CALIFORNIA, USA — (The above video is from January 21, 2021)
Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders released a statement Monday on the extension of California's eviction moratorium to protect those across the Golden State impacted by COVID-19.
The joint statement was released by the governor's office, Senate President pro tempore Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. It announces that legislative leaders have agreed to extend the eviction moratorium in California through June 30, 2021. This extension will help protect tenants and small landlords from losing their housing as the nation continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
“COVID-19 continues to devastate communities across our state and too many Californians remain one paycheck away from losing their apartments or homes," the joint statement reads. "These families need protection and relief now."
The announcement also included that state leaders are moving forward as quickly as possible to deploy California's share of the latest federal stimulus bill - ensuring that up to $2.6 billion in renter aid is handed out quickly, equitably and accountably.
"These critically needed federal funds, targeted to the most at-risk households with unpaid back rent, will help tenants stay afloat during and after this pandemic. Income-qualified tenants and their landlords can choose to receive direct rental assistance in exchange for forgiving prior rental debt."
While this will help many people in California fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, the struggle is nowhere near over.
"While we are proud of this agreement, which maintains California’s COVID eviction protections as the strongest statewide rules in the nation, our work is far from over."
President Joe Biden, just hours after being sworn into office Wednesday, signed a slew of executive orders including extending the eviction moratorium for renters and homeowners who have fallen behind on their payments or bills.
The order delays housing foreclosures and evictions until at least March 31, 2021. It was originally set to expire on Jan. 31, 2021. It ensures that people could stay in their homes even if they cannot afford their monthly bills.
You can read the full statement from California's leaders below:
“COVID-19 continues to devastate communities across our state and too many Californians remain one paycheck away from losing their apartments or homes. These families need protection and relief now.
“Today, we are announcing an agreement to extend the eviction moratorium in California through June 30, 2021 – protecting tenants and small landlords from losing their housing as the nation continues to confront the pandemic. We are also moving forward as quickly as possible to deploy California’s share of the latest federal stimulus bill – ensuring that up to $2.6 billion in renter aid is administered quickly, equitably and accountably.
“These critically needed federal funds, targeted to the most at-risk households with unpaid back rent, will help tenants stay afloat during and after this pandemic. Income-qualified tenants and their landlords can choose to receive direct rental assistance in exchange for forgiving prior rental debt.
“While we are proud of this agreement, which maintains California’s COVID eviction protections as the strongest statewide rules in the nation, our work is far from over. This eviction moratorium and rapid deployment of funds to the most at-risk are among our top priorities. But we have more work to do, together, to tackle the structural housing cost crisis in California. The pandemic exacerbated these issues, it did not create them. And our work to address these fundamental issues must continue with urgency and resolve.
“We thank the many stakeholders who have engaged in this process for the past several months, and we recommit ourselves to the work ahead to maintain California’s position as the most compassionate, progressive state in America.”
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