Most Americans who rent their home, many of whom lost jobs in the sudden economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak, will not be eligible for eviction protections, despite what President Donald Trump said this week.
Under the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s plan released Wednesday, foreclosures and evictions would stop for 60 days on single-family homes with loans through the Federal Housing Administration. That would apply to roughly 8 million units, according to HUD. Only FHA homes lived in for at least a year can be rented out.
“I am also announcing that the Department of Housing and Urban Development is providing immediate relief to renters and homeowners by suspending all foreclosures and evictions until the end of April.”—@realDonaldTrump
— GOP (@GOP) March 18, 2020
That’s compared with the roughly 43 million households who rented in 2019, according to the U.S. Census.
Roughly half of renters rent their home from an individual investor, while the other half rent from a business or multi-unit property owner.
The ones renting from a business will not receive any protections according to HUD’s proposal.
“That’s the problem with (HUD's proposal). It only impacts a very small amount of people. We need big-scale solutions,” said Andrea Shapiro of the Metropolitan Council on Housing, a New York-based housing advocacy organization.
Politicians, renters and fair housing advocates have been on social media this week sounding off about the issue. Many renters are worried their rents will simply be backlogged by landlords while the evictions are stopped, and that they’ll be hit with the bill down the road.
just in case you were thinking of defending landlords:
— Rachel Watters (@Rachelagain) March 19, 2020
I emailed my landlady to say basically "let's wait and see what the govt says about renters before I pay you rent right now" and she emailed back "sorry, can you remind me which house you live in and who else lives there?"
Renters can apply for FEMA assistance. pic.twitter.com/d4A3gtc02u
— Kyonzte Toombs (@toombsfortwo) March 18, 2020
.@NYGovCuomo, half the state rents. What are you doing for renters? What are you doing for the homeless?
— Housing Justice For All (@housing4allNY) March 19, 2020
Suspend rent NOW! https://t.co/4ojdZcA32R #NYHomesGuarantee pic.twitter.com/9et6UZiPkx
If the banks paused mortgage repayments for those with no income coming in, renters clearly should get the same (and with no mortgage to service there would be no excuse for landlords) it would mean more money left in the economy and more chance of it all to bounce back quickly
— Wil Anderson (@Wil_Anderson) March 20, 2020
Housing is a basic need for families, especially during this public health crisis. @SenJeffMerkley, @SenSanders, @RepPressley, @RepKatiePorter & I called for @HUDgov to suspend evictions for renters – I'm glad HUD is now taking this necessary step. https://t.co/3IM8jzjOcr
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) March 18, 2020
It’s clear that now is not the time for half-measures. But that's exactly what we‘re seeing for renters - the govt’s proposal risks loading debt onto those who can least afford it, storing up problems for just a few months' time. The poorest must not pay the price of the crisis.
— Rebecca Long-Bailey (@RLong_Bailey) March 19, 2020
Why do owners get a mortgage holiday, but renters don’t get a payment freeze?
— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) March 18, 2020
A home is a home, no matter how you pay for it. https://t.co/OozzcUP12U
BIG VICTORY: HUD, Fannie May, and Freddie Mac have all announced they are suspending evictions and foreclosures due to the coronavirus, following my and @SenWarren’s push to protect renters and owners from losing their homes.https://t.co/Oeo3gxwv23
— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) March 18, 2020
Furthermore, HUD has no power to protect renters in public housing authorities located across the country. HUD Secretary Ben Carson said this week on Twitter that the agency is working with Congress to get that authority to protect renters in public housing authorities.
Credit: Alex Brandon
Credit: Alex Brandon
“HUD has been in contact with every Public Housing Agency in the country to ensure the millions of low-income Americans we serve continue to have a roof over their head,” Carson said.
The rules are in contrast to comments made by Trump this week, who said renters would get “immediate relief” as part of his administration’s plan.
Housing advocates called the White House's proposal an “important first step" but said there are limitations to the policy that need to be addressed.
“America’s lowest-income renters were already struggling to pay rent and make ends meet before this latest disaster, and people were experiencing homelessness. Congress must implement a national moratorium on all evictions and foreclosures,” said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
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Renters tend to be more economically vulnerable than their homeowner counterparts. They have generally lower incomes and cannot tap into the equity in their homes as a line of credit in case of an emergency. A disproportionate number of renters are black, Hispanic and other minorities.
Some cities and states, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, New York state and Kentucky, have imposed their own eviction and foreclosure moratoriums in response to the coronavirus. But the majority of states and localities have yet to step in to stop people from losing their homes.
Shapiro said the best solution at the moment would be a national moratorium on both rental payments and mortgage payments.
“Everyone needs protections right now,” she said.
— ArLuther Lee contributed to this report for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.