WASHINGTON—With federal housing agencies extending moratoriums on foreclosures and evictions through the end of the year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an order under the Public Health Service Act to halt residential evictions through Dec. 31, 2020. The order was issued in part to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Under the order, tenants facing eviction can invoke the CDC's order by completing a declaration – included in the order or a similar one under penalty of perjury – that they:
- Have used best efforts to obtain all available government assistance for rent or housing
- Expect to earn no more than $99,000 in annual income (or $198,000 for joint filers) in 2020, or was not required to report any income in 2019, or received an economic impact payment (EIP) under the CARES Act
- Are unable to pay the full rent or make a full housing payment due to substantial loss of household income, loss of compensable hours of work or wages, a lay-off, or extraordinary out-of-pocket-medical expenses
- Are using best efforts to make timely partial payments that are as close to the fully payment as the individual's circumstances may permit, taking into account other nondiscretionary expenses
- Would likely be rendered homeless by an eviction, or would be forced to move into and live in close quarters in a new congregate or shared living setting, because the individual has no other available housing options
Read the full order here. It is set to take effect once published in the Federal Register, NAFCU reported.