The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) signed into law March 27 includes a temporary ban on evictions through the end of April for people who cannot afford to pay rent because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
People whose landlords have subsidies, such as Section 8 tenants, and people whose landlords have federally-backed mortgages are protected from eviction through July 25. And with Louisiana courts mostly closed during the pandemic, eviction proceedings are on hold for the time being.
Cashauna Hill, executive director of the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center told the Record that 75% of landlords have some kind of federally-backed financing, which protects their tenants from eviction through the end of July.
Unfortunately, it is hard for most tenants to determine what kind of financing their landlords have, she said. Housing Action Center is advising people to assume that they are protected from eviction notices until after July 25.
Even with the eviction ban in place, some tenants are calling to report being threatened with eviction, she said.
“Any threats of eviction are illegal,” Hill said.
Some landlords have changed the locks on the rentals of people who have not paid the rent, she said. The Housing Action Center is referring people who have received eviction threats and those who have been locked out to Legal Services for help, she said.
Responses from landlords to the crisis have run the gamut, Hill said.
One large New Orleans management company sent their tenants letters telling them that they are expected to pay the rent, Hill said.
“They threatened evictions--even though it is illegal,” she said.
Many landlords, however, are trying to work with their tenants - something Housing Action Center is trying to encourage.
“This is a prime opportunity for landlords to step up and do the right thing,” she said. “For all of us to remain safe, we need to keep people in their homes.”
The Housing Action Center posted a sample letter on their website that tenants can use to appeal to their landlords, she said.
I have lost income/work/my job because of the COVID-19 crisis and cannot afford to pay my April rent at this time. Would you be willing to:
1. Waive April late fees?
2. Agree not to evict me for not being able to pay April rent on time, and instead agree that after the Governor lifts the stay at home order, we will work out a repayment agreement that works for both of us?
Most mortgage holders can qualify for a forbearance because of COVID-19, Hill said. The Housing Action Center is encouraging landlords to get forbearances from their lenders and then pass the savings on to their tenants.
“These are unprecedented circumstances,” Hill said. She hopes Congress will go further to help people stay in their homes.
A very large number of people in Louisiana work in the hospitality industry, Hill said. Tourist season in Louisiana slows down during the summer, she said. Many workers will not have jobs to go back to, she believes.
Hill would like to see Congress to consider rent and mortgage forgiveness. If not, she predicts that the homeless population will skyrocket. Once the moratorium on eviction ends, people will need significant housing assistance, she said. “We need to do everything possible to make sure that people can stay in their homes,” she said.