During the most recent national call on coronavirus, disasters, housing, and homelessness, we shared information on the state of coronavirus relief negotiations, heard about the impact of COVID-19 on Black women, and discussed the barriers evictions place on future housing opportunities. We also received field updates from advocates in Maryland.
NLIHC’s Sarah Saadian shared updates from the Hill on the state of a coronavirus relief bill and the latest relief proposal. In addition to funding for rental and homelessness assistance, NLIHC is advocating for the CDC to extend its eviction moratorium and for Congress to pass a statutory moratorium to ensure the strongest possible eviction protections for renters.
Karma Cottman from Ujima, the National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community discussed the disparate impact of COVID-19 on Black women. The increased isolation resulting from stay-at-home orders has exacerbated the unique challenges of addressing domestic violence and sexual assault within communities of color, who are often marginalized in systemic and service responses. Lack of access to safe and affordable housing disparately impacts survivors who are women of color, who experience higher rates of homelessness as a result of abuse.
Rasheedah Phillips from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia shared the organization’s new report, “Breaking the Record: Dismantling the Barriers Eviction Records Place on Housing Opportunities.” To combat the disparate impact of eviction records on households of color, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia suggests passing state legislation to seal records and enacting other court policies that seal or restrict access to eviction records. The organization also recommends passing local protections restricting the use of eviction records in rental decisions, banning the use of blanket ban policies, and expanding agreement options for tenants in landlord-tenant court.
Miranda Darden Willems of the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition discussed the state’s efforts to prevent evictions and provide rental relief funds.
NLIHC hosts national calls on coronavirus, disasters, housing, and homelessness every week. On today’s call, we will discuss new estimates of the amount of back rent accrued because of the pandemic, share new resources from the Framework for an Equitable COVID-19 Homelessness Response, get updates from the field, and more. Register for today’s call (Monday, December 14 at 2:30 pm ET) at: https://tinyurl.com/ru73qan
Watch a recording of the December 7 call at: tinyurl.com/y5k7btc4
Access presentation slides at: tinyurl.com/y56w49bl