The CARES Act funding made available to assist families financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, expires on 12/30/2020. But many households will find themselves on the brink of homelessness beyond 2020. On September 1st, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an order to temporarily halt evictions through the end of the year.
A temporary halt we agree with. As evictions threaten to increase the spread of coronavirus because they force people to move or go into shared living situations or group settings like our local homeless shelters. However, the halt is not automatic. The order puts the responsibility on the renter to ensure they meet the criteria and to provide a signed written statement to their landlord in order to invoke the protection.
Rent is not canceled, nor forgiven. On January 1st, 2021 renters will be required to pay back rent and landlords may opt to collect rent in one lump sum. Our goal is to secure the funding necessary to support local families who find themselves facing eviction in 2021 and beyond.
We need to help keep these families stably housed, in their current properties. Not only to prevent the trauma families endure experiencing homelessness, but because of the lack of affordable housing Greater Cincinnati. Households will have an even harder time finding decent, affordable housing in the future if they have an eviction history.
Read more about the temporary Eviction Moratorium.
