Author: Chris Holden
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Millions of renters will lose unemployment benefits as eviction crisis looms
Millions of workers will lose CARES Act unemployment benefits on December 26, unless Congress passes another pandemic stimulus package. Without help, these workers risk joining the millions of low-income renters who have have built up months worth of back rent. As the national eviction moratorium is set to expire at the end of the year,…
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Small landlords facing big challenges during the pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has certainly hurt low-income renters, who struggle even in the best of times. Lost wages and jobs, the fear of eviction, and the ongoing threat of COVID-19 exposure have made life even harder for renters. But with many tenants not able to pay the rent, landlords are suffering too, and small landlords…
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Biden housing plan envisions a safe, affordable home for everyone
Now that the election is over, what can low-income renters look forward to from the Biden administration? President-elect Biden’s housing plan would provide more rental assistance to help people pay for costly housing, and would also build new affordable housing around the country. It would reward local governments that took steps to end residential segregation,…
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Call your senators on Thursday to demand pandemic housing assistance
Editor’s Note: Contact information for your senators and representatives is easy to find here. Join housing supporters across the country for “National Call-In Day” on Thursday, November 19th to demand that your representative and senators pass a coronavirus relief bill with critical housing assistance and protections. Sponsored by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), the…
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Trump admin report attacks proven strategy to reduce homelessness
A report released by the Trump administration last month was supposed to propose a strategic plan for the federal response to ending homelessness. Instead, the report attacks a proven strategy, called Housing First, that is behind over a decade of progress reducing homelessness. Critics say the report ignores the structural causes of homelessness, like rising…
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KC Tenants and ACLU sue over court order allowing evictions during the pandemic
Despite a national eviction moratorium ordered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to protect low-income renters during the coronavirus pandemic, evictions for nonpayment of rent have continued around the country. Evictions in some areas are being permitted by local courts; and renters in Kansas City, Missouri, have fought back. The American Civil…
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Trump administration favors landlords in guidance on eviction moratorium
The Trump administration has undercut COVID-19 eviction protections provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by releasing guidance that heavily favors landlords. This change will give landlords new tools to push renters out and accelerate eviction proceedings for many renters in the midst of the pandemic. For those not familiar with the…
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Evictions surged when protections lifted, low-income renters lack legal counsel
Eviction filings surged in August and September, during the short time there was no federal eviction moratorium in place. And corporate eviction filings even continued after the current eviction moratorium was ordered by the CDC. This gives us a preview of the eviction crisis that low-income renters may face in January. Because few low-income renters…
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House keeps housing assistance a priority for coronavirus relief
House Democrats introduced a compromise $2.2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill this week. With Congress set to break for recess before the national election, bill sponsors hope it will provide a starting point for negotiations on a new aid package. Affordable housing remains a priority in the bill, with substantial funding for emergency rental assistance and…
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Millions still need to claim their coronavirus stimulus checks
There are millions of people who have not yet received their CARES Act stimulus check, and time is running out to claim this assistance before the October 15 deadline. The CARES Act was passed last March to help people hurt by the coronavirus pandemic. It included stimulus checks of $1,200 for every adult, plus $500…