On December 31st, federal, state and local eviction moratoriums will end.
Unless there is a some kind of legislation to address this mounting crisis, be it an extension of the moratorium or a comprehensive relief bill addressing the needs of renters to stay in their homes and landlords to get relief from mounting mortgage debt, payments, and property taxes, the fallout could be bigger than the mortgage meltdown of the early 2000’s.
“We have demanded rental assistance and unfortunately that’s fallen on deaf ears.” says Andreanecia Morris, Executive Director of the advocacy group HousingNOLA. She says renters were already in a tough spot before COVID-19:
“A lot of people were already on the brink, before COVID-19. Over half, about 60% of renters were already struggling to pay their rent every month.”
Morris says since the COVID epidemic, the matter has only gotten worse, even with an eviction moratorium.
She says those who are unemployed or underemployed are looking at mounting rental bills that will come due upon the end of the moratorium.
Those people are facing bankruptcy, or homelessness.
Morris says there have been chances at relief and financial assistance from the state of Louisiana, but lawmakers bungled the programs miserably:
“The state really did have enough money to stabilize every Louisiana household, they chose not to,” Morris states. “They chose to exclude landlords, and small business owners from a program that could’ve helped their tenants and helped the community stabilize. The state officials decided on putting out programs that didn’t work and didn't have enough money.”
Morris believes it’s time to help out landlords as well as renters.
“If the landlord isn’t getting any funding,” she explains. “They’re going to have problems paying their property tax, they’re going to have problems paying their mortgage. And the thing that the tenants care the most about: ‘How can a landlord make repairs if they’re not getting in any funding themselves?’”
Nationally, Morris supports a federal rescue program for both sides of the property coin:
“That’s why we need a comprehensive program. There are several bills that have been passed again by Congress, but Senate Republicans are holding these bills up!” She emphasizes. “And only one member of our congressional delegation, Congressman Cedric Richmond, voted for these bills that are affecting thousands of Louisianians.”
With Richmond on his way to the White House, it’s hoped he can help move these bills closer to passage and getting signed by the President.