The eviction ban that was first put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention back in September 2020 is set to expire on June 30th.
As of this writing it has not been extended.
There are still so many people who are struggling with Covid infections and death. The financial catastrophe that many are facing now, even as the pandemic seems to be coming to an end, is still so hard to measure.
Many tenants have stopped making their rent payments due to circumstances that were clearly beyond their control. Some of these tenants may have deferred their rent payments with an agreement with their landlord. Others, who are without a solid financial lifeline, or are simply too scared, have just stopped paying the rent because they know the national eviction ban prevents their landlord from taking action against them right now.
With the expiration of the eviction ban, that is all about to change quickly.
What steps can I take now as a tenant to stop my eviction?
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program provides aid to help renters who are unable to pay rent or utilities. Renters want to be able to access this aid before the eviction ban expires, but qualifying for the aid and receiving the aid may not be as easy as it was intended.
Right now less than a 1/4 of the 388 agencies distributing federal money allow for direct payments to tenants in distress. Organizations and programs that are charged with distributing the aid are said to be presently overwhelmed with rental aid applications. That means there is money out there to help tenants, but it may not be flowing fast enough to help those who are behind on their rent and need help now.
Don’t get bogged down with your rental assistance application
Those who need rental aid should complete their aid applications to avoid possible removal from their tenancy.Incomplete aid applications are likely a barrier for a tenant in need getting fast rental assistance. Some agencies require more documentation than others. Learn what you need for your aid application, ask for a checklist so you know what documents to have handy.
Speak to an attorney if you are confused about the process and what resources may be available to you. Failure to thoroughly and timely complete an aide application could delay the rental assistance that you need and deserve to get you through these tough financial times.
Those who ignore required agency paperwork are likely not going to receive the assistance they need as compared to a needy tenant who has their application deemed “complete.”
If you are unsure what to do now and what aid you may qualify for or if you are scared about the expiration of the national eviction moratorium you should immediately seek out the assistance of the agencies that are offering aid. You can find those agencies on the U.S. Department of the Treasury website, here.
Visit their websites and call their customer service numbers for those who are behind on their rent and fear eviction from their landlord. Do not wait until you are homeless to get the help you need now.
Could speaking to an attorney be another option for me now?
Remember do not hesitate to speak to an experienced and well reviewed lawyer who handles financial distress and bankruptcy about your financial options that may or could include breathing room and fresh start through the bankruptcy process.