Millions of struggling tenants are likely to be protected from eviction for at least another month.
The stimulus bill passed by Congress on Monday night would extend the national ban on evictions until Jan. 31. The package would also provide $ 25 billion in emergency rental assistance. But the relief bill has yet to be signed by President Trump.
But if the package is complied with, none of the measures will likely be enough to keep the highest-risk tenants in their homes last January.
Struggling to stay afloat
Kelly Green, who lives in a $ 1,429-a-month apartment in Daytona Beach, Florida, has not been able to pay rent since September.
“The only reason I have a roof over my head is because of the eviction moratorium,” Green said.
Green makes a living selling biker clothes with rhinestones and sequins at motorcycle rallies and other festivals.
After the March break, there were no festivals, no events and no revenue. Still, he put together his savings, stimulus payments, rent relief and unemployment insurance and managed to keep his rent running until July. But he didn’t know how he would get to the two bosses after the end of the $ 600 weekly unemployment supplement.
Green was able to talk about a coronavirus-related rent relief fund offered by Volusia County, where he lives. He applied for help and was awarded $ 4,500 for three months rent.
But there was a problem: the Volusia County rental aid program requires tenants to be up to date with rent from March 13, 2020. Green had the rent in February and, as a result, its rental complex. apartments would not accept help. .
Without that money, Green could not pay the full October, November, or December rent. And since he maintained his lease in November, he now has a monthly contract, which is more expensive than $ 500 a month.
“Even if the moratorium is extended, the money is accumulating against me,” he said. “What would help me the most is for me to receive a rental aid check for three months, to have it taken from me.”
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