisis. We had an affordable housing crisis in our country before COVID-19, and we will have it after COVID-19,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    “Now the federal protection on some evictions runs out in late July. And unemployment benefits are going to run out. What we have to do about it is, number one, pass the HEROES Act, which has $100 billion in direct rental assistance,” said former Housing and Urban Development Secretary and former presidential candidate Julián Castro in an interview with Politico.

    NPR reported that at least a dozen cities have ignored recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in recent months by continuing to sweep homeless encampments, risking further spread of the coronavirus.

    Shelterforce examined how housing advocates and tenant organizing groups are preparing for the surge of evictions as moratoriums start to lift and housing court processes resume.

    Bloomberg CityLab explores how the Franklin County Municipal Court has converted the empty Columbus Convention Center into a housing court. The housing court now occupies a space that is at least four times as large as its space in the courthouse. The Greater Columbus Convention Center can also accommodate housing and legal aid organizations.

    The New York Times examines the predicted surge of eviction cases in New York City as housing courts reopen. Housing advocates estimate that 50,000 to 60,000 cases could be filed in New York City’s housing courts in the coming days. 

    An op-ed in the Hill written by Samantha Batko and Mychal Cohen of the Urban Institute warns of a looming eviction crisis as eviction moratoriums and supplemental unemployment benefits come to an end. 

    Next City discussed the Eviction Lab’s new eviction tracking system.

    June 29, 2020.

    USA Today examines that although near-record unemployment rates and deep financial hardship persist, CARES Act relief funding is set to expire soon. “Back rent is coming due, and renters are no more able to pay it now than they were at the beginning of the crisis,” says NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    Emily Benfer, director of the Health Justice Advocacy Clinic at Columbia Law School, wrote an op-ed in NBC News about the wave of evictions that will sweep the country as the patchwork of temporary eviction moratoriums quickly expire. 

    NBC News reports that some landlords are using threats and harassment - “self-help” tactics - to force tenants out of their homes during the coronavirus pandemic. While there isn’t yet data on renters facing self-help evictions during COVID-19, according to National Fair Housing Alliance President and CEO Lisa Rice, people of color and single-women households are more likely to face these forms of abusive evictions when there isn’t a pandemic.

    The New York Times reported that nursing homes across the country are evicting vulnerable residents and directing them to homeless shelters, motels, and other unsafe facilities.

    The COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project estimates that 19-23 million, or one in five of the 110 million Americans who rent, are at risk of eviction by the end of September. Data indicates that geography and discrimination play significant roles in eviction rates.

    BBC News examined why advocates and experts are expecting an unprecedented crush of evictions in approaching, placing millions of Americans at risk of homelessness.

    Tenant advocates report that some landlords’ rent-collection practices across the Washington region during COVID-19 have crossed the line into bullying, with some landlords using more aggressive tactics. Advocates are concerned about a deluge of evictions once courts reopen.

    A new report found that the coronavirus has exacerbated food and housing insecurity among students in higher education, with nearly three in five college students experiencing some type of basic needs insecurity during the pandemic. The study also found significant racial disparities: while about half of white students experienced at least one kind of basic needs insecurity during COVID-19, 71% of Black students and 65% of Latino students.

    An article in the Washington Post examines how the coronavirus pandemic may further widen racial disparities in housing, highlighting a new Urban Institute report that analyzes how economic crises and sudden disasters increase racial disparities in homeownership.

    While the pandemic has prompted most states and federal officials to establish eviction moratoriums, some tenants who are unable to pay rent due to COVID-19 are experiencing harassment and threats of eviction. 

    NPR reported on zoom-eviction hearings, discussing that at a remote eviction hearing this week in Collin County, Texas, the court granted landlords the right to evict five people who did not or were unable to dial into the Zoom call.

    In a Letter to the Editor in the Boston Globe, the author urges that housing is an issue of racial and economic justice and calls attention to housing policies that stand in the way of racial equity. “If we truly believe that Black Lives Matter, we cannot ignore our fight for housing for all,” said Beyazmin Jimenez.

    June 22, 2020.

    Politico reported on the threat of evictions as the federal moratorium on evictions and supplemental unemployment benefits expire, discussing the disproportionate impact this will have on Black Americans. “Unless Congress intervenes soon, the coming tsunami of evictions and homelessness will disproportionately harm black and brown people,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    CNBC discusses experts’ concerns about a housing ‘apocalypse’ in the coming months. “Now more than ever, housing is health care. Ensuring housing stability for all is both a moral imperative and a public health necessity,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel in a statement to CNBC Make It.

    USA Today highlights advocates’ concerns that the United States will face a surge of evictions and a spike in homelessness if Congress does not intervene. “Even before COVID, we were in the middle of a severe housing crisis. We had eight million of our lowest-income renter households spending at least half of their income on rent. And when you have such limited income to begin with, you’re always one financial emergency away from not being able to pay the rent. COVID is that emergency,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    An article in Grow discusses how millions of people are struggling to pay rent due to loss of unemployment as a result of COVID-19. “People are really struggling. Even before the pandemic, we had a shortage of 7 million homes for low-income people,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    An article in Forbes discussing housing inequality and racism in the United States quoted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s comments during NLIHC’s national call on June 2. “Housing security is a matter of justice, as structural racism puts communities of color unfairly at risk of being rent burdened or homeless,” said Speaker Pelosi. The piece outlines a brief history of racial discrimination in U.S. housing policies.

    A piece in the Washington Post discusses the pandemic’s impact on a family of four who is living in their car after having to leave their home and running out of money for a motel room.

    The Wall Street Journal examines the impact of the coronavirus on large, multigenerational homes. The virus has spread more widely in areas with the most crowded households, not necessarily areas with the densest or largest populations. 

    Forbes reported on the Housing Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance virtual hearing on June 10, discussing how the hearing elevated the need for $100 billion in emergency rental assistance.

    While overall June rent payments are encouraging according to the National Multifamily Housing Council’s tracker, Real Page reports meaningful deterioration in the ability to afford rent among lower-income households. 

    Stateline examines how COVID-19 is forcing local governments to make challenging decisions about rental assistance, including how to prioritize funds given the overwhelming and unprecedented need for assistance that far exceeds the supply. The articles cite NLIHC’s research note on emergency rental assistance needs.

    An article in Vox highlights that although overall unemployment rates dropped in May, the unemployment rate for Black Americans increased slightly. The article also discusses how the same structural racism that enables police brutality against Black Americans is also responsible for the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on Black people’s health and economic well-being.

    CNN Business discusses the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black and Latino renters and homeowners. The pandemic is exacerbating longstanding racial disparities in health, jobs, and housing.

    A BuzzFeed News article discusses the economic catastrophe that will come in August as the federal eviction and foreclosure moratoriums and the supplemental unemployment insurance benefits expire at the end of July.

    The Wall Street Journal discusses a recent report from Coalition for the Homeless, an NLIHC state partner, that found that the coronavirus is disproportionately impacting people experiencing homelessness in New York City. Advocates are calling on New York City and state officials to better protect people experiencing homelessness.

    The Los Angeles Times examines the pandemic’s impact on farmworkers, many of whom are unable to practice social distancing at job sites and home due to overcrowded housing situations.

    An Op-Ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer argues that our country finds resources to house people experiencing homelessness only when they pose a public health threat, but homelessness is a public health crisis and should be addressed with the same urgency.

    An article in Nonprofit Quarterly examines the impending eviction crisis. “Small landlords and renters depend on each other, and both need emergency assistance to stay afloat during this time,” said NLIHC CEO and President Diane Yentel.

    NPR discusses how millions of Americans are struggling to pay their rent, mortgage, auto loans, and other critical bills. Federal relief has kept impending financial disasters at bay for now, but a tidal wave of evictions and defaults looms.

    The Washington Post posted an article answering frequently asked questions that renters and homeowners have about eviction and foreclosure moratoriums.

    An article in Forbes examines how the enhanced unemployment benefit of $600 per week is critical to helping people in lower-paying jobs afford their rental payments. The HEROES Act would extend the $600 per week supplement until next year and provide $100 billion in emergency rental assistance for low-income tenants.

    The Houston Chronicle reports that renters and mortgage holders are often unaware of federal aid packages.

    CNN reports that a surge of evictions looms as state eviction moratoriums expire. While some states are establishing rental assistance programs, significant federal rental assistance is needed to prevent a housing crisis for renters and property owners.

    An article in Foreign Policy examines whether hotels are the solution to the United States’ housing and homelessness crisis.

    Yahoo! News examines how the coronavirus pandemic highlights housing inequality faced by Black Americans. Black communities are disproportionately impacted by the virus itself and by the economic fallout, and job losses from COVID-19 risk exacerbating housing inequities.

    An article in the Nation discusses how cities across the county have established rental assistance programs using a mix of federal, state, and local funding, and in nearly every instance, the need for assistance has significantly overwhelmed the supply. The article discusses the $100 billion in emergency rental assistance included in the HEROES Act.

    A piece in Quartz discusses how COVID-19 has upended Florida’s long and slow recovery from the 2018 hurricane season. The article examines how Bay County’s recovery from Hurricane Michael demonstrates how natural disasters often leave low-income communities exposed to a range of compounding impacts.

    June 12, 2020.

    The New York Times reports that there are troubling signs that renters are increasingly struggling to come up with their rent payments, which creates significant challenges for both tenants and landlords. “Small landlords and renters depend on each other, and both need emergency assistance to stay afloat during this time,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    USA Today spoke with policy associates at the Urban Institute about the estimated 10 million people across the country who are entitled to federal stimulus checks but have not found a way to access the money. People in this hard-to-reach category do not make enough money to file a tax return and do not receive federal benefits, so the government has no contact information for them. 

    More than a dozen states have allowed eviction proceedings to resume, and by the beginning of June, more than half of states will have no tenant protections in place. Without an additional federal stimulus package that includes critical housing provisions, the United States will experience a sharp increase in housing instability and homelessness. 

    An article in CityLab examines how the expiration of state eviction moratoriums has revealed the limits of tenant protections at the local, state, and federal level. The moratoriums are expiring before federal interventions are in place, and without immediate action, the United States will be facing a housing crisis of unprecedented scope.

    The Hill explores why many tenants and housing advocates fear mass evictions in the coming weeks as moratoriums across the country expire. Landlords in most states have still been able to file eviction notices, which means that some tenants may be forced to leave their homes as soon as their state’s eviction order expires.

    An article in Vox discusses the urgent need for the United States to properly plan for the threat of hurricanes combined with COVID-19. This year’s hurricane season is predicted to be more active than usual and given indications that the pandemic will continue into the hurricane season, which starts on June 1, the United States needs to prepare now. The article calls attention to issues of equity, urging the need for response organizations to support the lowest-income and most marginalized communities that have greater needs and fewer resources.

    Next City examines the looming eviction crisis, concerns about New York affordable housing projects, and San Antonio’s COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

    Zego, a credit card payment processor, reported a 31% increase month-over-month in credit card rent payments from March to April and an additional 20% increase from April to May. A shortage of cash as a result of the pandemic may have forced tenants to rely on credit cards to pay their rent two months in a row.

    The New York Times discusses how the economic fallout as a result of COVID-19 will be particularly devastating for renters, who are more likely to have lower incomes and work hourly jobs that were cut during the pandemic. The United States is facing a surge of evictions as eviction moratoriums and federal relief payments expire.

    A Health Affairs article outlines the steps that the government must take to stop the spread of the coronavirus and establish a safe and accessible network of short-term housing options for people experiencing homelessness. The authors discuss the role of housing and overcrowding in driving the pandemic globally. 

    A piece in the New York Times Magazine examines the pandemic’s devastating impact on Black Americans, particularly families who were already stretched to the limit.

    An op-ed in the Miami Herald examines the devastating impact of the coronavirus on people experiencing homelessness and contends that criminalizing homelessness violates fundamental human rights, is ineffective, and has dire public health consequences. The authors urge that we must provide immediate housing in hotels for people experiencing homelessness in the short-term and use state and federal stimulus funding to close the housing gap.

    According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, more than 1 million New England households are at risk of missing their rent or mortgage payment due to coronavirus-related job loss.  

    CNN Business examined how San Francisco’s sanctioned encampments, or “Safe Sleeping Sites,” have sparked debates among residents and lawmakers. Many San Francisco residents have submitted letters of opposition, and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) wrote a letter to the Board of Supervisors arguing that there are other suitable housing alternatives.

    Vox outlined seven proposals that Congress should consider for the next stimulus package to help people navigate the economic fallout from the pandemic, including mortgage and rent assistance. The article discusses the “Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act” and the “Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act.”

    CNN Business examined how COVID-19 has made the United States’ existing housing crisis worse. The affordable housing crisis existed before the pandemic, but COVID-19 has drawn attention to housing instability and homelessness.
    While a National Multifamily Housing Council report last week found that just 12% of tenants at the 11.4 million market-rate properties it tracks did not make their rent payment, a survey by landlord trade group Community Housing Improvement Program found that about 25% of New York City apartment tenants did not pay their May rent. 

    An article in the Guardian examined how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. COVID-19, and San Francisco’s homeless policies during the pandemic, have created a perfect storm within the Tenderloin’s 35 blocks.

    City Lab explores the lessons that the coronavirus pandemic can teach us about homelessness solutions. Solutions that were once deemed implausible are being enacted to expand capacity and provide safe shelter for people experiencing homelessness. Analyzing which of these temporary solutions have been effective will allow us to work toward permanent solutions to homelessness.

    A Health Affairs blog discussed the need to protect people living in temporary living facilities, such as motels and sober living homes, who often face unstable incomes and limited housing protections. 

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel and Utah Housing Coalition Executive Director Tara Rollins penned an op-ed in the Deseret News urging Congress to take bold action to protect renters by including emergency rental assistance in the next coronavirus relief package. 

    An article in Mother Jones examined whether COVID-19 will compel San Francisco to confront the issue of homelessness. When asked if the coronavirus could, at last, force a reckoning with homelessness, NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel responded that “if this moment doesn’t, I’m not sure what would.”

    Shelterforce examined the need for emergency rental assistance, citing NLIHC Vice President of Public Policy Sarah Saadian and including data from NLIHC’s research note. The article also provided an overview of the “Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act.”

    A New York Times opinion piece explored the notion that our housing crisis is a symptom of our country’s wealth and indifference. Congress could choose to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring. Our country has the resources to address the cause of homelessness: the shortage of affordable housing. 

    Community Solutions explored a recent analysis conducted by Dr. Brendan O’Flaherty, an economics professor at Columbia University, which projects an increase in homelessness by 40-45% this year over January 2019. The analysis demonstrates the devastating impact that the pandemic will have on rates of homelessness. CNN also discussed the analysis.

    In a New York Times op-ed, Carol Galante, the faculty director of the Terner Center for Housing Innovation, discussed how restrictive zoning blocks less-affluent families from opportunities that cities like Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, and New York offer.


    An article in the Washington Post explores why the $100 billion for rental assistance that House Democrats included in their $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill might not be enough to address the country’s rental crisis.


    A piece in the New Yorker examines how inaction by local and federal officials could result in a surge of evictions and foreclosures, triggering a new wave of infection and illness. The inadequate federal response does not mean that the federal government is unable to take action. 


