President Donald Trump announced an order on Tuesday that will temporarily ban residential evictions all through 2020 due to the pandemic.
Under the executive order, the CDC will use its power under federal law to prevent any landlord who has the legal right to evict a tenant from doing so to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It also provides assistance to property owners as well as tenants.
“I want to make it unmistakably clear that I’m protecting people from evictions.” Trump said in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement read in part: “Under the CDC Order, American renters who meet certain conditions cannot be evicted if they have affirmatively exhausted their best efforts to pay rent, seek Government rental assistance, and are likely to become homeless due to eviction.
“Those who benefit from this assistance are still obligated to pay accrued rent or housing payments in accordance with their lease or contract.
“Landlords are still permitted to pursue eviction against tenants committing criminal acts, threatening the health or safety of other residents, and damaging property, among other offenses.”
“The rent is due today, but too many families won’t be able to make payments through no fault of their own, pushing them deeper into debt and the prospect of being thrown out of their homes,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement on Tuesday.
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White House deputy press secretary Brian Morgenstern said on Tuesday that the order the president signed will help millions of Americans stay in their homes.
“The administration has also made funds available to alleviate any economic impact to tenants, landlords, and property owners.” He added
The funds include billions allocated from the massive $2 trillion CARES Act Congress passed earlier this year as well as other government agencies, such as the Treasury and Housing and Urban Development, the White House said.