National Updates
Biden Administration
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.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
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.
Department of Treasury
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.
Advocacy & Research
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.
Reporting
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.
The Wall Street Journal reports low-income renters in Southern states are among the most vulnerable, following the expiration of the federal CDC eviction moratorium, as Southern states have some of the most landlord-friendly laws and procedures to evict tenants.
State and Local News
Alabama
According to the Alabama Housing Finance Authority, as of July 15, $4.4 million of the $237 million it received to administer the statewide Emergency Rental Assistance Alabama had been provided to 597 households. With census data indicating nearly 58,000 Alabama residents report they could be evicted over the next two months, housing advocates are concerned about a surge of evictions and a rise in homelessness.
Alaska
The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation announced on August 2 it has contacted all 30,000 applicants in Alaska Housing Rent Relief, reviewed all requests for past-due rent, and paid $85.2 million.
Colorado
Governor Jared Polis issued an executive order on July 30 that requires landlords to provide tenants with 30 days’ notice before evicting them due to nonpayment of rent. During that period, tenants can halt the eviction by showing proof they have applied for rental assistance. The order went into effect on August 1.
Florida
Florida has distributed about 2% of the more than $870 million it has received in federal emergency rental assistance (ERA). As of July 30, the Florida Department of Children and Families said it had distributed only $18.3 million to about 4,300 applicants through its statewide ERA program, OUR Florida. Kody Glazer, legal director of the Florida Housing Coalition, attributed the state’s disappointing distribution number to several factors, including the online-only application and a requirement that landlords create a new account and reapply for every tenant if they are applying on behalf of multiple people.
Georgia
The Chief Judge of the DeKalb County Superior Court signed an order Friday stopping all evictions in DeKalb for 60 days. The local eviction moratorium is the first of its kind in Georgia. NLIHC’s Diane Yentel tweeted that other states, cities, and counties should immediately follow DeKalb County’s decision to enact local eviction protections.
Indiana
Indianapolis is expanding a new pilot program to provide legal aid throughout Marion County’s township small claims courts where eviction proceedings are heard. The city plans to use about $800,000 to $900,000 of American Rescue Plan Act resources to fund the pilot program for one year.
Kansas
The Wichita Eagle reports the new CDC eviction moratorium should cover renters in Sedgwick County and most of Kansas. Most counties in Kansas are experiencing “high” levels of COVID-19 transmission and would fall under the new CDC protection, according to the CDC’s map. The Wichita Emergency Rental Assistance Program has been slow to distribute aid – only distributing about $1 million two months after launching.
Louisiana
More than 60,000 households in Louisiana have applied for emergency rental assistance (ERA) this year. So far, less than 11,000 households have been approved. Housing advocates like Andreanecia Morris, executive director of HousingNOLA, are urging tenants and landlords to communicate with each other and pleading with landlords to not evict their tenants.
Maine
More than 9,000 Maine households have received or been approved for about $46 million in rent relief since the program relaunched on March 1. The Maine legislature approved a new law that requires landlords to attach a plain-language notice to all future eviction complaints, which will include key information about the eviction process, how tenants can access rent relief, legal assistance, and housing counseling, and how tenants can request mediation of their case.
Maryland
Anne Arundel County is ramping up efforts to prevent evictions by increasing outreach to landlords, more than doubling the number of Community Legal Services staff available to assist tenants and setting up office space next to the District Court to help tenants access representation. Of the 89 cases that went to court with Community Legal Services’ representation since the county launched the program, every tenant has avoided eviction.
New Jersey
Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation (S.3691) on August 4 that will help stem a wave of evictions. Under the new law, households with incomes up to 120% of area median income (AMI) cannot be evicted for nonpayment of rent owed between March 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021. The state eviction moratorium will end on August 31, 2021 for nonpayment of rent; however, households with incomes up to 80% of AMI can apply for an extension of the moratorium through December 2021 if they can demonstrate COVID-related economic hardship and have applied for emergency rental assistance.
Oregon
Oregon Housing and Community Services is offering a free training on Friday, August 6 from 2-3:30 pm ET for advocates and volunteers interested in helping low-income Oregonians apply for federal emergency rental assistance. Access the training here.
Rhode Island
RentReliefRI is asking residents to share information about the emergency rental assistance (ERA) program with clients, community members, and partners to ensure this information reaches those who need it most. Check out RentReliefRI’s outreach tools and resources.
Texas
January Advisors reports 2,432 households in Harris County lost their protections when the initial CDC eviction moratorium expired on July 31. Of those, 1,423 households may have faced imminent eviction, and 1,009 delayed cases would have appeared on the docket in the coming weeks. Note: The CDC issued a new eviction moratorium on August 3.
Wyoming
Emergency rental assistance (ERA) and legal aid are available to low-income renters in Wyoming. Equal Justice Wyoming provides legal services throughout the state at five locations. Renters can apply for ERA through the Wyoming Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
Guidance
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Department of Housing and Urban Development
- HUD Multifamily Q&A for COVID-19 – Updated July 29, 2021 (see Memo, 8/2)
- COVID-19 Homeless System Response: ESG-CV Notice CPD-21-08 Summary – July 2021
- COVID-19 Homeless System Response: Vaccine Planning and Distribution – July 2021