    Bloomberg Businessweek published a piece examining how both renters and property owners will suffer without a national rental market bailout. Across the country, landlords and tenants are struggling to cover next month’s rent, and an approaching wave of evictions threatens them both.


    A Kaiser Health News analysis found that inadequate housing in the United States puts people at risk during the pandemic. Public health experts are concerned that people living in substandard housing will continue to suffer as the coronavirus and its accompanying economic crisis continue. 


    Nan Roman, president and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, discussed the need for Congress to include critical housing and homelessness resources in the next coronavirus relief package in an op-ed in The Hill. She urged Congress to include $11.5 billion for homeless assistance, $100 billion in emergency rental assistance, long-term rental vouchers for elderly and severely disabled people experiencing homelessness, and significant investments in the national Housing Trust Fund.


    Doctors Without Borders dispatched a team of doctors, nurses, logisticians, and water and sanitation experts to the Navajo Nation to help with the coronavirus crisis that is unfolding on the reservation. The high rates of infection and the fact that these communities suffer from chronic federal underfunding drove the decision to send a team to the Navajo Nation.


    The Washington Post published an FAQ on rent strikes during the pandemic.
    The Columbus Dispatch editorial board published a piece urging Congress to include emergency rental assistance in the next coronavirus relief package. Since eviction moratoriums are a short-term fix and rent deferment is not rent forgiveness, rental assistance is needed to keep tenants stably housed.


    The Washington Post examined how job losses due to COVID-19 have fallen unequally on Americans according to age, race, gender, and educational attainment. Undocumented immigrants are facing significant challenges, including tremendous job loss and lack of access to the federal safety net, including housing and food assistance.


    HuffPost reported that the Navajo Nation now has more known COVID-19 cases per capita than any state. At least 3,122 cases have been reported on Navajo Nation, which is the most populous American Indian reservation in the United States. Indigenous populations are particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus given their high rates of underlying conditions, poor housing conditions, and other significant risk factors.


    CityLab examined why data released by the National Multifamily Housing Council does not provide the entire story about housing stability in the United States. While the data revealed that four out of five renters were able to pay their May rent, this data excludes the tens of millions of renters who live in subsidized rentals or single-family homes. 


    Gretchen Sierra-Zorita, a founding member of the National Puerto Rican Agenda and member of the DHRC Puerto Rico Working Group, wrote an op-ed in The Hill urging the Senate to pass the Puerto Rico Earthquake Supplemental (H.R. 5687) or include it in the next coronavirus relief bill. The Earthquake Supplemental would provide $4.89 billion in emergency spending to fund a broad range of disaster recovery activities. Puerto Rico has been devastated by three consecutive disasters: Hurricane Maria, the 2020 earthquakes, and COVID-19.


    Politico discussed the need for the federal government to develop a long-term plan to keep renters stably housed after the eviction moratoriums expire. Ignoring the looming rental crisis will cost more money in the long run and keep millions of renters from safely sheltering in place.


    HuffPost examined how cities across the country have started to move people experiencing homelessness from shelters into larger spaces and hotels. The article cited NLIHC’s “Getting to Yes” document in its discussion of how states can request funds from FEMA to reimburse hotel rooms. 
    According to an article in Nature, researchers are discovering that coronavirus outbreaks in shelters are spreading below the radar. Researchers are collecting data on the prevalence of COVID-19 and modeling its spread under different group living situations, hoping that this will guide policies to protect people residing in congregate living settings like shelters.
    The Sightline Institute outlined six bills that Democrats have proposed to protect renters and workers in the next stimulus package, including the “Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act” and the “Emergency Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act.”
    The Baltimore Sun editorial board examined why federal solutions to the housing crisis exacerbated by the pandemic must include assistance for both tenants and landlords.
    An article in the Washington Post explored how the pandemic has demonstrated the need to treat housing as human right, not a commodity. Governments are responding by enacting measures like eviction moratoriums, rent caps, and assistance for people experiencing homelessness. These measures are steps in the right direction, but we need structural reforms to build a more just housing environment.
    A Human Rights Watch article discusses how the measures that some governments have taken to acquire housing for people experiencing homelessness demonstrate what political will, resources, and a focus on both individual worth and collective good can achieve. These steps pave the way for longer-term solutions to eradicating homelessness.
    The pandemic is revealing how easy it is to fall from the middle class and into poverty. For years, economists and advocates have warned that many Americans live paycheck to paycheck, and that even a slight downturn could devastate many lives.

    Forbes discussed the “The Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act” introduced by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and its companion bill in the House of Representatives, sponsored by Representatives Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Denny Heck (D-WA).
     
    E&E News examined the impact that a natural disaster would have on people experiencing homelessness amid the coronavirus pandemic. “An extreme weather event will affect [the homeless] in a much more impactful way than the population at large, and this year is going to be even worse with COVID-19,” said Eric Samuels, executive director of the Texas Homeless Network, an NLIHC state partner.
     
    Nonprofit affordable housing providers are committed to not evicting their tenants, but they are hoping that relief comes soon to help them and their tenants.

    NLIHC President and CEO was quoted in a Washington Post article emphasizing the need for emergency rental assistance to ensure that renters remain stably housed after the moratoriums are lifted.

    The Washington Post examined the traumatic experiences that people experiencing homelessness in New York City are facing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    Politico explored the pandemic’s potential impact on the racial wealth gap, highlighting racial disparities in homeownership. The article also discussed proposals from Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and House Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) to include billions of dollars in rental assistance in the next relief package.

    A group of Native American tribes is suing the Treasury Department for failing to distribute $8 billion in federal coronavirus relief that was allocated for tribes in the CARES Act. The Treasury Department missed its April 26 deadline to distribute the funds, which was 30 days after the CARES Act passed.

    Many landlords are bracing for a wave of non-payments due to the pandemic.

    Vox explored the impact of the coronavirus on rural America, discussing the uptick of outbreaks in certain areas and the factors that place rural communities at risk.

    In an ABC News report, NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel urged Congress to include an additional $100 billion in rental assistance in the next coronavirus relief package to prevent evictions and avert a significant spike in homelessness and displacement after the moratoria expire.

    The Washington Post used the Eviction Lab’s scorecard to examine state variations in eviction protections.

    Real Change News explored that while America’s affordable housing and homelessness crises have been present long before the coronavirus, the pandemic is highlighting the need for a national housing justice movement that addresses systemic racism.

    WBUR aired a segment exploring how many Americans continue to face housing insecurity despite eviction and foreclosure moratoria that some states have enacted.

    USA Today reported on the relationship between COVID-19 and social determinants of health, including poverty and homelessness. 

    The New York Daily News examined the new collaboration between New York City and the MTA to force people experiencing homelessness out of the subway system.

    Politico reported that while Republican lawmakers are reluctant to pass another coronavirus relief package, economists from a range of ideological backgrounds are urging Congress to keep spending money to protect the economy.

    An article in the Washington Post argued that some COVID-19 federal funding should be invested long-term in U.S. infrastructure, including affordable housing. The coronavirus pandemic has made it more evident that we need increased investment in affordable housing, which is a critical component of infrastructure.

    NPR reported on the hurdles that families experience homelessness face in home-schooling their children.

    Historian Jill Watts discussed how COVID-19 has exposed America’s affordable housing crisis and argues that the relief provided by New Deal housing programs is relevant to our current crisis.
     
    The economic impact payments could be a great help for some people experiencing homelessness; however, the one-time assistance of $1,200 will not be enough for people to obtain housing in most markets with high rates of homelessness.
     
     The National League of Cities made the case for why emergency rental assistance is necessary and explained how cities can fund it.
     
    An op-ed in Next City examined why COVID-19 homelessness responses must include hygiene and sanitation resources. Increasing access to public toilets, installing handwashing stations, and ensuring that shelters and service providers receive high priority for hand sanitizer and other sanitation supplies are essential to protecting people experiencing homelessness.
     
    Isabel Solange Munoz, an assistant professor of geography at the University of Tennessee, explored how COVID-19 is exacerbating the nation’s housing crisis and how it will lead to greater inequality. Read the Business Insider article.

    Former HUD Secretary and 2020 presidential candidate Julián Castro outlined his vision for the kinds of bold, systemic housing reforms needed to solve the housing affordability crisis and help prevent a housing catastrophe induced by COVID-19.
     
    Despite federal ban, landlords are still moving to evict people during the pandemic. Landlords in at least four states have violated the eviction ban passed by Congress last month, ProPublica’s review of records shows, moving to throw more than a hundred people out of their homes.
     
    Time Magazine also covers how renters are facing eviction despite moratoriums on evictions in more than 30 states and dozens of cities.
     
    Homeless shelters across the country are facing volunteer shortages and increased operating costs as they find ways to respond to the deadly coronavirus outbreak while continuing to take in residents. 

    VICE interviewed shelter workers across the country. Employees reported that they are understaffed, overworked, and lack the proper personal protective equipment. Staff members at shelters revealed that their workplaces were not adhering to CDC guidelines concerning social distancing space and protective gear.
     
    CityLab examines the difference between how the federal government and cities across the country are addressing homelessness during the pandemic. While cities like New York and California are moving shelter residents to hotels, the Federal COVID-19 Homelessness Workgroup has given guidance to faith-based shelters on how to resist evacuating homeless people to hotel rooms.

    The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will be providing $50 million in immediate short-term relief to multiple national and community organizations working to help households and communities being harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic. NLIHC’s Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition is exceptionally thankful to be among the recipients.

    “Even before COVID-19 came to this country we had a shortage of seven million homes affordable and available to the lowest income people...If we had a system in our country where we could catch people when they fell off of a financial cliff, we could better weather this disaster that we’re experiencing right now, but we don’t have that system.” said Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition in a recent news article by Fast Company. The article explores the critical link between health care and housing and the subsequent impact of COVID-19.  

    PBS New Hour explored how people experiencing homelessness face unique challenges in protecting themselves and their communities from the coronavirus outbreak. 

    There are unique challenges in protecting the South’s homeless population from COVID. The South is the nation's poorest region, with higher mortality rates and lower life expectancies than the rest of the country, and its residents are more likely to lack access to high-quality medical care — disparities that present an additional burden for the region's homeless. 

    VICE looks at FEMA’s response to Hurricane Harvey as an example of how the American disaster relief system is broken. Low-income disaster survivors in Southeast Texas were denied assistance at a much higher rate than those of higher incomes – leading to an inadequate and unequal recovery.  

    Early data from jurisdictions across the country found that the novel coronavirus appears to be affecting — and killing — black Americans at a disproportionately high rate compared to white Americans. A key factor: racial disparities in housing put black lives at much greater risk for contracting an illness.

    The New York Times reports that Rents Are Late, and ‘It’s Only Going to Get Worse’. As the economic shutdown pares tenants’ incomes, April payments have been reduced, deferred or withheld. Some landlords see their property at risk.
     
    The Washington Post published an article from Eviction Lab detailing their efforts to track how state and federal eviction laws are changing. They argue that temporary eviction bans will only create a massive wave of evictions when they are lifted.  

    In an op-ed in The Hill, Colonel Rob Maness (USAF, Ret.) – executive director of Military Veterans Advocacy – sounds the alarm that the COVID-19 crisis could undue the successes achieved in decreasing veterans homelessness in recent years.

    CNN is reporting that Pope Francis called out the world’s response to the coronavirus – saying that the homeless should be quarantined in hotels and not in parking lots – referencing a photo from Las Vegas where individuals experiencing homelessness were forced to sleep in a parking lot after the emergency closure of a shelter.  

    VOX reported on a recent study showing that black and Hispanic Americans are dying from COVID-19 at a disproportionate rate compared to white people – the reason is complicated, involving housing, economic inequality, and access to medical care.

    The Washington Post covered COVID-19’s impact on low income renters and what happens when a tenant is evicted during a pandemic. NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel was interviewed for the story.

    Mother Jones interviewed NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on individuals experiencing homelessness and the shelters that serve them.

    US News and World Report reported on last week’s DHRC conference call, detailing the challenges individuals experiencing homelessness and the housing insecure will experience during the pandemic.

    The AP released analysis showing that the vast majority of American renters would not be assisted by HUD’s decision to pause evictions and foreclosures for a 60-day period.

    Vox covered the threat to individuals experiencing homelessness posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The NYTimes covered the ongoing struggle to head off evictions due to the pandemic at the federal, state, and local level.

    An article from the Brookings Institute covered ways in which homeless populations and individuals living in substandard or unaffordable housing are uniquely susceptible to an epidemic.

    Popular Science released an article covering homelessness and vulnerability to COVID-19.

    Wired is reporting that many individuals experiencing homelessness are turning to web forums for best practices to avoid COVID-19 infection.

    Forbes covered the importance of housing the homeless in the age of COVID-19.

    Essence covered warnings from the nation’s African American Mayors calling for a targeted approach to boost and sustain Black communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Connecticut Mirror reported on the vulnerability that Transgender Individuals have to COVID-19. According to recent research, 30% of those served at drop-in shelters, by outreach teams, and other housing programs identify as LGBTQ. NBC News also covered the subject – featuring interviews with LGBTQ individuals experiencing homelessness.

  • Advocacy

    A new research brief from the National Alliance to End Homelessness’ Research Institute explores the progress and challenges faced by Continuums of Care and public housing authorities in putting Emergency Housing Vouchers to use, as well as the strategies being used to overcome setbacks. Their experiences could inform the efforts of other communities and help shape current and future policy. Read the report here.

    Updated on May 23, 2022

    The Terner Center for Housing Innovation released a report in December 2021, Addressing Homelessness Through Hotel Conversions, which presents the results of an analysis of 13 hotel/motel acquisition projects, with a focus on conversions aimed at providing housing for people experiencing homelessness.

    Updated on January 28, 2022

    The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) on December 14 released a policy brief, “Assisting Consumers with Rental Debt During COVID-19: Legal Aid and Non-profit Attorneys Share their Experiences,” which the group sent to the CFPB. Read NCLC’s press release that highlights policy recommendations concerning rental debt.

    The Eviction Lab on December 9 released a preliminary analysis of eviction filing trends after the CDC eviction moratorium ended on August 26. While eviction filings have not reached pre-pandemic levels, examining city-by-city numbers shows concerning trends in many parts of the country, particularly where renters have few legal protections.

    The Private Equity Stakeholder Project reports that despite billions of dollars in rental assistance provided by Congress, corporate landlords have continued to evict tenants in Georgia and Texas.

    Updated on December 13, 2021

    The National Housing Law Project (NHLP) surveyed 119 legal aid and civil rights attorneys in 41 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico to see how tenants have fared after the federal eviction moratorium ended on August 26, 2021. The survey found courts and landlords continue to evict families, despite legal protections and billions of dollars in aid to landlords. Read NHLP’s press release and the survey.

    The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) surveyed Continuums of Care, which are working with Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to distribute HUD’s Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV), to learn about how they are implementing EHVs. Read the brief here.

    Updated on December 13, 2021

    The Urban Institute finds that while awareness of federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) has increased dramatically, many landlords and tenants are unsure of whether they qualify for aid, and many are not applying. Additional outreach is urgently needed to address what ERA covers and who is eligible to apply.

