Many residents in New Orleans and across the country faced evictions amid the pandemic until the Center for Disease Control stepped in and re-issued a moratorium on evictions.
On Friday, the CDC’s eviction moratorium takes effect. The eviction protection covers individuals who can prove they lost income due to the coronavirus pandemic and cannot pay rent or mortgage, and make less than $99,000 a year. Couples who make less than $198,000 a year, can prove pandemic loss of income, and are likely to become homeless if evicted, are also protected.
Residents in New Orleans struggled to pay their rent or mortgage payments long before the pandemic, however, now the situation has become life threatening.
“Housing is essential right now. The order was to shelter at home…not shelter at work…not shelter at schools…not shelter at hospitals,” President of the Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance Andreanecia Morris explained to WWL First News.
Which is why she says the federal government should pay people’s housing, rent or mortgage payments.
“What we believe is that there should be rental assistance to stabilize everyone so there is no need to evict people.”
Morris says if people are evicted and become homeless, it will increase the risk of further spreading the coronavirus.
“Everyone should have a safe home and not impair their families once we come out of this pandemic,” Morris said.