NCHV applauds the CDC for affirming the gravity of the housing crisis and for acting to prevent Americans facing housing insecurity from bearing the brunt of the current public health disaster. We urge the administration to extend this moratorium for as long as the state of emergency remains in effect at the federal state and local levels. A halt on evictions can help to facilitate self-isolation by people who become ill or who are at risk for severe illness from COVID-19 due to an underlying medical condition.
Eviction moratoria also allow state and local authorities to more easily implement stay-at-home and social distancing directives to mitigate the community spread of COVID-19. Furthermore, housing stability helps protect public health because homelessness increases the likelihood of individuals moving into congregate settings, such as homeless shelters, which then puts individuals at higher risk to COVID-19. We urge communities across the country to utilize this time and limited CARES Act funding to prioritize serving veterans who are currently unsheltered and at imminent risk of homelessness, now that a standard eviction moratorium is in place.
NCHV will continue to work with our national partners and Congress to ensure that any future COVID-relief legislation prioritizes the needs of homeless and at-risk veterans. Any package that purports to care about the needs of veterans must include broad rent relief measures to help veterans with months of rental arrears accumulated during eviction moratoria, sufficient funding to support veterans experiencing homelessness and the organizations that serve them; and resources to support the re-employment and retraining needs of veterans who are facing long-term unemployment.
Read the full text of the moratorium here.
CDC Issues Temporary Halt On All Evictions Nationwide Amid Pandemicmoduet2020-09-02T12:47:39+00:00