    Updated on November 15, 2021

    The University of California at Berkeley’s Urban Displacement Project developed a Housing Precarity Risk Model that estimates which communities across 53 metropolitan areas with populations larger than one million people have the highest risk of post-pandemic eviction, displacement, and long-term poverty. The website includes an interactive map, highlights several key results, and outlines post-pandemic policy recommendations.

    Updated on November 8, 2021

    A perspective article in the New England Journal of Medicine discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted eviction as a public health crisis and exacerbated the problem. The authors argue that a national recognition of housing as a social determinant of health and fundamental need may catalyze the substantial, systemic changes necessary to ensure that everyone has a safe, stable, and affordable home.

    The Urban Institute, in collaboration with Avail, is tracking monthly rent payments in units owned by independent mom-and-pop landlords to see how the pandemic and ongoing recovery efforts have impacted renters and owners of these properties. Learn more here.

    Updated on October 25, 2021

    The National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD) released findings from a survey of community-based organizations working to protect low-income renters across the country from losing their homes. The survey findings demonstrate that many communities have not been protected by the CDC eviction moratorium. The survey also found that lack of outreach and in-language information, as well as a lack of cooperation from landlords, are significant barriers to accessing rental assistance programs.  

    Updated on October 05, 2021

    With limited state and local protections, the end of the CDC eviction moratorium puts millions of renters at risk of losing their homes. Analysis from the Urban Institute estimates roughly 2.1 million adult renters who believe they will be evicted in the next two months live in states or jurisdictions that do not offer some form of eviction moratorium.
    Updated on September 8, 2021

    The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) released a new step-by-step guide that provides instructions on how to find out whether your county is covered by the CDC eviction moratorium. The instructions describe what to do if a county falls below the “substantial” or “high” rate required for the order’s protection. 

    Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Treasury, as well as the acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), urging them to implement the Biden administration’s July 29 directive calling for the agencies “to extend their respective eviction moratoria through the end of September” and “to do everything in their power so that owners and operators of federally assisted and financed rental housing seek Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA)…before moving toward eviction.” Read the letter here. 

    Check out the National Alliance to End Homelessness’ blog series on how federal COVID-9 relief can be used strategically to end homelessness: 

    As discussed on NLIHC’s national HoUSed campaign call on 8/9, the National Alliance to End Homelessness has published a series of case studies on noteworthy hotels-to-housing initiatives across the country. Each case study provides an overview of the funding sources that were used, the administrative approach that guided the project, and an assessment of the key success factors and lessons learned. 

    The National Alliance to End Homelessness released a research brief providing an overview of Economic Impact Payments and the Child Tax Credit. The brief provides guidance on how families can access these benefits and provides an interactive demonstration of the potential economic benefit they can bring to families, including people experiencing homelessness. 

    The National Consumer Law Center explains the implications of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) “Rental Reporting Bulletin” released on July 1. This article outlines key aspects of the bulletin, highlights important implications for practitioners representing renters, and discusses how it supports states’ ability to enact protections related to tenant screening. 

    The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) published a new analysis on the roughly 4 million or more children in families who are eligible for the Child Tax Credit but may miss out on these critical payments if they do not submit their information to the IRS. The paper identifies groups to prioritize for outreach, includes state-by-state numbers, and offers recommendations for steps communities can take to help families claim the Child Tax Credit payment. CBPP has also developed resources organizations can use to support Child Tax Credit outreach efforts, including FAQs, guides to the IRS non-filer form and Child Tax Credit Update Portal, and other outreach materials. 
    September 2, 2021

    Leaders of the Framework for an Equitable COVID-19 Homelessness Response, including NLIHC, sent a letter to community leaders urging them to prioritize people and families experiencing chronic or unsheltered homelessness when making decisions about who will receive emergency housing vouchers (EHVs).

    The Housing Initiative at Penn released a new research brief analyzing the California COVID-19 Rental Relief Program, which is the largest program in the country and aims to provide $1.12 billion in assistance.

    July 22, 2021

    The Terner Center on June 18 published a study examining the uneven impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on California renters and the mounting rental arrears facing tenants. The analysis draws on rent payment data for 8,605 households living in affordable housing managed by Eden Housing to demonstrate the precarious financial circumstances facing low-income renters—particularly single-parent families and households of color—since the onset of the pandemic. Read the report here.

    The National Center for State Courts released the Eviction Diversion Diagnostic Tool, an online guided interview that allows court leaders to answer a series of questions about their particular jurisdiction and their interest in eviction diversion. By answering a few key questions, court leaders are presented with a take-away document that provides guidance, best practices, and samples from other jurisdictions with a similar profile. The document offers advice on how they might cooperate with legal aid and rental assistance, along with a model eviction diversion program structure that they could implement.

    June 28, 2021

    The Eviction Lab reports a pattern of higher eviction filing rates in neighborhoods with lower vaccination rates in every jurisdiction for which the researchers were able to access data. The findings suggest that those most at risk for eviction are still at high risk of contracting and passing the virus.

    The National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel tracks states and localities using coronavirus relief funds to expand tenant access to legal aid. Access the database here.

    The National Housing Law Project has a new FAQ and Advocacy Tip Sheet for Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs).

    June 22, 2021

    The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Get It Back Campaign released a toolkit on stimulus check outreach to immigrant families. The public-facing materials in the toolkit are available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, and Vietnamese to help reach non-English speakers. The tools are customizable: within them, you will find prompts to insert a link to your website or phone number to call, as well as ways to localize the information to better suit your needs. 
    June 4, 2021

    The National Women Law Center (NWLC) released updated research on how women of color are disproportionately behind on rent and mortgage payments during the pandemic.

    Researchers from the Eviction Lab released a new research article outlining eviction filing patterns in the U.S. in 2020 and analyzing the efficacy of eviction moratoriums. The authors estimate that at least 1.55 million fewer eviction cases were filed in 2020 than in a normal year, but filing rates exceeded historical averages when eviction protections lapsed. Black and female renters received a disproportionate share of eviction cases filed during the pandemic. Access a PDF of the article, “U.S. Eviction Filing Patterns in 2020” here.

    May 3, 2021

    The National Homelessness Law Center (NHLC) created a fact sheet on taking advantage of FEMA’s 100% reimbursement for housing people experiencing homelessness in hotels. NHLC recommends that states and localities house people experiencing homelessness in hotels, motels, and/or RVs for the duration of the pandemic, and they provide examples of state and local efforts to do so on their COVID-19 protections for homeless populations webpage.

    The National Consumer Law Center released a Guide for Advocates to Recent Federal COVID-19 Relief to Help Consumers Pay for Essential Energy, Water, and Broadband Service.

    March 31, 2021

    The National Consumer Law Center released a new 50-state report analyzing statewide protections against utility shut-offs of households where someone is seriously ill. The report finds that most states can improve their protections. Download the report and appendices, including each state’s rules and recommendations for crafting a strong rule at http://bit.ly/ill-consumer-utility

    The National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) is circulating a sign on letter to governors and state and local health authorities calling on officials to give COVID-19 vaccine priority status to people experiencing homelessness, especially individuals living in shelters, encampments, and other congregate settings. Read the full letter and sign on.

    March 01, 2021

    Human Rights Watch released an FAQ document on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tenants’ right to housing and the current state of pandemic-related tenant protections in the U.S. The FAQ highlights NLIHC’s research on the looming eviction crisis and the need for emergency rental assistance.

    A new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research finds that eviction moratoriums reduce COVID-19 infections by 3.8% and deaths by 11%. Moratoriums on utility disconnections reduce COVID-19 infections by 4.4% and mortality rates by 7.4%.

    Truthout reports that tenant organizing has exploded across the country in response to the COVID-19 housing crisis. A growing collection of organizers are approaching eviction prevention as a community-based solution to the impending eviction crisis.

    The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) released a research brief, the first in a yearlong study on the eviction crisis in the U.S. The brief provides an overview of the legal eviction process through the view of a single jurisdiction: Shelby County, Tennessee. LSC will soon release another brief examining the effects of pandemic and eviction moratoriums at the state and local level. Learn more about the nationwide LSC eviction study.

    February 01, 2021

    A new paper published in the Journal of Urban Health examines the relationship among eviction, housing instability, healthy inequity, and COVID-19 transmission. The paper finds that eviction is likely to increase COVID-19 infection rates, and pandemic policies, including eviction moratoriums and other supportive measures, are key components of mitigating COVID-19 spread and death.

    A new research study finds that lifting state eviction moratoriums was associated with significant increases in COVID-19 incidence and mortality. Lifting state eviction moratoriums amounted to an estimated 433,700 excess cases of COVID-19 and 10,700 additional deaths in the U.S. between March and September.

    December 9, 2020

    Twenty-four medical and public health groups and experts submitted an amici curiae brief in Brown v. Azar in support of the CDC eviction moratorium.

    October 19, 2020

    Partners leading the work on the Framework for an Equitable COVID-19 Homelessness Response released a new video on prioritizing CARES Act funding within communities’ COVID-19 homelessness responses. Peggy Bailey, vice president for housing policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, joins Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett to discuss how the city has worked to prioritize CARES Act funding as part of its COVID-19 homelessness.

    October 14, 2020

    The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) released a third report as part of its series on homeless system responses during COVID-19.

    October 5, 2020

    A blog post from the Brookings Institute discusses why federal rental assistance, in addition to the national eviction moratorium, is needed to protect the long-term housing of tenants and small landlords.

    The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reports that new Census data show the wide gap between median renter income and median rent continued through 2019, highlighting that the housing affordability crisis existed before COVID-19. Policymakers must provide emergency rental assistance to help families struggling to pay rent in the current crisis and address the underlying affordability problem.

    Invisible People outlines what renters should do if they receive an eviction notice. The post includes a link to NLIHC’s state and local rental assistance database.

    September 29, 2020

    NLIHC Vice President of Public Policy Sarah Saadian and Gillian Branstetter of the National Women’s Law Center penned an op-ed in the Appeal about the Trump administration’s efforts to enact a rule change that would allow homeless shelters to discriminate on the basis of gender identity or expression. “The timing of this proposed rollback is especially egregious, as COVID-19 is continuing to wreak havoc on the nation’s health and economic systems,” writes Sarah and Gillian. “If trans people cannot access shelter and services, it will become much harder for them to get the resources they need to stay safe and socially distance during this public health emergency.”

    September 22, 2020

    American Bar Association President Patricia Lee Refo sent a letter on September 5 to congressional leadership, calling for immediate action to extend the federal moratorium on evictions and to provide rental and mortgage assistance. “The moratorium is only a temporary and incomplete remedy,” writes Refo. “Federal rental assistance also is necessary to address the mounting rental debt and landlord expenses.” 

    September 15, 2020.

    The NLIHC-led Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition will continue to push for a broad array of resources and protections, including emergency rental assistance and eviction prevention assistance, a national moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, and emergency funds for homelessness service providers, housing authorities, and housing providers, among other recommendations. For more information, see DHRC’s full list of recommendations. 

    Princeton University’s Eviction Lab found that in Cincinnati, Houston, and Phoenix, a nontrivial share of evictions initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic have been for relatively small sums of money. Learn about the Eviction Lab’s preliminary analysis here. 

    Amanda Andere, CEO of Funders Together to End Homelessness, and Jeanne Feake-Sellassie, project director of Funders for Housing and Opportunity released a statement on the September 1 CDC eviction moratorium notice: “Philanthropy Cannot Be Expected to ‘Fill the Gap’ in Rental Assistance Need Caused by Lack of Government Support.” 

    The Kentucky Equal Justice Center created a tool to help renters generate and send the declaration the CDC requires for tenants to be protected from eviction. 

    September 10, 2020.

    The NLIHC-led Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition will continue to push for a broad array of resources and protections, including emergency rental assistance and eviction prevention assistance, a national moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, and emergency funds for homelessness service providers, housing authorities, and housing providers, among other recommendations. For more information, see DHRC’s full list of recommendations.

    NLIHC and the National Housing Law Project sent letters on August 21 to HUD, the Treasury Department, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), urging the agencies to use their existing authority to prevent evictions among renters living in federally assisted properties.

    September 2, 2020.

    The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) released a white paper examining how community organizations can support equitable recovery and resilience efforts when responding to increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters. Among other policy recommendations, LISC proposes permanently authorizing the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, a policy recommendation supported by the DHRC.

    August 25, 2020.

    NLIHC joined Community Catalyst, the Food Research & Action Center, and the Service Employees International Union in a joint letter to congressional leadership, urging Congress and the president to pass a coronavirus relief package that mitigates the devastation that millions of families, particularly Black and brown families, face due to the dual health and economic impacts of COVID-19.

    August 19, 2020.

    The American Bar Association passed a resolution urging federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to prevent an eviction crisis, housing insecurity among renters, and destabilization of the housing market by providing rental assistance and excluding COVID-19-related evictions from tenant screening practices.

    August 11, 2020.

    The Opportunity Starts at Home campaign released a statement on the Senate Republican’s proposed relief package. 

    NLIHC Vice President of Public Policy Sarah Saadian joined Shamus Roller, executive director of the National Housing Law Project, and Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) for a Facebook Live discussion on what actions are needed to prevent a wave of evictions.

    The Terner Center partnered with the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals to conduct a survey of its membership, which disproportionately owns or manages small, often more affordable rental properties. The survey findings highlight the impact of the pandemic on small landlords. The majority of respondents - more than 80% of who own or manage buildings with fewer than 20 units - reported a decrease in their rental income compared to the first quarter of the year. One in four landlords have already borrowed funds to make ends meet, and almost two in five lack confidence in their ability to make ends meet over the next 90 days. 

    The Center for American Progress released a report examining how the premature lifting of pandemic restrictions strains emergency housing and homelessness efforts and will exacerbate evictions, foreclosures, and the country’s decades-old housing and homelessness crises. 

    The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released a report on the severe consequences the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic fallout are having on those with the fewest resources. Policymakers must include comprehensive housing assistance in the next relief package, prioritizing aid for people with the most severe housing needs.

    August 4, 2020.

    The National Housing Law Project and NLIHC, joined by nearly 170 organizations, sent a letter to HUD Secretary Ben Carson, urging the agency to use its legal authority to enact its own eviction moratorium to protect low-income renters. The letter provides policy recommendations to HUD to address the expiration of the CARES Act eviction moratorium on July 24.

    NLIHC Research Analyst Dan Threet joined the “Off-Kilter Podcast” for the first episode of a two-part series looking at the looming eviction cliff. Listen to the episode here.

    According to an analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, emerging data demonstrate that a large and growing number of households are struggling to afford food and that millions of households are behind on rent. An estimated 13.1 million adult renters – or one in five – were behind on rent for the week ending July 7, and the rates were much higher for Black and Latino renters. The data also found that renters who are parents or otherwise live with children are more than twice as likely to be behind on rent.

    The Children’s Defense Fund urged Congress to provide robust housing assistance and fully extend the eviction moratorium. Without significant federal intervention, millions of children could lose their homes.

    The National Housing Law Project surveyed 100 legal aid and civil rights attorneys in 38 states. The survey found that 85% of respondents expect a dramatic surge in eviction cases once moratoria expire, and 85% of respondents don’t know how they will handle this surge. Read a summary of the results here.

    July 28, 2020.

