News Roundup

  • Lifting the Federal Eviction Moratorium Could Exacerbate the Public Health Crisis
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    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s eviction moratorium doesn’t waive missed payments or late fees, meaning when state and federal eviction moratoriums end, tenants will be responsible for more than next month’s rent. On top of this strain, a new study by University of California, Los Angeles, and Johns Hopkins University researchers found that ending moratoriums led to about 433,700 additional COVID-19 cases and 10,700 deaths.

  • Nearly 10 Percent of NYC Public School Students Face Housing Insecurity
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    Advocates for Children of New York reported about 10 percent of New York City's public and charter school students experienced housing insecurity, and 85 percent of students experiencing homelessness were Black and Hispanic during the 2019–20 school year. Child advocates are not only concerned about the effects of unstable housing on students’ educational outcomes but also that the number of students facing housing insecurity has increased since the transition to remote learning. “Learning from home is much harder when you don’t have a permanent home,” said Kim Sweet, executive director of Advocates for Children of New York.

  • A New California Program Will Create Affordable Housing for the Middle Class
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    This year, the California Statewide Communities Development Authority created a new workforce housing program for the “missing middle,” or people who cannot qualify for subsidized housing or afford market-rate housing. The program will use money from bonds to invest in rent-restricted rental properties and then use the rental income to pay back the debt. “This was a great opportunity to help our police officers, firefighters, and teachers who may not qualify for that low-income housing but may not be able to afford that [market-rate housing] either,” said Lauren Gold, a spokeswoman for the City of Anaheim.
  • Connecticut Town Sued for Discriminating against People with Disabilities
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    The US Department of Justice is suing Wolcott, Connecticut, for violating the Fair Housing Act after the town denied a special-use permit for the operation of a group home for adults with disabilities. The lawsuit alleges the town amended the zoning ordinance to prohibit community residences for adults with disabilities from operating. “This lawsuit is a step toward ensuring a future in which all people are granted equal opportunity and full integration in our society,” stated US Attorney John H. Durham for the District of Connecticut.