The Trump administration has ordered a nationwide ban on evictions until the end of 2020, which will be enacted through the Centres for Disease Control (CDC).
43 million residential renters in the US will be covered by the order, provided that they do not expect to earn over $$99,000 this year (or $198,000 for joint filers). However, an administration official said the government does not expect to see an “overwhelming” number of people making use of the programme.
In the order, the CDC stated that the goal of the new measure is to stem the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in America.
The order represents the US government’s most sweeping measure of its kind to date, coming in response to fears that a wave of evictions could result in millions of people who have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic could be forced out of their homes.
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However, the new measure has received a mixed reception. Diane Yentel, CEO of the National Low Income Housing Association, described her initial reaction as “a feeling of tremendous relief”, but noted that without any monetary backing, renters would still face a financial cliff once the order expires in 2021.
The National Apartment Association said that the new order would exacerbate the country’s housing affordability crisis and overturn the rental housing industry. Property owners would “face a financial crisis of their own” if left unable to receive payments, the organisation stated.