    The Urban Institute outlined policies and strategies to address material vulnerabilities faced by the Black LGBTQ community during COVID-19. The pandemic has had a marked impact on LGBTQ people of color’s economic wellbeing, housing stability, homelessness rates, and shelter access.

    June 29, 2020.

    A new Urban Institute report estimates that renters need $16 billion per month in housing support to remain stably housed during the coronavirus crisis. The report suggests that Congress replace or complement existing unemployment assistance with rental assistance, which would help renters who experienced cost burden before and as a result of COVID-19.

    The National Housing Law Project and the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials prepared a two-page flyer for public housing and voucher residents that explains the CARES Act eviction moratorium.

    June 22, 2020.

    A piece in Reuters explores how the protests over race and policing are driven in part by housing inequities exacerbated by COVID-19. “A direct line connects America’s history of racist housing policies to today’s over-policing and disinvestment in black and brown communities. That same line connects to racial inequities in housing and to people of color being disproportionately harmed by disasters,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel.

    MarketWatch quoted NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel in an article discussing the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on people of color and how COVID-19 will create even more prominent racial disparities in housing. “Without focused action, the pending tsunami of evictions and homelessness will disproportionately affect Black and brown people,” said Yentel.

    NLIHC Vice President of Public Policy Sarah Saadian joined the Power Station podcast on June 1, where she spoke about how NLIHC mobilizes a diverse constituency of residents, local housing and homeless coalitions, and state, local, and national leaders to ensure that critical housing and homelessness resources are included in federal coronavirus relief packages.

    The Urban Institute released a report examining new data that suggest that COVID-19 – and its economic fallout – is widening housing disparities by race and income.

    Funders Together CEO Amanda Andere spoke about the work of addressing anti-blackness and achieving racial equity within our organizations and our movement to end housing poverty and homelessness on NLIHC’s national call on June 8. Read her full remarks here.

    June 12, 2020.

    The National League of Cities (NLC) discussed the steps that some cities have taken to approve or expand overnight parking to support individuals experiencing vehicular homelessness. NLC suggests that cities can use federal coronavirus relief funding to provide both short- and long-term solutions for individuals and families experiencing vehicular homelessness and remove barriers around towing to not further exacerbate vehicular homelessness. 

    The University of California, San Francisco published an interview with Margot Kushel, M.D., a leading expert on homelessness, exploring what the pandemic reveals about housing and health.

    Hasan Minhaj featured NLIHC’s searchable database of most properties covered under federal eviction moratoriums on an episode of Patriot Act. The show created a new website that highlights NLIHC’s database: https://www.dontgetkickedout.com/.Watch the episode, “What Happens If You Can’t Pay Rent” on Netflix! 
    ProPublica published an interactive database to help renters find out if their rental unit qualifies for eviction prevention. The ProPublica database uses data from NLIHC, the Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation, legal researchers, and others. Learn more here.
    The National Alliance to End Homelessness released an FAQ on FEMA’s Public Assistance Program Category B (Emergency Protective Measures). Communities seeking to apply for funds can use the Alliance’s FAQ document and template letter.

    The Urban Institute is examining how state and local governments can respond to the rental housing challenges presented by COVID-19. In an ongoing Housing Matters blog series, researchers are presenting evidence-based ideas for how state and local governments can increase housing stability for renters impacted by the pandemic and job loss.   

    The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans implored that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs more testing for unsheltered veterans or those in transitional housing, particularly in congregate environments. The coalition also urged increased investments in programs that serve veterans experiencing homelessness, affordable housing, and long-term solutions.

    The National Alliance to End Homelessness’ Racial Equity Network updated its original racial equity tool in light of the pandemic. The tool is designed to help homelessness systems gather data to identify and address racial inequities in COVID-19 testing, treatment, and appropriate service delivery.

    The Urban Institute outlined several steps to improve access to high-quality, systematic rural data to ensure that rural communities are not left behind after the pandemic. Existing data sources for rural communities are inadequate, making it difficult to know the true impacts of the pandemic on rural workers and economies.

    Next City examined how community-driven development rooted in collaboration is needed to ensure an equitable and inclusive recovery from COVID-19.

    NLIHC and the National Housing Law Project (NHLP) sent a letter to HUD Secretary Ben Carson on April 21 urging the agency to take additional steps to protect tenants and maximize existing resources to house as many families as possible during the coronavirus pandemic.

    The National Alliance to End Homelessness and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities developed a framework that provides guidance for how homelessness systems can leverage the CARES Act and other funding sources to conduct emergency protective measures while also planning for recovery-oriented uses of these funds. All components of the “Framework for COVID-19 Homelessness Response: Responding to the Intersecting Crises of Homelessness and COVID-19” include a racial justice and equity lens.

    The Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition and the Campaign for Housing a Community Development Funding hosted an April 23 webinar on the implementation of CARES Act funding. The recording is available at: https://youtu.be/KBRnUhMRRK4. 

    NLIHC, NHLP, and the Alliance for Housing Justice prepared two brief summaries in both English and Spanish explaining the eviction moratoriums included in the CARES Act. The National Alliance of HUD Tenants (NAHT) prepared a one-page summary for tenants in Project-Based Rental Assistance properties and those with Housing Choice Vouchers about the right to seek an immediate reduction in rent. The NAHT summaries are available in English, Spanish, and Russian.

    The Opportunity Starts at Home campaign sent a letter on April 13 to congressional leaders providing recommendations for what resources should be included in the next COVID-19 relief package. The recommendations were endorsed by nearly 50 leading national organizations. The campaign also released a press statement on April 27 to further urge Congress to expand critical housing and homelessness resources in the next COVID-19 relief package.

    The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities explored the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people of color and people with the lowest incomes, who struggled with significant health and economic challenges prior to the coronavirus. The report demonstrates the urgent need for Congress to include relief measures in the next coronavirus relief package that will help people with the fewest resources avoid hardships like eviction, homelessness, and food insecurity.

    The Eviction Lab and Emily Benfer of Columbia Law School have developed a COVID-19 housing policy scorecard for 50 states and Washington, DC to evaluate each state’s response and identify best practices in housing policy.  The scorecard is a great resource for quickly comparing states’ homelessness prevention policies developed during the coronavirus pandemic.  

    The Terner Center published a new analysis Estimating COVID-19’s Near-Term Impact on Renters, which examines the extent to which renter households may be impacted by the initial economic effects of the pandemic.

    The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities argued that the upcoming COVID-19 relief package should fund at least 500,000 new Housing Choice Vouchers and large-scale funding for short-term emergency rental assistance.

    NLIHC has released a new toolkit on FEMA programs – which includes information on Public Assistance eligibility, FEMA’s current role during COVID-19, lessons from interacting with the agency, and more. This “Working with FEMA” toolkit is the latest in an array of resources offered to the affordable housing community by NLIHC’s Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition (DHRC).

    NLIHC is maintaining a list of shelters being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and including efforts to compensate and assist the shelters’ former residents. The list will be periodically updated to include the latest shutdowns.

    The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), National Women’s Law Center (NLWC), National Housing Law Project (NHLP) and 104 other organizations sent a letter asking the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to suspend all non-emergency rulemaking until after the end of the declared national emergency. Several groups have recently sent out sign-on letters asking HUD to freeze comment periods or suspend the rulemaking process for a specific proposal; this letter builds off of those requests and expands the ask to specifically mention several other rules, including mixed status families, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, and Disparate Impact. 

    A new resource by the National Fair Housing Alliance examines COVID-19 and illegal housing discrimination against people with disabilities, and describes the protections for people with disabilities and those who live with them under the Fair Housing Act.  

    The NAACP has set up a Coronavirus page listing information, FAQs and links to report discrimination experienced during the pandemic.

    Next City interviewed NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel as part of an article on the COVID-19 crisis’ potential to unite the housing movement.

    An article, How to File Taxes if You’re Experiencing Homelessness, release by the Get It Back Campaign, a project of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, provides important tips and answers for tax filers who are experiencing homelessness.

    NLIHC and the National Women’s Law Center released a fact sheet on housing priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. These recommendations cover both the need for immediate housing assistance for individuals experiencing homelessness, as well as structural fixes to address the underlying reasons for our country’s persistent housing crisis. You can also view

    The Anti-Eviction Mapping Project released a nationwide map of eviction moratoriums and tenant protections.

    Stateside created a 2020 state and local government COVID-19 response chart to track state legislative actions, executive agency actions, and local government actions related to the pandemic.

    The National Consumer Law Center launched a new COVID-19 & Consumer Protections page to provide updates on their efforts to protect renters and homeowners during the pandemic. The organization is also offering free access to the digital edition of “Surviving Debt: Expert Advice for Getting Out of Financial Trouble” – the NCLC’s comprehensive guide to navigating debt for consumers and their advocates.

    The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released an updated overview of changes to unemployment insurance payments and eligibility. The center also released a list of recommendations to broaden eligibility for stimulus rebates.

    The Center for Policy Development released a table showing the distribution of CDBG supplemental funding released by the CARES Act.

    The National Conference of State Legislatures will be collecting federal agency announcements related to COVID-19 on it’s website.

    With the passage of the third coronavirus stimulus package on Friday, advocates are now beginning to push federal agencies to release funding as soon as possible. For more details on what’s in the bill for housing and homelessness, see NLIHC’s full analysis and chart. An analysis of the eviction moratorium found in the bill is available here from the National Housing Law Project.

    The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty’s Housing Not Handcuffs Campaign released a letter template for organizations to send their elected officials calling for a moratorium on the clearing of homeless encampments during the pandemic.

    National Innovation Services released an equity framework for emergency management and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The National Lawyers Guild released a Know Your Rights guide for individuals living under a state of emergency.

    NLIHC has developed a map showing housing and homelessness data as well as the number of COVID-19 cases for every county in the continental United States.

    NLIHC and the National Housing Law Project sent a letter to HUD and the USDA asking the agencies to take aggressive steps to preserve the housing stability of low-income communities.

    Enterprise Community Partners has released a webpage containing policy recommendations and resources for state and local leaders.

    The Housing Assistance Council released a letter calling for a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions for USDA Sec. 502 housing. They have also released a page of resources on COVID-19/Rural Housing.

    The Center for American Progress released a blog article calling for increases assistance for homeless individuals and families in the face of the coronavirus.

    The Urban Institute released a special website cataloging their scholars’ response to policy moves as the pandemic continues.

    Urban Institute’s Housing Matters blog looked at the effects of pausing evictions and how any moratorium must be connected with robust rental assistance.

    The National Housing Law Project also released a Model Eviction Moratorium Act to serve as an example for jurisdictions working to stop evictions during the COVID-19 crisis.

    Lone Star Legal Aid released a blog post on the relationship between Coronavirus isolation and domestic violence.

    Healthdata.org released this set of projections of hospital resources based on COVID-19 fatalities. The data can be broken down by state.

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Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge sent a letter on August 27 to state and local government leaders urging them to take immediate action to prevent unnecessary evictions during the pandemic.
Updated on September 8, 2021

The Biden administration announced on August 25, new actions to help protect tenants and landlords. In addition to updated guidance from the Treasury Department, the White House announced additional steps HUD and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Veterans Affairs (VA) will take to prevent evictions. 

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki released a statement on August 20 regarding the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia’s Circuit’s decision to leave the CDC eviction moratorium in place. “Throughout the pandemic, national, State and local eviction moratoria have kept people housed and slowed the spread of COVID-19. As we continue our effort to stop the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant, the eviction moratorium remains vitally important,” the statement reads. 

The Biden administration released a memo on August 17 extending through December 31, 2021 the 100% cost reimbursement for eligible COVID-related response activities under FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Category B, including non-congregate sheltering for individuals experiencing homelessness and people with disabilities. President Biden issued an executive order on January 21 announcing FEMA would fully cover eligible costs related to COVID-related non-congregate sheltering through September 2021. 

The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) hosted a virtual conversation on August 17 on housing and evictions with Biden administration officials. The officials emphasized the urgent public health, safety, and economic case for a whole-of-government approach to prevent evictions and discussed the importance of federal, state, and local leaders working together to address this challenge. 

The Biden administration issued a statement on August 2 outlining additional steps it will take to protect renters and prevent evictions during the pandemic. The statement comes after the administration allowed the federal eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expire on July 31. In the statement, the administration committed to several actions, including those recommended by NLIHC and the National Housing Law Project. One day later, the CDC announced a limited eviction moratorium. 

The Biden administration is calling on major companies, nonprofits, government agencies, faith-based organizations, and others to spread the word that emergency rental assistance (ERA) is available for tenants and landlords. Use the administration’s Rental Assistance Call to Action Toolkit to inform tenants and landlords about the CFPB’s Rental Assistance Finder and the Interagency Housing Assistance Portal to help them find available resources in their area. 
Updated on September 2, 2021

The Biden administration released a fact sheet on June 24 announcing initiatives to promote housing stability by supporting tenants and preventing foreclosures. Following the CDC’s decision to extend the eviction moratorium through July 31, the administration extended the foreclosure moratorium for federally backed mortgages by a final month until July 31. The administration is also ensuring that the 30-day eviction notice requirement for federally backed properties is enforced. Read the fact sheet for more information on the Biden administration’s actions to prevent evictions at: https://bit.ly/3gWgIiB 

The Biden administration announced that Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta on June 24 sent a letter to state courts encouraging them to adopt anti-eviction diversion practices that will benefit families, tenants, landlords, and the courts themselves. The Justice Department’s letter points to actions that courts can implement immediately to help confront this problem. The letter also directs courts to federal resources they can use to support diversion programs and to tools developed by the National Center for State Courts that can help judges ensure landlords and tenants have an opportunity to tap into available resources and mediate their dispute.

Updated on July 14, 2021

Fact Sheet: The Biden-Harris Administration’s Multi-Agency Effort to Support Renters and Landlords

Updated on March 31, 2021

The Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Department of Agriculture on February 16 announced a coordinated extension and expansion of forbearance and foreclosure relief programs.

Updated on February 22, 2021

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The U.S. Department of the Treasury released the April Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) spending report on June 3. Read NLIHC Memo, 6/6 for more information on Treasury’s April ERA spending data.

June 13, 2022

May 16, 2022

  • The Treasury Department released October ERA data on November 29 and announced that more than 521,000 renters received ERA in October. As of the end of October, more than 100 state and local ERA1 grantees had expended at least 95% of their funds, and nearly 130 grantees had already begun to spend ERA2 funds. Treasury’s press release encourages states and localities to use other funding sources, including the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, to provide additional support to renters. Read NLIHC’s statement and analysis of the October ERA data.

December 13, 2021

  • Treasury announced on October 25 state and local governments distributed nearly $2.8 billion in emergency rental assistance (ERA) to more than 510,000 households in September, up from 459,000 in August. Nearly all jurisdictions reported continued growth in September, and many grantees that were initially slow to deliver assistance reported significant increases in disbursements as they adopted ERA best practices. Access the September ERA spending data here.

November 03, 2021

  • The Treasury Department released on October 4 guidance and summary on the ERA1 reallocation process. Additionally, Deputy Secretary Adeyemo sent a letter to ERA grantees on the new guidance.

