FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUG. 4, 2021
The Center for Disease Control renewed its eviction moratorium to remain in effect until Oct. 3. The CDC’s new order applies to counties with substantial and high levels of community transmission of Covid, which currently applies to 70 of Ohio’s 88 counties, according to the agency’s data tracking tool.
Bill Faith, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, issued the following statement:
“We’re pleased that the Biden Administration recognized the threat that eviction poses to efforts to control the spread Covid-19. This extension will help prevent unnecessary evictions, at least in places where the virus is spreading, which includes most of Ohio. The order buys two more months to get Emergency Rental Assistance out to tenants, which is especially important because it’s takes time to build this new program from scratch. Emergency Rental Assistance is critical to help keep people safely housed during this crisis, but it’s only short-term relief. We need structural change that expands access to affordable housing so the next public health crisis doesn’t immediately become a housing crisis as well.”
Faith urged tenants facing eviction to to submit a declaration form stating they are eligible for protection under the CDC’s eviction moratorium, and to apply for Emergency Rental Assistance immediately. A directory of local Emergency Rental Assistance programs is available on COHHIO’s home page.
COHHIO is calling on Ohio’s Congressional delegation to support a significant expansion of the Housing Choice Voucher Program, rehabilitate the deteriorating public housing system, and build up the National Housing Trust Fund to increase the number of rental units that are affordable for very low-income Ohioans.
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