The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has reiterated the Trump Administration’s commitment to minimize displacement and evictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic in line with President Trump’s executive order, “Fighting the Spread of COVID-19 by Providing Assistance to Renters and Homeowners.”

On Sept. 1, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the “Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions to Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19,” order. It took effect on Sept. 4, and declares a national moratorium on certain residential evictions for nonpayment of rent, as well as other fees or charges.

In fact, the CDC Director is authorized, upon finding that state health authorities have not taken sufficient measures to prevent the spread of a communicable disease, to “take such measures to prevent such spread of the diseases as he/she deems reasonably necessary.” The moratorium lasts through Dec. 31, 2020.

However, The Action Network, which is an open platform that empowers individuals and groups to organize for progressive causes, and which is supported by Met Council on Housing, Upstate/Downstate Housing Alliance, and New York Communities for Change, said the federal government’s actions are not enough and they want eviction protection embedded in State law.

“The Center for Disease Control announced an ineffective and inadequate national moratorium on evictions,” the group said. “While we’re glad the CDC recognizes that housing equals healthcare, the measure falls short of what is needed to protect New York’s tenants from eviction.”

The group said that the New York housing movement has a better plan. “We are calling on Albany to go back to session, pass a true eviction moratorium that would last till the end of the state of emergency.”

The group of housing advocates are asking the public to join them in writing a letter to their representative urging them to pass the Emergency Housing Stability and Displacement Prevention Act, a comprehensive and long lasting eviction moratorium.

The group said that eviction moratoriums, without permanent relief, just postpone the crisis, and evictions are not inevitable. “We’re calling to cancel rents and house the homeless,” they said.

HUD is reminding all grantees — states, cities, communities, and nonprofits — which received Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) or Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds that they may use these funds to provide rental assistance or other aid to individuals experiencing financial hardship because of the pandemic, and are at risk of being evicted, consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and guidance.

“From day one of this pandemic, the Administration has done everything in our power to ensure that the American people have a roof over their heads during these trying times,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson.

Meanwhile, Lynne Patton is HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey and struck a similar tone. “The President and Secretary Carson care deeply about communities disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus and have steadfastly fought this virus from Day One,” she said.

HUD said that the department is continuing to provide technical assistance to grant recipients to prevent evictions and keep people in their homes throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the outbreak in March, the department said it has provided virtual office hours for grantees to ensure relief funds are being used quickly and efficiently.

HUD also said that is has issued a toolkit for landlords and Public Housing Authorities so they can work with their tenants during this difficult financial time. Additionally, the department said it has extended, three times, its single-family eviction and foreclosure moratorium for Federal Housing Administration-insured, single-family homes, has promoted the department’s housing counselor services, and has issued guidance for lenders.

“Without this Administration’s leadership and the unprecedented $2 trillion CARES Act, poverty levels in our country would have reached over 16 percent, resulting in an additional 12 million Americans living below the poverty level,” Patton said. “To date, over $1 billion in funding has been made available to New York and over $230 Million to New Jersey to ensure residents of the Empire and Garden states remain in their homes.”

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