Commentary: Today, U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) joined Congresswoman Cori Bush (Mo.-01), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and over three dozen lawmakers in introducing the Keeping Renters Safe Act of 2021, which would provide the urgently needed authority to extend a nationwide eviction moratorium due to the pandemic. After the Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration’s eviction moratorium last month, the legislation would clarify that the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has permanent authority to implement an eviction moratorium in the interest of public health. Reinstating the eviction moratorium could keep nearly 600,000 people across the country housed in the coming months.
Since the start of COVID-19, millions of renters, including up to 105,000 New Mexicans, have found themselves behind on rent due to job layoffs and reduced hours.
“Housing is a fundamental human right, like access to food and water. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are facing evictions due to the pandemic. Ensuring families can stay housed is a matter of public health and basic human decency,” said Congresswoman Stansbury. “Having grown up in a community where so many struggle and having seen these challenges firsthand, I know how crucial this legislation is. I am proud to cosponsor the Keeping Renters Safe Act and am grateful for Rep. Bush’s courageous moral leadership on this issue. I stand in complete solidarity with our leaders and our communities in this fight for housing justice.”
The Keeping Renters Safe Act of 2021 would protect renters from eviction and curb the spread of COVID-19 by:
- Amending section 361 of the Public Health Service Act to grant permanent authority to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement a residential eviction moratorium to address public health crises.
- Directing HHS to implement a national residential eviction moratorium in response to COVID-19 that:
- Must be automatic, without requiring individuals to apply for coverage.
- Applies to all residential eviction filings, hearings, judgments, and execution of judgments.
- Allows the Secretary to establish appropriate moratorium exceptions necessary to protect the health and safety of others.
- Remains in effect at least 60 days following the conclusion of the public health emergency.
The majority of those eviction moratoria have lapsed, stimulus checks have come and gone, and unemployment benefits have expired. Yet, a significant portion of Americans continue to experience devastating levels of financial hardship. Nationwide, state authorities are distributing nearly $46 billion in rental assistance programs that Congress passed in pandemic relief packages.
A full text of the bill can be found here.