CDC directs halt to renter evictions to prevent virus spread

Trump ministration has issued a directive halting eviction of certain renters though end of 2020 to prevent spre of vel coronavirus.

Federal, state and local governments have approved eviction moratoriums during course of pandemic for many renters, but those protections are expiring rapidly. A recent report from one think tank, Aspen Institute, stated that more than 20 million renters live in households that have suffered COVID-19-related job loss and concluded that millions more are at risk of eviction in next several months.

ministration's action stems from an executive order that President Donald Trump issued in early August. It instructed federal health officials to consider measures to temporarily halt evictions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention followed up Tuesday by declaring that any landlord shall t evict any “covered person” from any residential property for failure to pay rent.

Senior ministration officials explained that director of CDC has bro authority to take actions deemed reasonably necessary to prevent spre of a communicable disease.

Renters covered through executive order must meet four criteria. y must:

— Have an income of $198,000 or less for couples filing jointly, or $99,000 for single filers.

— Demonstrate y have sought government assistance to make ir rental payments.

— Affirmatively declare y are unable to pay rent because of COVID-19 hardships.

— Affirm y are likely to become homeless if y are evicted.

Officials said local courts would still resolve disputes between renters and landowners about wher moratorium applies in a particular case.

Brian Morgenstern, a deputy White House press secretary, said Tuesday's anuncement means that people struggling to pay rent due to COVID-19 would t have to worry about being evicted and risking spre of disease or exposure to it.

Diane Yentel, president and CEO of National Low Income Housing Coalition, said order will provide relief for millions of anxious families, but ded that action delays rar than prevents evictions.

“While an eviction moratorium is essential, it is a half-measure that extends a financial cliff for renters to fall off when moratorium expires and back rent is owed," Yentel tweeted.