October 12, 2021

October 05, 2021

  • The U.S. Department of the Treasury on September 16 released a new report on the first six months of the department’s implementation of the American Rescue Plan. Since the law was enacted, Treasury has disbursed approximately $700 billion of the $1 trillion in programs administered by Treasury, including over 1 million Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) payments totaling more than $5 billion. Read the press release and report.

    Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo published a blog post on September 17 outlining the department’s work to center racial equity in its first six months of implementing the American Rescue Plan.
    September 27, 2021

  • The Treasury Department announced on September 14 it will make the remaining $13 billion of second wave Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) funding available to high-performing state and local government grantees. Treasury also highlighted examples of the fastest ERA distributors that have already qualified or will soon qualify to receive their remaining ERA2 funds.
    September 21, 2021

  • The Treasury Department on August 25 released updated Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) spending data through July 31, revealing that $1.68 billion in ERA was spent in July. Treasury released an updated Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) document offering further policy clarity and recommendations meant to accelerate ERA spending, including providing more explicit permission for grantees to rely on self-attestations without further documentation. 

    The U.S. Department of the Treasury on August 4 reiterated its call for state and local governments to speed the distribution of emergency rental assistance (ERA) by eliminating undue documentation burdens. Treasury published examples of simplified eligibility forms on its website and sent them to all ERA program grantees. In collaboration with the U.S. Digital Services, Treasury also released an Eviction Prevention Program Maturity Model to help local eviction prevention collaboratives assess and identify strategies to improve their efforts. 

    U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) 

  • USICH interviewed several communities about how they are implementing American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding for emergency rental assistance (ERA), emergency housing vouchers (EHV), and health centers. The resulting guidance, “Getting It Done: The American Rescue Plan Way,” seeks to help other communities maximize the impact of ARPA funding to prevent and end homelessness. Read USICH’s press release and the guidance.            

January 28, 2022

  • The USICH hosted a webinar with HUD’s Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS) and FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Division to discuss joint guidance HUD and FEMA published in September about strategies for transitioning people out of non-congregate shelter as a result of the pandemic and into safe, stable permanent housing. Watch the webinar and view the slides and transcript.
    October 18, 2021

  • USICH Interim Executive Director Anthony Love addressed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Community Development and Housing Committee on August 25, asking mayors and local leaders to: 1) raise awareness about and reduce barriers to emergency rental assistance; 2) prioritize emergency housing vouchers (EHVs) for people already experiencing homelessness; 3) implement USICH’s CDC-informed Delta guidance, which includes expanding non-congregate shelter; and 4) use American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds and HOME funding to develop and preserve affordable housing for the lowest-income renters.
    September 8, 2021

  • The USICH released on August 18 new CDC-informed Delta variant guidance that includes 5 ways communities can protect homeless populations from the rapidly spreading COVID variant. In case you missed it: The USICH released a comprehensive step-by-step guide for people at risk of eviction. 
    September 2, 2021

  • Treasury announced that more than $1.5 billion in emergency rental assistance (ERA) was delivered to households in June. The monthly number of households served grew by about 85% over the previous month and nearly tripled since April. 290,000 households were served in June, up from 160,000 served in May and approximately 100,000 in April. While this represents significant progress, much more work is needed to ensure tenants and landlords can take advantage of this historic funding available to keep people housed.

    The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced on July 15 that in the first monthly payment of the expanded and newly-advanceable Child Tax Credit from the American Rescue Plan passed in March, roughly $15 billion dollars were paid to families that include nearly 60 million eligible children.
    July 26, 2021
     
  • The Treasury Department on June 24 released an updated frequently asked questions (FAQs) and fact sheet to continue supporting the rapid distribution of emergency rental assistance (ERA) by state and local governments. Treasury’s updated FAQs provide additional clarity for grantees that align with guidance and actions taken by other federal agencies. Treasury also released promising practices ERA programs have used to speed up program implementation, more efficiently deliver program benefits, and improve access to ERA.
    The Treasury Department released an interim report on the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program that includes data from January 1–May 31, 2021. Data show that ERA programs are ramping up, but state and local governments must do more to accelerate aid and expand programs to meet the scale of assistance needed. Read Treasury’s statement on the key findings from the ERA data. 
    July 14, 2021
     
  • The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on June 14 unveiled an online non-filer sign-up tool for eligible families who do not normally file tax returns register for the monthly Advance Child Tax Credit payments. This tool, an update of last year's IRS non-filers tool, is also designed to help eligible individuals who don't normally file income tax returns register for the $1,400 third round of Economic Impact Payments (i.e., stimulus checks) and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for any amount of the first two rounds of Economic Impact Payments they may have missed. Learn more about the Child Tax Credit.
    June 22, 2021

  • The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced on May 21 it has distributed $6.1 billion through the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program in less than two weeks since $21.6 billion was allocated for the program.
    The Department of the Treasury on May 10 announced the launch of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds established by the American Rescue Plan Act to provide $350 billion in emergency funding for state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments. Recipients can use funds to support households, small businesses, impacted industries, essential workers, and the communities hardest-hit by the crisis. See this fact sheet for an overview of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program. See the full list for additional details on state, local, territorial, and Tribal government allocations.
    The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced on May 13 that it has distributed $742 million to 42 states and three territories through the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) established by the American Rescue Plan.
    June 4, 2021

  • The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service announced on April 14 they are disbursing nearly 2 million payments in the fifth batch of Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) from the American Rescue Plan. People who do not normally file a tax return and do not receive federal benefits, such as those experiencing homelessness, may qualify for EIPs. The IRS is urging people who do not normally file a tax return and have not received EIPs to use IRS Free File to file a 2020 tax return to receive the benefits to which they are entitled.

    April 28, 2021

  • The Department of Treasury on February 22 released a revised FAQs for Emergency Rental Assistance. Treasury will continue to work with stakeholders to provide additional guidance and technical assistance.

    March 01, 2021

  • Treasury released a list of emergency rental assistance (ERA) program payments to states and eligible units of local governments.

    February 17, 2021

  • Treasury re-published in final form in the Federal Register on January 15 the guidance it previously posted on its website regarding the Coronavirus Relief Fund.

    January 25, 2021

  • The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the launch of the $25 billion Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. See Treasury’s list of state and territory allocations for the ERAP.

    January 15, 2021.

  • Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin issued a statement on June 12 regarding the provision of Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars to Native American Tribes.

    June 22, 2020.

  • The U.S. Treasury Department and the U.S. Small Business Administration announced on May 28 that it is setting aside $10 billion of Round 2 funding for the Paycheck Protection Program to be lent exclusively by Community Development Financial Institutions.
  • Treasury updated its “Coronavirus Relief Fund: Frequently Asked Questions” document on May 4. The new guidance permits state and local governments to use Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars on rental assistance to prevent evictions and homelessness.
  • Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin and Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt issued a joint statement on May 5 regarding the distribution of Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) dollars to Native American Tribes. According to the statement, only $4.8 billion, or 60% of the CRF, will be made available to Tribal governments based on population data.

  • The USDA on August 25 announced additional steps it will take to support its tenants and owners. The USDA will offer additional support to property owners waiting to receive ERA funds by: allowing them to access reserves for operating shortfalls, providing financial incentives to property managers that use ERA to clear arrearages; and providing increased support from USDA field staff to spread awareness of ERA to local leaders and public housing authorities. 
    September 2, 2021
     
  • The USDA announced the Biden administration extended the eviction moratorium for USDA multifamily housing communities through July, in accordance with CDC guidance. Beyond July 31, 2021, USDA will continue to offer emergency assistance to USDA multifamily housing property owners and tenants who are experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic. Additionally, the USDA extended through July 31, 2021, the foreclosure moratorium for properties financed by USDA Single-Family Housing Direct and Guaranteed loans.
    July 14, 2021

  • The USDA announced on April 9 that young adults under the age of 25 experiencing homelessness will now be able to receive meals at emergency shelters participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CAFCP). USDA typically only reimburses shelters for meals served to children, through age 18, but the American Rescue Plan Act expanded several nutrition assistance programs to reach the most vulnerable populations experiencing food hardship due to the pandemic, including homeless young adults.
    April 28, 2021

  • The USDA announced the Biden-Harris Administration extended the eviction moratorium to affected multifamily housing residents through June 30, 2021, extending relief to the hundreds-of-thousands of Americans who rely on USDA-supported multifamily housing communities.
    March 31, 2021
     
  • The USDA on February 16 announced an extension of eviction and foreclosure moratoriums on USDA Single Family Housing Direct and Guaranteed loans through June 30, 2021.
    February 22, 2021
     
  • In accordance with CDC guidance, the USDA announced an extension of eviction protections for the tens of thousands of individuals in USDA-supported multifamily housing communities.
    February 08, 2021
     
  • In one of his first acts in office, President Joe Biden requested federal agencies to extend eviction and foreclosure moratoriums. In response, the USDA announced an extension of eviction and foreclosure moratoriums on USDA Single Family Housing Direct and Guaranteed loans through March 31, 2021.
    January 25, 2021
     
  • USDA announced on June 23 extended foreclosure and eviction moratorium for all Single Family Housing Direct Loans through August 31, 2020.
  • USDA announced on June 19 that it has extended the foreclosure and eviction moratorium for all Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program loans through August 31, 2020.
  • USDA announced on April 22 that emergency benefit increases have reached $2.0 billion per month for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These emergency benefits prompted by COVID-19 represent a 40% increase in overall monthly SNAP benefits. Hawaii, the final state agency authorized to provide emergency allotments, was approved on April 17. 
  • The USDA announced the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) on April 17. The CFAP program will provide direct support to farmers, ranchers, and consumers.
  • The USDA announced that it would be suspending foreclosures and evictions for 60 days on USDA-financed homes across rural America.
  • The Department of Agriculture announced it would be suspending foreclosures on borrowers with USDA Single-Family Housing Direct (SFHD) loans and evictions of persons in SFHD secured properties for a period of 60 days.
  • USDA Rural Development launched a COVID-19 resource page to keep stakeholders, partners, and customers aware of new developments.
  • USDA Rural Development announced that it would be granting temporary exception to interior inspection appraisals and verbal verification of employment for its single-family housing guaranteed loan program.
  • USDA Rural Development announced that it would be implementing a number of measures to assist rural residents and their communities. This includes waiving late payments in multifamily housing, placing a moratorium on foreclosures of its Single-Family Housing Direct Loans, and more.

  • The VA National Center on Homelessness among Veterans is holding a webinar on April 21, from 1-2 pm ET: “Establishing a Care Environment for Homeless Housing Settings: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

    April 28, 2021

  • The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it will extend existing moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures and VA loan forbearance requests to June 30.

    March 01, 2021

  • The Veterans Employment Rideshare Initiative (Rideshare), launched in 2018, helps veterans experiencing homelessness get to job interviews, attend medical appointments, and search for housing opportunities. The Rideshare program has been adapted to help veterans experiencing homelessness during COVID-19 by providing transportation to hotel shelters and delivering food. Fifteen veterans have received Rideshares to move to hotel shelters.
    The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced on May 6 that it has expanded support services enabled by the CARES Act to address the immediate needs of veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness due to the pandemic. Funding is provided for three VA programs: Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program, Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program, and Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program.
  • The VA is strongly encouraging holders of veterans loans to abstain from initiating foreclosure proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic

  • The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will invest more than $1.6 billion from the American Rescue Plan to support testing and mitigation measures in high-risk congregate settings, including homeless shelters. As COVID-19 cases rise among unvaccinated people and where the more transmissible Delta virus variant is surging, this funding will expand activities to detect, diagnose, trace, and monitor infections and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in non-congregate shelters, some of the hardest hit and highest risk communities across the country. 
    September 2, 2021.
     
  • HHS Secretary Alex Azar on July 23 renewed the COVID-19 national public health emergency declaration, effective July 25.
    July 28, 2020
     
  • The Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Children and Families released strategies for supporting families experiencing homelessness and housing instability during the pandemic.
    June 29, 2020

June 13, 2022

HUD announced the creation of a new Homelessness and Infectious Disease Questions Ask a Question (AAQ) desk, which assists homeless assistance providers, Continuums of Care (CoCs), and other partners with questions about preventing, mitigating, and responding to infectious diseases impacting people experiencing homelessness in their communities. The AAQ desk is staffed by Technical Assistance (TA) providers from HUD’s disaster response team who are well-versed in best practices for infectious disease planning, mitigation, and response in homeless response systems.

May 16, 2022

HUD announced on May 9 that it would award $20 million in new grants for its Eviction Protection Grant Program, doubling the amount originally allocated at the launch of the program in November 2021. HUD has offered grants to 11 organizations, in addition to the 10 organizations selected in November, to help non-profits and governmental entities provide legal assistance to low-income tenants at risk of or subject to eviction.

May 2, 2022

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on April 5 that it will make an additional $3.2 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding available to help its Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) agencies combat housing discrimination related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

HUD released a policy brief on the relationship between HOME Investment Partnerships – American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP) funding and the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (URA). Read the policy brief here.

HUD published a “HOME-ARP Housing Production Goal Calculation Worksheet and FAQ.” Participating Jurisdictions (PJs) can use the worksheet to estimate the number of affordable rental housing units for qualifying populations that will be produced or supported by a PJ with a HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP) allocation.

HUD issued a memorandum on December 30 explaining the availability of waivers for regulatory requirements associated with several Community Planning and Development (CPD) grant programs to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and facilitate assistance to eligible communities and households economically impacted by COVID-19. The memorandum also addresses program-specific waivers for the following CPD programs, including Continuum of Care (CoC), Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). Read the CPD Memo.

January 28, 2022

HUD announced on December 7 more than $52 million in Indian Community Block Grant - American Rescue Plan (ICDBG-ARP) grants to 49 Tribal communities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. View a breakdown of the awards by recipient here.

HUD announced on December 2 it will make an additional $5.7 million in American Rescue Plan funding available to help HUD Fair Housing Initiatives Program agencies combat housing discrimination related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications for the funding are due by December 30, 2021.

HUD launched the HOME-American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) Allocation Plan Ask A Question (AAQ) help desk to respond to questions from Participating Jurisdictions (PJs) as they prepare, develop, and submit their HOME-ARP allocation plans.

HUD’s Office of Affordable Housing Programs is hosting a webinar series to assist communities in planning for their allocation of HOME-ARP funding. The next webinar, which will be held on December 15, 2021, 1:30-3 pm ET, will review non-congregate shelter (NCS) planning considerations through case studies to assist HOME Participating Jurisdictions (PJs) who are interested in using HOME-ARP to create NCS for their community. Register today!

December 13, 2021

  • HUD on November 10 announced $74 million in Indian Community Block Grant – American Rescue Plan (ICDBG-ARP) grants to 68 Tribal communities. View a breakdown of the awards by recipient here. 

  • November 22, 2021
     
  • HUD on October 6 announced it will issue a rule prohibiting the eviction of tenants for nonpayment of rent from HUD-subsidized public housing and certain properties with project-based rental assistance without providing a 30-day notice period that includes information about available federal emergency rental assistance. The interim rule was published in the Federal Register on Thursday, October 7.

    October 12, 2021
     
  • HUD and Treasury hosted an Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) webinar on September 23 featuring case studies of ERA grantees, community-based partners, and multifamily housing partners that have developed strong partnerships to provide rental support effectively and efficiently. The recording and presentation slides are now available.
     
