Tenants with unpaid rent for months could soon be evicted from their homes as the federal eviction moratorium expires at midnight Saturday. Millions of people could be forced from their homes by the federal eviction moratorium that expires Saturday at midnight. This is in addition to the high-contagious Delta variant, which has been causing an increase in COVID-19 infections across the United States. Friday's failure to pass a last-minute extension of the moratorium that was in effect since September by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meant that millions could lose their shelter.AdvertisementMoodys data shows that more than 6,000,000 renters are in arrears. The CDC extended the eviction prohibition for one month in June. On Thursday, the White House stated that it was up to Congress how to resolve the problem. Biden's administration claimed its hands are tied following the Supreme Court's last month ruling that the moratorium can be kept in place until it expires, but any extension would need to be authorized by Congress. Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary, stated that Biden would support another extension. However the Supreme Court has clarified that such an option is not available.AdvertisementAdvertisementMany blamed Democrats in Congress for not acting, but lawmakers claimed they had too much time to address a complex issue. This was only yesterday that we learned, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated. The White House seemed to have been optimistic that it could find a solution. It was a terrible failure to act in a crisis, according to Diane Yentel (president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition). The Delta variant surges, and our knowledge of its dangers grows. In the final 48 hours, the White House sends a message to Congress and the House goes on summer break.AdvertisementIt is 1 AM. It is 1 AM. Our solidarity is strong, and our numbers continue to grow.Millions are at risk of being removed from their homes, and a Democratic-controlled government has the power to stop it.Now, extend the eviction moratorium. pic.twitter.com/Rt0LFgViAN Cori Bush (@CoriBush) July 31, 2021AdvertisementThe White House's decision to not act on the moratorium extension until the deadline, despite being clear that it was not going to do so, caused a sharp division between Democratic lawmakers. Maxine Waters stated that we believed the White House was in control. Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Cori Omar, and Ilhan Bush protested outside the Capitol Friday night. Bush stated that it is not okay to allow 7 million people, potentially 7 million, to be at risk of being evicted in less than 24 hours.AdvertisementTenants are struggling and billions of dollars that should have been spent to help them have not been spent. Only $3 billion of the $47 billion Congress allocated for Emergency Rental Assistance has been spent. President Joe Biden urged state and local governments that they immediately disburse these funds, now that the moratorium has ended. Biden stated that there is no reason for any state or municipality not to immediately disburse funds to tenants and landlords who have been affected by this pandemic. He suggested that state and local governments could also establish their own moratoriums. Many states, including California and New York, have already done this.Experts predict a surge in eviction cases this week. According to Bailey Bortolin (tenants lawyer for the Nevada Coalition of Legal Service Providers), I believe Monday will see a dramatic increase in eviction notices being sent out. The vast majority of these cases won't go through the court system.
