President Joseph Biden extended the federal eviction moratorium through spring, but statewide housing advocates say some renters are still being evicted simply because of a lack of awareness of available protections.
Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order, effective Sept. 4 through Dec. 31, 2020, preventing qualifying residential tenants from being evicted for nonpayment of rent due to the pandemic. In December, the U.S. Congress extended the order to Jan. 31. Now, per President Bidenâs executive order, the CDC has extended the eviction moratorium once more through Mar. 31.
But the burden of proof largely falls on the tenant, housing advocates say, who may or may not know about the federal moratorium in the first place.
More relief on the way? Houston expects to get about $70 million in federal stimulus.
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Houston City Hall, pictured here on April 1.Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer
Houston officials expect to get up to $70 million in federal stimulus funds to help renters in the city make their monthly payments and use toward other housing expenses.
The $900 billion federal stimulus package Congress approved late last year did not include more assistance for cities and states, but it did allot $25 billion in emergency relief for renters. Those funds will pass through states and local governments that represent more than 200,000 residents.
Mayor Sylvester Turner said Wednesday he expects Houston’s share of those funds will arrive soon. Bill Kelly, the city’s director of intergovernmental relations, said he estimates the city will get an allocation of $65 million to $70 million. The money will go through the Treasury Department, and the law calls for mak