  • HUD's Office of Affordable Housing Programs (OAHP) is hosting a four-part webinar series to review Notice CPD-21-10. The notice establishes requirements for the use of ARP funds to provide homelessness assistance and supportive services. Register today! 
     
  • HUD’s Office of Block Grant Assistance is hosting a four-part webinar series for Community Development Block Grant CARES Act (CDBG-CV) grantees on best practices of CDBG-CV project implementation. Learn more here.
     
  • The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced on September 27 new and extended COVID-19 relief options for borrowers recently or newly struggling to make their mortgage payments because of the pandemic and for senior homeowners with Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) who need assistance to remain in their homes. 

October 05, 2021

  • HUD’s Office of Multifamily Programs announced on September 16 that it is opening a new application period for owners of multifamily properties receiving project-based rental assistance under the Section 8, Section 202, or Section 811 programs to apply for more than $180 million in supplemental operating funds to support expenses for protecting residents and staff from COVID-19.

    September 27, 2021
     
  • HUD on September 15 issued the HOME-ARP Implementing CPD Notice, Requirements for the Use of Funds in the HOME-American Rescue Plan Program, which opens up access to nearly $5 billion in ARP grants to help communities create affordable housing and services for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
  • HUD released a resource, the HUD Evictions Guidance, that outlines actions HUD is taking to prevent evictions in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eviction moratorium. If you are a renter in need of assistance, help may be available through HUD’s rent relief resources.
     
  • HUD’s Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS), the Treasury Department, and the White House will host a training on Friday, September 24 from 12-1 pm ET to help Continuum of Care (CoC) and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program grantees learn how to help eligible families enroll in the Child Tax Credit. Register for the webinar here.

    September 21, 2021
     
  • The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) on July 23 announced streamlined COVID-19 recovery options to help homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic bring their mortgage current and remain in their homes.

    August 3, 2021
     
  • HUD released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Eviction Prevention Grant Program, which will provide $20 million in grant funds to nonprofit and government entities providing legal aid to low-income tenants at risk of eviction. Applications are due September 8, 2021.

    HUD announced on July 21 that it is making over $19 million available to help HUD Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) agencies address discriminatory housing practices related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Provided through the American Rescue Plan Act, the funds will allow agencies to respond to fair housing inquiries, provide education and outreach activities related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and address fair housing issues impacting individuals facing housing instability, including those who may face displacement due to discriminatory evictions and foreclosures. 

    July 26, 2021
     
  • The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is extending its foreclosure and eviction moratoriums for all FHA-insured single-family mortgages, except vacant or abandoned properties, through July 31, 2021. FHA on June 25 announced additional measures to help homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages who are struggling due to COVID-19.

    July 14, 2021
     
  • HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge on June 10 announced the first tranche of American Rescue Plan funds for Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs). HUD awarded $1.1 billion, or 70,000 vouchers, for 626 public housing authorities administering the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

    June 22, 2021

  • HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing updated its Eviction Prevention and Stability Toolkit on June 2 to reflect the latest CDC guidance (see Memo, 6/7). 

    June 14, 2021

  • HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge on May 17 announced allocation of $5 billion in American Rescue Plan funds for emergency housing vouchers for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Through the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program, HUD is providing 70,000 housing choice vouchers to local public housing authorities.

    HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) sent letters on May 10 to nearly 700 public housing agencies (PHAs), inviting the PHAs to administer 70,000 emergency housing vouchers (EHVs) authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act.

    June 4, 2021

  • HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge held a Zoom call with House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, and San Francisco Mayor London Breed to discuss the nearly $5 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) homelessness assistance funds. The nearly $5 billion in HOME-ARP funding is the first of two homelessness-related funding opportunities from the ARP that HUD will release. In the coming weeks, HUD will announce the allocation of funding for emergency vouchers for people experiencing and at-risk of homelessness.

    May 3, 2021

  • HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, along with Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, held a Zoom call on April 14 to discuss the nearly $5 billion in American Rescue Plan funds allocated by HUD to help communities across the country create affordable housing and services for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Secretary Marcia Fudge announced the allocation of nearly $5 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds on April 8. In the coming weeks, HUD will announce allocations of the ARP funding for emergency vouchers for people experiencing and at risk of homelessness. HUD released the list of American Rescue Plan Act HOME Supplemental Applications.

    April 28, 2021

  • Updated Memo to Multifamily Property Owners: CDC Order to Halt Evictions – April 1, 2021

    April 17, 2021

  • HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge on March 25 announced $5 million in Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG) funding under the American Rescue Plan to support the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic (see Memo, 3/29). Secretary Fudge also announced $450 million in Indian Housing Block Grants to Indian tribes across the country to respond to COVID-19.

    Listen to and read HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge’s remarks at the White House press briefing on March 18 on the American Rescue Plan Act and housing.

    March 31, 2021

  • HUD on February 16 announced extensions of the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) foreclosure and eviction moratoriums, as well as an extension of the initial start date of a COVID-19 forbearance. The Office of Public and Indian Housing is planning to announce similar relief for homeowners assisted under the Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program and the Section 184A Native Hawaiian Housing Loan Guarantee Program.

    February 22, 2021

  • HUD announced on January 29 it has awarded $2.5 billion to renew support to thousands of homeless assistance programs across the nation.  HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) grants will provide critically needed support to 6,597 community-based housing and service providers. Due to the pandemic, the process was significantly streamlined.
  • HUD issued a message on COVID-19 Vaccination (Updated January 29) following the Biden Administration’s release of the National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness. The National Strategy identifies homeless shelters as an example of a congregate setting that could facilitate the spread of infection, also emphasizing that “[b]ecause many people who are homeless are older adults or have underlying medical conditions, they may also be at increased risk for severe illness.” The strategy affirms that the U.S. will “work to ensure that the vaccine is distributed quickly, effectively, and equitably, with a focus on making sure that high-risk and hard-to-reach communities are not left behind.”

    February 08, 2021

  • HUD released a statement on the swift action it has taken in the first week of the Biden administration to address the immediate housing needs during the COVID-19 pandemic while laying the groundwork to address the nation’s larger, systemic housing challenges.
  • The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on January 28 held the confirmation hearing for HUD Secretary-designate Marcia Fudge. “It bears mentioning, particularly in this moment of crisis, that HUD – perhaps more than any other department – exists to serve the most vulnerable people in America,” said Representative Fudge (D-OH). Read NLIHC’s statement on Representative Fudge’s nomination.
  • Acting HUD Secretary Matthew Ammon on January 21 announced that HUD has extended the Federal Housing Administration eviction and foreclosure moratorium until March 31 and extended the Public and Indian Housing eviction and foreclosure moratorium until March 31. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced on January 26 that it will execute the Biden administration’s request to extend the deadline for borrowers with FHA-insured mortgages through March 31, 2021.

    February 01, 2021

  • In response to President Joe Biden’s request that HUD and other federal agencies extend protections for renters and homeowners, HUD extended its foreclosure and eviction moratorium for single-family mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) through March 31, 2021.

    January 25, 2021

  • The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) on December 21 announced it is extending the foreclosure and eviction moratorium for single family FHA-insured mortgages for an additional two months, through February 28, 2021.

    January 15, 2021

  • HUD announced the launch of the new Community Development Block Grant CARES Act (CDBG-CV) website on the HUD Exchange.

    October 14, 2020

  • The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) on August 27 extended its foreclosure and eviction moratorium through December 31, 2020 for homeowners with FHA-insured single family mortgages covered under the CARES Act. While this action does provide foreclosure relief to some homeowners, it does not protect a single renter from eviction.

    September 2, 2020.

  • HUD announced on August 19 that it provided guidance and additional flexibility to states and localities using coronavirus relief funds. The Federal Register notice (FR-6226-N-01) that was published on August 17 grants extensions and clarifies submission deadlines for CDBG-DR grantees.

    August 25, 2020.

  • HUD announced on August 10 that it awarded $472 million in CARES Act funding to public housing authorities to keep residents housed amid the pandemic.

    August 19, 2020.

  • The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced on July 8 additional home retention measures for homeowners who are financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
  • The Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $15 million to Native American Tribes on July 2 to support coronavirus recovery efforts. 
  • The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced on July 8 the “Eviction Prevention and Stability Toolkit.”

    July 13, 2020.

  • The Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $15 million to Native American Tribes on July 2 to support coronavirus recovery efforts.

    July 7, 2020.

  • The Federal Housing Administration announced on June 17 a two-month extension of its foreclosure and eviction moratorium through August 31, 2020, for homeowners with FHA-insured Single Family mortgages. 
  • HUD awarded $40 million in housing counseling grants to help over one million individuals and families access HUD-approved housing counseling.

    June 22, 2020.

  • The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on June 9 the second allocation of Emergency Solutions Grants - Coronavirus (ESG-CV) funding totaling $2.96 billion.
  • The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced on June 4, a new, temporary policy that provides guidance for lenders to obtain FHA insurance endorsement on mortgages where the borrower has requested or obtained a COVID-19 forbearance.

    June 12, 2020.

  • HUD announced on May 18 nearly $77 million in a fourth wave of CARES Act funding to assist people with disabilities, supporting up to 8,300 additional vouchers. Provided through HUD's Section 811 Mainstream Housing Choice Voucher Program, this wave of relief funds will provide affordable housing to non-elderly people living with disabilities.
  • The Federal Housing Administration announced on May 14 an extension of its foreclosure and eviction moratorium through June 30, 2020, for homeowners with FHA-insured Single Family mortgages. The FHA also announced an extension of work flexibilities for lenders and appraisers.
  • HUD announced on May 4 that the department has allocated $100,000 for HUD’s Foster Youth to Independence Initiative, noting that the pandemic has underscored the importance of having a home. 
     
    HUD announced on May 5 the allocation of $380 million in supplemental administrative fee funding to Public Housing Authorities to fight COVID-19. Funds can be used for sanitation, transportation to health units and testing, food, childcare, and medical supplies.
  • Secretary Ben Carson announced on May 1 that HUD will allocate $685 million in CARES Act funding to keep low-income residents of public housing safe during the pandemic. The funds will be allocated through the Public Housing Operating Fund and can be used for personal protective equipment, childcare costs, travel costs, and additional actions.
  • HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing Programs posted a two-page explanation of the CARES Act eviction moratorium designed for tenants who have HUD-funded rental assistance and/or live in an FHA-insured property. Learn more about the paper in NLIHC’s Memo article (4/27).
  • Both HUD Secretary Ben Carson, Federal Housing Commissioner and Assistance Secretary of HUD Brian D. Montgomery, and Vice President Mike Pence participated in a phone call with mortgage and business leaders. The three reiterated existing programs assisting borrowers as well as prohibiting eviction as a prerequisite for mortgage forbearance.
  • HUD Secretary Ben Carson sat down with the Daily Caller to talk about the federal government’s COVID-19 response and new housing initiatives. Secretary took the opportunity to reference extended assistance for non-bank mortgage lenders, and his plan to force individuals experiencing homelessness into “structures” built on government-owned land in order to “take care of their mental health issues and their addiction issues and set them on a pathway towards self-sufficiency”.
  • HUD awarded $1.5 million in Partnership and Special Enforcement Effort funds to HUD Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) agencies. The funds, provided through the CARE Act, will support COVID-19 education activities.
     
    HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing Programs made a fourth update to its "Questions and Answers for Office of Multifamily Housing Stakeholders: Coronavirus” on April 16.
  • President Trump announced a suspension in foreclosures and evictions for Federal Housing Administration-insured mortgages for single family properties for the next 60 days.
  • HUD released a set of statutory and regulatory waivers for the Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, Indian Housing Block Grant Program, Public Housing Assessment System and Section Eight Management Assessment Program. The rule allows PHA’s and Tribal Designated Housing Agencies to waive certain HUD requirements in the interest of slowing the spread of COVID-19.
  • HUD has also implemented a series of waivers for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program allowing for greater flexibility in how those funds are administered and able to be used. The guidance details the process and use of the first $2 billion allocation of CDBG funding approved by the CARES Act.
  • HUD’s Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS) invites homeless assistance providers and their partners to participate in their COVID-19 Office Hours session This session will focusing on the recently released Mega-Waiver and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Experts from HUD and other federal partners and organizations will be available to answer questions on these topics. Event information available here. 
  • HUD announced that DHS will be recognizing residential and shelter workers as essential. Exempting them from stay at home orders that have begun to spread across the country.
  • HUD announced a series of waivers for CoC, ESG, and HOPWA Program regulations designed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate economic impact of the pandemic.
  • HUD announced that it would be quickly releasing $200 million in Indian Housing Block Grants to American Indian Tribes and Tribally Designated Housing Entities across the country to respond to COVID-19. The money was approved in the CARES Act.
  • HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing has released a recording with updated guidance on its COVID-19 response. The recording provides information on CARES Act funding for assisted housing, eviction moratorium, and visitors; CARES Act Forbearance; Rental Assistance Demonstration guidance; as well as other materials and information.

Congress and Agencies

  • Congress

    Representative Cori Bush (D-MO), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and over three dozen of their colleagues introduced on September 21 the “Keeping Renters Safe Act of 2021,” legislation that would grant permanent authority to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement a residential eviction moratorium to address public health crises and direct HHS to enact a federal eviction moratorium in response to COVID-19. “Congress should enact this broad eviction moratorium to keep millions of families safely and stably housed during the pandemic,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel in a press release on the bill’s introduction. “The Supreme Court’s ruling to lift the moratorium will have devastating and long-lasting consequences. The moratorium was a lifeline for millions of renters, and the last federal protection keeping many of them stably housed as they wait for emergency rental assistance to reach them. Without the moratorium in place, families will be pushed deeper into poverty, communities will struggle with increased spread of COVID-19, and our country will have a harder time containing the virus.” Read the bill text and a one-pager on the legislation.
    September 27, 2021

    The House Financial Services Committee voted 28 to 22 to approve the “Expediting Assistance to Renters and Landlords Act.” Learn more about the emergency rental assistance (ERA) reform legislation here. The legislation comes after NLIHC’s Diane Yentel testified before the committee at its September 10 hearing on ways to protect renters during the pandemic and needed reforms to ERA programs. Read Diane’s written testimony. 

    September 21, 2021

    House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) released on August 31 a new episode of “Clyburn Chronicles,” the congressman’s podcast, featuring NLIHC’s Diane Yentel discussing how the affordable housing crisis has been shaped by racial disparities and the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen to the episode here.

    September 14, 2021

    Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Cori Bush (D-MO), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) led over 60 of their House colleagues in writing to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to pass legislation to extend the federal eviction moratorium for the duration of the pandemic. Read the August 27 letter here.
    September 8, 2021

    Leading progressive Democrats urged the Biden administration to extend and strengthen the federal eviction moratorium. In a letter sent on June 21, led by Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Cori Bush (D-MO), and Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), and co-signed by 41 other House Democrats, the members of Congress wrote that the need to strengthen and extend the moratorium was an “urgent matter of health, racial, and economic justice.” The administration on June 24 extended the moratorium through the end of July.

