A CDC moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent takes effect today and lasts until the end of the year.
Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center spokesperson Maxwell Ciardullo says the CDC is exercising powers granted to it during a public health emergency.
“With the understanding that when people are made homeless or forced to double up with other family members or in homeless shelters or other congregate settings that drastically increases the spread of a virus-like this,” says Edwards.
So far in New Orleans alone since the moratorium ended June 15th there have been 730 eviction filings.
To gain protection under the moratorium a tenant must sign a declaration attesting that removal from their home would put them at great risk of contracting coronavirus. Ciardullo says you can get the form, useable statewide, at ready.nola.gov.
“All the tenant has to do in that scenario is provide that declaration to a landlord and they are covered,” says Ciardullo.
New Orleans City judges ruled Thursday morning that the city will be suspending all eviction hearings, but reports are legal challenges in other parts of the country against the ruling are underway.
The ruling does not absolve renters of paying their rent, it just pushes the due date back to January. Ciardullo says this sets the stage for mass evictions to start 2021.
“We need our Senators, Senator Cassidy and Senator Kennedy to get back to work on relief bill that includes emergency rental assistance that will make small landlords whole and allow renters to stay in their homes,” says Ciardullo.
Renters must make less than six figures to qualify for the protections.
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