Eviction Moratorium Extended to April 30 and Other Updates – April 2, 2020
Federal and State COVID-19 Response – Affordable Housing Related Updates – April 2, 2020
In the course of one day, the number of COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania increased by almost 1,000, a 20 percent increase.*
On the same day (April 1, 2020,) the Pennsylvania Supreme Court extended the moratorium on evictions to April 30 as part of the statewide judicial emergency and court closure order.
Meanwhile, almost 1 million Pennsylvania workers have filed initial claims for unemployment benefits since March 15. Unemployment claims in Pennsylvania in mid-March were 23.5 times higher compared to an average week.**
Last night I watched the daily briefing given by Governor Tom Wolf and Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine on the state’s COVID-19 response. Their message, repeated over and over again, was to STAY HOME to prevent continued spread of the virus.
The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania applauds the actions taken to protect Pennsylvanians including the moratorium on evictions. If people are evicted, they cannot stay home, thereby increasing risk of exposure to the virus for themselves and others.
However, the moratorium on evictions will not address the longer-term impacts on both tenants and landlords. Rent is still due to the landlord and tenants who are unable to pay will still owe any missed or partial payments. In addition, if tenants are unable to pay, it will make it more difficult for landlords to meet their own financial and operational obligations. Therefore, the Housing Alliance seeks information from landlords on practices that have been or will be implemented to work in partnership with tenants to address difficulty in paying rent.
We continue to collect resources and information on federal and state COVID-19 response efforts related to affordable housing, homeless assistance, and community development. Click here for critical updates regarding moratoriums on evictions and utility shut-offs, new federal stimulus funds for Pennsylvania, and help available for nonprofits and small businesses including landlords. We know that the most vulnerable populations are too often the last considered but end up the most impacted in an economic crisis. We have to be strong and vocal advocates so they and the organizations and people that serve them – including nonprofit organizations, housing developers, providers, landlords, housing and redevelopment authorities, homeless assistance providers, and local government – are not forgotten and not left behind.
Stay safe and stay home,
Phyllis Chamberlain
Executive Director