    June 28, 2021

    Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, requested a briefing from Pretium Partners, LLC about reports that the private equity firm has attempted to evict more than 1,000 tenants for nonpayment of rent, despite the federal eviction moratorium. Senator Brown expressed concern that the company has reportedly filed eviction notices at higher rates in majority-Black counties. A copy of the letter is available here.

    June 22, 2021

    Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and 28 of her Senate colleagues sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on February 3 urging the Treasury Department to publish specific procedures addressing how people experiencing homelessness can access the stimulus payments provided in the latest coronavirus relief package.

    February 17, 2021

    Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) led 52 House members in asking HUD and Treasury to rescind the overly restrictive guidance released by the Treasury Department on January 19 regarding the emergency rental assistance program.
    February 01, 2021

    Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), incoming chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, has announced that housing affordability and access to housing will be a long-term priority for the committee. Senator Brown said his first priority will be to extend the CDC eviction moratorium and provide additional emergency rental assistance.

    January 15, 2021

    Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on September 17, urging the White House to include rental assistance in any future COVID-19 relief legislation. Senator Collins is the first Senate Republican to call so publicly for emergency rental assistance. (see Memo 9/21)

    September 29, 2020

    Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) led 44 members of Congress in demanding that the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Treasury, and Agriculture provide additional protections to renters during the pandemic. “The Trump administration has done nothing to protect the tens of millions of renters at risk of eviction, instead choosing empty gestures and brinkmanship,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel in a press statement released by Representative Bonamici. 

    September 10, 2020

    The Hill reports that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is facing growing calls from members of both parties to bring the Senate back from their August recess to take up a coronavirus package and address the Postal Service crisis.

    August 25, 2020.

    Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, on August 10 released a one-pager addressing President Trump's executive order on housing.

    Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-NY) discussed the urgent need for $100 billion in emergency rental assistance during a press conference on August 14.

    In an op-ed in the Washington Post, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) discusses the accelerating housing crisis occurring nationwide. She outlines actions that Congress must take to prevent the looming eviction crisis and stop predatory companies from further destabilizing the housing market.

    Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) on August 8 became the first Republican to criticize the president’s executive actions on coronavirus relief, calling them “unconstitutional slop.”

    August 19, 2020.

    Secretary Mnuchin said negotiators are discussing a compromise on eviction moratoriums and rental assistance. Previously, while Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has offered to extend an eviction moratorium until the end of the year, the White House proposal did not include the homeowner and rental assistance that Democrats have demanded. President Trump maintains that he has the power to enact an eviction moratorium through an executive order, but it is not clear how that would work.

    Politico reports that a growing number of Republican lawmakers, including Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), chair of the Senate Banking Committee, want the party’s leadership to include rental assistance and an eviction moratorium in the next economic relief package.

    “Democrats will not stop fighting to extend the moratorium on evictions AND provide assistance to renters in this crisis. #RentReliefNow,” tweeted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on August 5.

    Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) co-authored an op-ed in the Hill urging Congress to take immediate action to prevent the current public health and economic crisis from becoming a homelessness crisis. Senator Coons urges Congress to extend the federal supplemental unemployment insurance benefits, enact the “Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act,” and pass the “Coronavirus Housing Counsel Improvement Act.”

    President Trump said on August 3 that his administration is considering steps they can take unilaterally if Congress does not reach a deal. “A lot of people are going to be evicted, but I’m going to stop it because I’ll do it myself if I have to,” said President Trump.

    Politico reports that Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, is urging federal agencies to extend economic relief measures. In a letter to housing and bank regulators, Senator Crapo urged the officials to use their authority to continue eviction protections and looser lending rules. 

    The Hill reports that former Vice President Joe Biden is urging Congress and President Trump to enact an emergency housing package.

    August 11, 2020.

    Representatives Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and Jesús “Chuy” Garcia (D-IL), along with 41 of their colleagues sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging them to include $100 billion for emergency rental assistance in the next coronavirus relief package.

    Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) on July 23 introduced the “We Need Eviction Data Now Act of 2020” (H.R. 7743), which would create a national database to standardize data and track evictions. “Our nation is on the cusp of a tsunami of evictions and homelessness unless Congress acts to provide emergency rental assistance and other protections,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. “This impending eviction crisis underscores the critical need for the ‘We Need Eviction Now Act.’” 

    Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, released a statement on the Senate Republicans’ HEALS Act: “I remain focused on the emergency need to provide housing relief...Any legislative compromise with the Senate on coronavirus legislation must make housing relief a priority and must not include giveaways to Wall Street.”

    August 4, 2020.

    “To avoid a tsunami that could put millions of people out on the street, Congress should extend and expand the national eviction moratorium, provide emergency rental assistance, and increase funding for families experiencing homelessness,” wrote Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in an op-ed in the New York Times. Senator Warren introduced the “Protecting Renters from Evictions and Fees Act,” which would extend and broaden the eviction moratoriums included in the CARES Act to protect all renters in the U.S. for a full year.

    Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has criticized the emerging Republican coronavirus relief package for failing to fund rental assistance, extend unemployment benefits, or provide hazard pay for essential workers.

    “Unfortunately, by all accounts the Senate Republicans are drafting legislation that comes up short in a number of vital areas, such as extending unemployment benefits or funding for rental assistance, hazard premium pay for frontline workers, or investments in communities of color being ravaged by the virus, and many other necessary provisions,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) wrote in a letter to colleagues.

    July 28, 2020.

    House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-NY) said that she would delay or cancel August recess to pass a coronavirus relief bill. Speaker Pelosi discussed the need to approve assistance to help people remain stably housed as evictions and foreclosures expire.

    July 20, 2020.

    Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representatives Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-IL) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced legislation on June 29 to extend the nationwide eviction moratorium. The “Protecting Renters from Evictions and Fees Action” would extend the moratorium on evictions for nonpayment of rent for one year, starting from March 27. The bill would also significantly expand the current federal eviction moratorium to include most renters. Read the bill summary here.

    During the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs June 9 hearing, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) asked HUD Secretary Ben Carson, “how many people are going to be homeless? How many people are going to lose their homes, and what are you as an administration going to do about it?”

    Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is increasing pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to approve the “Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act,” as included in the HEROES Act, in the next coronavirus relief package. 

    Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Mike Levin (D-CA) and Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) introduced the “Homeless Veteran Coronavirus Response Act” (H.R. 2223, S. 3898) on June 4, which would provide the Department of Veterans Affairs with flexibility to care for veterans experiencing homelessness during the pandemic.

    Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) spoke at a virtual roundtable hosted by the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, an NLIHC state partner, to discuss the “Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stability Act.”

    June 12, 2020.

    Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) penned an op-ed in the Colorado Sun urging Congress to directly address the housing crisis in the next relief package. In addition to drawing from proposals in the “Evictions Crisis Act,” which he introduced with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) in December, Senate Bennet proposed including $100 billion in emergency rental assistance, $20 billion to fight homelessness and expand vouchers, and increased resources for state and local governments.

    Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) wrote to HUD Secretary Ben Carson on May 22, urging the department to quickly distribute more than $9 billion in housing and homelessness assistance appropriated by Congress through the CARES Act.

    Congressman David Price (D-NC), Chairman of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, and Ranking Member Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) sent a letter to HUD Secretary Ben Carson, urging the department to immediately take steps to ensure that CARES Act funds are promptly disbursed to state and local governments.
    Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) penned an op-ed in the Richland Source discussing the urgent need for his bill, the “Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act,” to be included in the next coronavirus relief package. 
    Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) emphasized the urgency of passing the next coronavirus relief bill despite Republican lawmakers’ opposition. “They may think it’s okay to pause but people are hungry across America, hunger doesn’t take a pause. People are jobless across America, that doesn’t take a pause. People don’t know how they’re going to pay their rent across the country. We have to address this with humanity,” she added. 
    “The HEROES Act tailors aid to the hardest hit Americans, and I’m proud to have written the provision that directs a large portion of the bill’s funds toward rental assistance for those who most need it,” said Representative Denny Heck (D-WA).

    The House voted to approve the “HEROES Act” on May 15. The White House and Senate Republicans have denounced the bill. The HEROES Act provides $200 billion in housing and homelessness resources, including NLIHC’s top priorities to ensure housing stability during and after the coronavirus pandemic for people experiencing homelessness and America’s lowest-income and most marginalized people. For more details on the HEROES Act, see NLIHC’s analysis.

    Representatives David Price (D-NC) and Nita Lowey (D-NY) discussed in an op-ed how the coronavirus crisis is exacerbating America’s preexisting housing crisis, and urged Congress to provide significant housing resources, including additional rental assistance, funding for public housing, assistance for people experiencing homelessness, and funds for Native American tribes.

    Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and 27 of her Senate colleagues sent a letter on April 7 urging Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to take the steps necessary to ensure that people experiencing homelessness receive coronavirus relief payments.

    House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said that Democrats are considering approximately $1 trillion in state and local government needs for the next coronavirus spending bill. Republican lawmakers, however, rejected the idea of providing such a significant amount of money to state and local budgets. House Democrats are considering a variety of other provisions, including money for health care providers, food stamps, direct payments to individuals, housing assistance, and others. Pelosi suggested that the House will be returning to the Capitol the week of May 11.

    Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) released a report on April 30 detailing the disproportionate impact that the coronavirus is having on communities of color. The report also lists Democratic priorities for future coronavirus relief packages, including funding to address the urgent needs of people experiencing homelessness and emergency rental assistance for low-income renters. 

    House Democrats are moving quickly on plans to create a fourth coronavirus stimulus package. “This fourth package will be about recovery” said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Some predict an even harder battle to get the bill passed.

    Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Marc Veasey (D-TX), and 40 of their colleagues wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig urging them to take action to address the barriers that could prevent individuals experiencing homeless from receiving their stimulus checks.

    Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) introduced on April 17 a bill to cancel rental and home mortgage payments during COVID-19. Read more about the “Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act” in NLIHC's Memo to Members. Read the press release from Rep. Omar here: https://tinyurl.com/y84aduj9.

    Representatives Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-IL), Adriana Espaillat (D-NY), and 49 of their colleagues sent a letter House and Senate leadership urging them to include $100 billion for emergency rental assistance in the next emergency stimulus package to help people stay in their homes. 

    Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today led the entire New Jersey congressional delegation in a letter urging the Trump Administration to approve the request from Governor Phil Murphy for FEMA to fund an housing program to provide quarantined sheltering for COVID-19 patients, including the homeless and frontline healthcare workers.

    Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and 27 sponsors sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin regarding the direct relief payments from the CARES Act. The letter urges Secretary Mnuchin to make sure that people experiencing homeless know about their eligibility for these payments, and that Treasury find a way to distribute the money without creating barriers to access.

    House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the creation of a new House Select Committee on the Coronavirus which will be tasked with overseeing stimulus funding.

    Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-CA) sent a letter to the Trump Administration pressing them for details about how federal agencies are working to ensure the proper care of America’s homeless population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sat down with VOX to talk about a plan for combatting Coronavirus – boosting the construction of affordable housing is a major element. 

    Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) released an op-ed calling for a more grassroots stimulus.

    Representative Al Green (D-TX) introduced a bill to provide support for fair housing enforcement activities associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Representative Steve Stivers (R-OH) introduced two pieces of legislation to protect public housing residents during the coronavirus pandemic. The first, the Protecting Our Elderly Residents Act, requires HUD to establish guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19 in elderly housing properties and public housing. The second, the PHA Public Housing Flexible Funding Act, allows public housing authorities to use operating and capital funds to address the ongoing public health emergency.

    Representative Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced the Informed Resident Notification Act, which requires public housing authorities to notify all residents in a public dwelling when a COVID-19 outbreak is detected.

    Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) introduced S. 3534, the Pandemic Assistance Disaster Act, which would clarify the ability of FEMA to provide financial assistance directly to individuals during a pandemic, including the current coronavirus outbreak.

    Representative Denny Heck (D-WA) introduced the Emergency Rental Assistance Act of 2020, which would increase short-term rental assistance for most Americans by expanding the Emergency Solutions Grant Program.

    Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) introduced legislation, The Public Health Emergency Shelter Act, that would provide $15.5 billion in emergency grants for homeless assistance.

    Representatives Jesύs “Chuy” García (D-IL) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced the Rental Eviction Moratorium Act, which institutes a nationwide eviction ban that self-terminates six months after the President’s Emergency Declaration is ended by FEMA.

    Representative Nydia M. Veláquez (D-NY) introduced legislation that temporarily suspends rent contribution requirements owed by tenants living public housing or those who receive Housing Choice Vouchers during the coronvirus emergency.

  • Center for Disease Control and Prevention

    The CDC on January 4 released updated guidance on COVID-19 quarantine and isolation protocols, including for high-risk congregate settings, such as homeless shelters, with have high risk of secondary transmission. Learn more about the updated CDC guidance for shelter residents and staff from the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

    Updated on Jan. 25, 2022

    The CDC issued a report, “Notes from the Field: COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Among Persons Experiencing Homelessness – Six U.S. Jurisdictions, December 2020-August 2021.” The study shows that people experiencing homelessness have a lower vaccination rate than the general population of their communities. 

    Updated on December 20, 2021

    CDC Director Rochelle Walensky signed an order on August 3 enacting an eviction moratorium for renters in counties experiencing substantial and high levels of community transmission levels of COVID-19. CDC Director Walensky issued the following statement: “The emergence of the delta variant has led to a rapid acceleration of community transmission in the United States, putting more Americans at increased risk, especially if they are unvaccinated. This moratorium is the right thing to do to keep people in their homes and out of congregate settings where COVID-19 spreads. It is imperative that public health authorities act quickly to mitigate such an increase of evictions, which could increase the likelihood of new spikes in SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Such mass evictions and the attendant public health consequences would be very difficult to reverse.” Find out whether your county is experiencing a substantial or high rate of transmission: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view. Learn more about the eviction moratorium here. 
    Updated on September 2, 2021

    The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on June 24 extended the federal eviction moratorium through July 31, and the Biden administration announced it will implement a whole-of-government approach to prevent a historic wave of evictions.

    Updated on June 28, 2021

    The CDC posted the eviction moratorium declaration form in several languages: Amharic, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Traditional Chinese.

    Updated on April 17, 2021

    CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky on March 29 announced a 90-day extension of the federal eviction moratorium through June 30, 2021.

    Updated on March 31, 2021

    The CDC on March 2 updated its COVID-19 vaccine guidance on prioritizing certain populations, including those in congregate living settings, such as homeless shelters: “Increased rates of transmission have been observed in congregate living settings. Therefore, jurisdictions may choose to prioritize vaccination of persons in these settings based on local, state, tribal, or territorial epidemiology.” 

    Updated on March 08, 2021

    CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky on January 29 issued an order extending the federal eviction moratorium through March 31, 2021.

    Updated on February 08, 2021

    CDC Director Rochelle Walensky announced on January 20 that the agency will extend its federal eviction moratorium until at least March 31, 2021.

    Updated on January 25, 2021

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on September 1 an order to temporarily halt evictions to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. The order took effect on September 4 and lasts through December 31, 2020. See NLIHC’s National Eviction Moratorium resource page for more information.

    Updated on September 10, 2020

    The Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance cautioning against the clearing of homeless encampments during the community spread of COVID-19. The move was celebrated by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty’s Housing not Handcuffs Campaign – of which NLIHC is a part.

