Rep. Stanley cosigns bill for a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures during the COVID19 emergency

Rep. Stanley co-sponsored HD.4935, legislation to provide for a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures during the COVID19 emergency. The goal of this bill is to protect those with housing instability, and in turn the public, during the COVID19 emergency. The legislation would place a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures while the Governor’s state of emergency is active. This policy has already been enacted in jurisdictions such as San Jose, and is being explored all over the country.

If people are evicted when they are supposed to be self-quarantining, they may have to enter overcrowded homeless shelters or live on the streets, a result which runs directly counter to CDC recommendations. Homeless shelters already have capacity challenges and it is highly likely that COVID-19 will significantly increase shelter populations, which could lead to overcrowding. In addition, homeless people have a higher rate of infectious and chronic diseases, which puts them at higher risk of experiencing severe or even fatal complications associated with COVID-19. Given the closure of workplaces and businesses, it will be hard for tenants to find new housing.