Eviction concerns have plagued many through the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a moratorium or suspension of evictions last fall. However, earlier this year, a U.S. district judge struck down the order saying the CDC overstepped its authority. Despite the ruling, it remained in place to allow the Biden Administration time to appeal.
On Wednesday, a Federal Appeals Court in Washington, D.C., denied a request from a landlord group to end the order. Therefore, the moratorium will stay in place for now. The landlords pushed for evictions to resume before the moratorium expired at the end of June. The Hill reports the Alabama Association of Realtors is among the group trying to resume evictions.
Nevertheless, the suspension remains in place. In contrast, the moratorium has generated many legal challenges. However, federal health leaders say the moratorium will keep people in homes and out of shelters during the Covid-19 pandemic. After the ruling, the courts said, “lifting the national moratorium will exacerbate the significant public health risks identified by the CDC because, even with increased vaccinations, COVID-19 continues to spread and infect persons, and new variants are emerging.”
Although this is true, landlords filed more than 56,000 eviction notices since the moratorium last September. However, The Hill notes the actions don’t always lead to evictions. Furthermore, these actions come as billions in rental assistance from Congress makes its way to tenants in need.
Finally, if you or someone you know needs help with rent Navigate Affordable Housing Partners can help. Click here to learn more about rental assistance programs currently available as the Covid-19 pandemic continues.
