Millions of struggling tenants are likely to be protected from eviction – at least another month.
The stimulus bill passed by Congress late Monday evening would extend a national ban on deportations until Jan. 31. The package would also provide $ 25 billion in rental emergency relief. But the bill has yet to be signed by President Trump.
But should the package go ahead, none of the measures will likely be enough to keep the most risky tenants in their homes last January.
Struggling to survive
Kelly Green, who lives in a $ 1,429-a-month apartment in Daytona Beach, Florida, has been unable to pay rent since September.
“The only reason I have a roof over my head is because of the deportation moratorium,” Green said.
Green earns a living selling biker clothing with rhinestones and sequins at motorcycle rallies and other festivals.
After closing in March, there were no festivals, no events, and she had no income. Still, she pooled her savings, incentive fees, housing benefits, and unemployment insurance and managed to get on her rent through July. But she didn’t know how she would make ends meet after the $ 600 a week supplemental unemployment benefit ended.
Green found out about a coronavirus-related rental fund being offered by Volusia County, where she lives. She applied for help and was awarded $ 4,500 for three months of rent.
But there was a catch: Volusia County’s rental assistance program requires tenants to be aware of the rent by March 13, 2020. Green was behind on her rent in February and as a result her apartment complex did not accept the aid.
Without that money, Green couldn’t pay the full rent for October, November or December. And since she broke her lease in November, she now has a monthly lease that’s $ 500 a month more expensive.
“Even if the moratorium is extended, the money will accumulate against me,” she said. “What would help me the most is if I get a three-month rental assistance check, they take it.”
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