On August 3, the Biden Administration announced a new 60-day moratorium on home evictions. The order, issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), applies to areas with high COVID-19 cases, covers about 90% of the nation’s population, and expires on October 3. The move follows a weekend standoff with Congress in which Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), and progressives waged a public campaign urging the White House to take action. At the same time, the White House demanded that states and localities bolster efforts to disburse the Congressionally-appropriated funding previously made available for rental assistance. On August 4, a lawsuit to vacate the CDC’s moratorium extension was filed in federal court by the Alabama and Georgia chapters of the National Association of Realtors. While the legal outcome remains uncertain, the Administration’s action will still provide extra time for states to distribute the $46 billion in rental assistance already appropriated by Congress. Notably, the latest announcement does not extend the foreclosure moratorium, which ended July 31, or provide additional relief for homeowners who have fallen behind on mortgage payments.

Click here to read more.