  • Federal Emergency Management Agency

    The Biden administration announced on November 9 that FEMA will continue to cover the full costs of COVID-19 response activities eligible under FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program through April 1, 2022. The 100% cost reimbursement includes costs associated with non-congregate sheltering for individuals experiencing homelessness. In an executive order issued in January 2021, President Biden directed FEMA to cover 100% of approved costs. He extended the guidance through the end of the year.

    Updated on November 15, 2021

    FEMA and HUD released in September “Model Transitions from Non-Congregate Shelter: Joint Recommendations for Assisting People Experiencing Homelessness,” a document that provides information to communities on strategies and funding sources to help individuals and families avoid returning to homelessness and become stably housed after leaving COVID-specific non-congregate shelter. 

    Updated on October 12, 2021

    FEMA announced on March 25 that it has amended major disaster declarations for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, five territories, and two tribes to provide 100% federal funding for the costs of eligible expenses under the Public Assistance program, including approved non-congregate sheltering costs. President Biden authorized the increase in the level of federal funds for eligible expenses performed from January 20, 2020, through September 30, 2021.

    Updated on March 31, 2021

    NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel spoke with the White House and FEMA on February 3 to confirm their intention to implement President Biden’s executive order by directing FEMA not only to cover the full costs of moving individuals experiencing homelessness into hotels and motels, but also to apply full funding retroactively. For more details, see FEMA’s statement released today clarifying President Biden’s directive.

    FEMA on January 29 announced a six month extension of its “Emergency Non-Congregate Sheltering during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency” (interim) policy through June 30.

    Updated on February 08, 2021

    FEMA announced in an internal memo to FEMA Regional Administrators that it will approve reimbursement for non-congregate sheltering through its Public Assistance program for the “duration of the emergency.” This unprecedented decision will ensure state and local officials can continue offering these critical programs needed to prevent and respond to outbreaks among people experiencing homelessness and to ensure non-congregate shelter residents can transition to permanent housing solutions when the programs eventually end.

    Updated on January 15, 2021.

    FEMA on September 1 released an interim policy to clarify eligible work under the Public Assistance program as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The interim policy, “COVID-19 Pandemic: Work Eligible for Public Assistance,” can be found here.

    Updated on September 10, 2020

    FEMA announced on August 11 the approval of over $84 million in additional grants for repairs after Hurricane Maria. The funds will support105 projects related to the recovery and reconstruction of Puerto Rico.

    Updated on August 19, 2020.

    In the face of recent weather disturbances, FEMA and Puerto Rico’s Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience approved over $16 million in additional grants for repairs after Hurricane Maria.
    FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to Florida and North Carolina to supplement the state’s response efforts in the areas impacted by Hurricane Isaias from July 31 and continuing.

    Updated on August 11, 2020.

    FEMA announced on July 26 that federal disaster assistance has been made available to Texas to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Hanna. The agency had announced on July 25 that federal disaster assistance has been made available to Hawaii to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Douglas.

    Updated on August 4, 2020.

    FEMA announced on June 10 that it has developed guidance to assist state, tribal, and territorial governments in planning mass care delivery.

    FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor spoke with The Weather Channel on June 3 about the active start to the hurricane season and discussed the agency’s actions in preparing for the hurricane season on top of COVID-19 response actions.

    Updated on June 12, 2020.

    FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor released a letter to emergency managers, announcing a new “All-Hazards Preparedness in a Pandemic Exercise Starter Kit” to help partners prepare for hurricane season and other hazards during the coronavirus pandemic.

    FEMA announced on May 27 that it will extend the suspension of rent collection for Camp Fire survivors still in FEMA housing due to the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on these survivors.

    FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor discussed how the agency is adjusting to hurricane preparedness measures amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

    FEMA announced approval of 30 states and the District of Columbia for its Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training program. Crisis Counseling, part of FEMA’s Individual Assistance programs, is a mental health assistance program that provides short-term interventions, intake, and referral mental health services for disaster survivors.

    FEMA announced that it will conduct remote home inspections for disaster survivors to protect the health and safety of all Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    FEMA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are collecting and sharing best practices for responding to COVID-19. Read FEMA Coronavirus Emergency Management Best Practices and the HHS Novel Coronavirus Resources page.

    FEMA Administrator Peter T. Gaynor called for state and local emergency managers to continue to focus on conserving scarce PPE resources, strengthen the supply chain, and fully utilize federal medical staff in a letter. Housing was not mentioned.

    The Administration signed Major Disaster decla

    rations for Wyoming, Alaska, Idaho, and Vermont to total 50 states and 3 territories under a Major Disaster Declaration for COVID-19., See the full list here.

    FEMA released a new policy permitting Public Assistance Program funding to be used for the purchase and distribution of food. FEMA will be able to reimburse preparation, procurement, and distribution of food to high risk individuals staying in their homes.

    FEMA suspended rent collection for survivors staying in FEMA temporary housing. FEMA often provides tem porary housing for disaster survivors whose homes were destroyed – when an individual is unable to return to their home, or find another within 18 months, they are required to pay rent. This new rule would negate that requirement until July 1.

    North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced that the state has received approval from FEMA to provide housing alternatives, such as hotels, motels, and dormitories, for North Carolinians with unstable housing who may need to quarantine in response to or are at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

    FEMA laid out reimbursement guidelines for Emergency Medical Care and Non-Congregate Sheltering, elaborating on the existing rules allowing for both of these expenses to be covered by FEMA’s Public Assistance Category B program.

    FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program – one category of which is operating nationally after President Trump’s National Declaration of an Emergency – will have simplified forms and application processes – allowing applicants (State, local, tribal, governments and eligible nonprofits) to apply directly through the PA website.

    NLIHC has released a fact sheet on Public Assistance funding uses and eligibility. This sheet will be updated as new information is released.

    FEMA also released additional explanations on the Public Assistance program for tribal governments.

    A memo from DHS has authorized FEMA to fund 100% of the emergency assistance activities conducted by National Guard units under state control in California, New York, and Washington.

    As FEMA takes the reigns of pandemic response, confusion and frustration are mounting both inside and outside the agency.

    FEMA laid out reimbursement guidelines for National Guard activities in areas with Major Disaster Declarations. FEMA will fully reimburse states for eligible National Guard deployments.

    FEMA extended its grace period for Flood Insurance renewal premiums. The new grace period will be extended until June 15.

  • Office of Management and Budget

    In a letter to Congress, OMB requested $400 million dollars for HUD, specifically for Homeless Assistance Grants.

  • Federal Housing Finance Administration

    FHFA announced on June 24 it has extended the foreclosure moratorium for mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) until July 31, 2021. Additionally, servicers of Enterprise-backed mortgages will be prohibited from making most first filings for foreclosure that would be prohibited by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) Protections for Borrowers Affected by the COVID-19 Emergency Under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Regulation X Final Rule before the CFPB rule takes effect.

    Updated on July 14, 2021

    The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced on June 3 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will continue to offer COVID-19 forbearance to qualifying multifamily property owners through September 30, 2021, subject to the continued tenant protections FHFA has imposed during the pandemic (see Memo, 6/7).

    Updated on June 14, 2021

    The Federal Housing Finance Administration (FHFA) announced on March 4 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will continue to offer COVID-19 forbearance to qualifying multifamily property owners through June 30, 2021, subject to the continued tenant protections FHFA has imposed during the pandemic. 

    Updated on March 08, 2021

    Treasury re-published in final form in the Federal Register on January 15 the guidance it previously posted on its website regarding the Coronavirus Relief Fund.

    Updated on January 25, 2021

    FHFA announced on December 23 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will continue to offer COVID-19 forbearance to qualifying multifamily property owners through March 31, 2021.

    Updated on January 15, 2021.

    FHFA on December 2 announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will extend moratoriums on single-family foreclosures and real estate owned evictions until at least January 31, 2021.

    Updated on December 9, 2020

    FHFA announced on November 12 that the current temporary policy allowing for the purchase of certain single-family mortgages in forbearance that meet specific eligibility criteria as set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has been extended through December 31, 2020.

    Updated on November 17, 2020.

    The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) on August 27 announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will extend the moratorium on single-family foreclosures and real estate owned evictions until at least December 31, 2020. NLIHC notes that this action stops evictions for only a very small share of renters.

    FHFA announced on August 26 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will extend buying loans in forbearance and COVID-related loan processing flexibilities until September 30. The flexibilities were set to expire on August 31

    Updated on September 2, 2020.

    FHFA announced on August 6 that multifamily property owners with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac who enter into a new or modified forbearance agreement must inform tenants in writing about tenant protections during the property owner’s forbearance and repayment periods. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are also improving their online multifamily property loan look-up tools. 
    FHFA approved an extension of a temporary policy that allows for the purchase of certain single-family mortgages in forbearance that meet specific eligibility criteria set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The policy is extended for loans originated through August 31, 2020.

    Updated on August 11, 2020.

    The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced on July 9 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will extend several loan origination flexibilities until August 31, 2020.

    Updated on July 13, 2020.

    The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced on June 29 that tenant protections apply to properties with Enterprise-backed loans that are in forbearance.

    Updated on July 7, 2020.

    The FHFA announced on June 17 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will extend their single-family moratorium on foreclosures and evictions until at least August 31, 2020.

    The FHFA announced on June 16 that translated COVID-19 resources are now available in six languages. COVID-19 Servicing Scripts and the Mortgage Assistance Application are available in English, Spanish, traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, or Tagalog. 

    Updated on June 22, 2020.

    FHFA is extending several loan origination flexibilities currently offered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac designed to help borrowers during the COVID-19 national emergency.

    Updated on June 12, 2020.

    FHFA announced on May 19 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have issued temporary guidance concerning the eligibility of borrowers who are in forbearance, or have recently ended their forbearance, seeking to refinance or buy a new home. FHFA also extended the Enterprises’ ability to buy loans in forbearance.

    FHFA announced on May 14 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are extending their moratorium on foreclosures and evictions until at least June 30, 2020. The foreclosure moratorium applies to single-family, Enterprise-backed mortgages only.

    FHFA announced on May 13 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are offering payment deferral as a new repayment option for homeowners in COVID-19 forbearance plans.

    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), FHFA, and HUD launched on May 12 a joint mortgage and housing assistance website for Americans impacted by COVID-19. The website consolidates the CARES Act mortgage relief, renters’ protections, and resources for additional help.

    FHFA announced on May 5, 2020 that it has extended several loan origination flexibilities currently offered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac through June 30.

    FHFA announced on May 4 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have developed online multifamily property lookup tools to help renters find out if they are protected from evictions during the pandemic. 

    FHFA released a statement reiterating that borrowers in forbearance with a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac-backed mortgage are not required to repay the missed payments in a lump sum at the end of the forbearance plan.

    The FHFA and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced a joint program to protect borrowers during the COVID-19 crisis. The program will allow both FHFA and CFPB to share complaints, as well as information on forbearances, modifications, and other loss initiatives taken by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

    FHFA announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be offering multifamily property owners mortgage forbearance on the condition that they suspend all evictions for renters unable to pay rent due to the impact of coronavirus.

    FHFA also will be providing flexible alternatives to current requirements regarding the appraisal and employment verification of homes being bought, sold, and refinanced through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

    FHFA and Freddie Mac released additional details on a plan to offer multifamily property owners mortgage forbearance on the condition that they suspend all evictions for renters unable to pay rent due to the impact of coronavirus.

    Freddie Mac has released a new tool for Multifamily Landlords and their Renters. It provides information and links about the recently announced relief program affecting more than 27,000 multifamily apartment properties and the more than 4 million renters who reside at those properties.

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In light of ongoing efforts to address COVID-19, the U.S. Census Bureau announced they will conduct the count of people experiencing homelessness between September 22 and 24. The Census Bureau has posted several resources to explain how they count people experiencing homelessness, how privacy and confidentiality are preserved, and how organizations can assist. 

Updated on September 15, 2020

 

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The Administration for Community Living, in partnership with HUD, Treasury, and CFPB, held a webinar on September 30 on federal emergency rental assistance (ERA) tools. Many older adults and people with disabilities who are eligible for ERA have not applied. The webinar highlights tools and information to help the aging and disability networks get the word out about available assistance. Access the webinar recording, slides, and transcript here.

November 03, 2021

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a report on September 17 warning that millions of renters and their families may suffer previously avoided economic harms of the COVID-19 pandemic as federal and state relief programs end. The report confirms that compared to homeowners, renters are more likely to be Black or Latino, women, and have lower incomes. Read the CFPB press release and report.

September 27, 2021

The CFPB hosted a demonstration on July 28 of its new Rental Assistance Finder Tool, which compiles information from both NLIHC and the Treasury Department to connect renters and landlords with local rental assistance resources. View the webinar here. 

The CFPB released a new Spanish-language Rental Assistance Finder Tool to help Spanish-speakers find local rent relief programs. 
September 2, 2021

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released on July 28 an online tool to help renters and landlords impacted by the pandemic find and apply for rent and utility assistance. For information about assistance for renters and landlords, visit the interagency housing assistance portal hosted by the CFPB. Renters can also use NLIHC’s searchable database of state and local rental assistance programs to find programs in their area.

August 3, 2021

The CFPB developed a Housing Insecurity Media Toolkit to spread important information about CFPB tools and resources related to housing insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

July 22, 2021

The CFPB outlines what renters need to knowabout the extended federal eviction moratorium.

In preparation for the end of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eviction moratorium on July 31, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on July 1 issued a to landlords and consumer reporting agencies reminding them of their obligation to report rental information accurately. Inaccurate rental and eviction information on a tenant screening report or a credit report can unfairly block a family from safe and affordable housing.

The CFPB released a new complaint bulletin addressing areas of concern related to COVID-19 relief, including the CDC eviction moratorium. Some consumers reported facing homelessness due to the impact on their credit history of an eviction reported by debt collectors.

The CFPB provides answers to common questions about the federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program on its webpage, “Federal Help with Paying Your Rent.”

June 22, 2021

2021 Debt Collection COVID-19 Interim Final Rule

Fast Facts on 2021 Debt Collection COVID-19 Interim Final Rule

CFPB Guide to Economic Impact Payments

April 28, 2021

CFPB Blog: The CFPB is here to help consumers facing housing insecurity – April 1, 2021

CFPB’s Resources for Renters webpage

April 17, 2021

Tenants can file complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against landlords who violate the CDC eviction moratorium. See NLIHC Memo 4/5.

April 17, 2021

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will launch a new effort to increase awareness of the federal eviction moratorium’s protections. The CFPB and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will enforce penalties against landlords who violate the order. Read the joint statement of CFPB Acting Director Dave Uejio and FTC Acting Chairwoman Rebecca Slaughter on preventing illegal evictions.

Renters can file complaints against their landlords if they violate the CDC moratorium with the CFPB at http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/, and with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/?pid=A.

March 31, 2021

According to a new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an estimated 11 million families are at risk for eviction, with Black and Hispanic households more than twice as likely to be behind on their housing payments than white households. Read the report at: Housing Insecurity and the COVID-19 Pandemic.

March 08, 2021

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a practitioner’s guide to help people experiencing homelessness access their economic impact payments (i.e., stimulus checks).
June 4, 2020