In 2020, during the Trump administration, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a national moratorium on residential evictions.
The move was intended to address an immediate public health crisis. As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of this country and businesses nationwide were strangled by stay-at-home orders and restricted operations —which were necessary—forcing reduced hours, layoffs and cutbacks, people fell behind in their rent.
The CDC’s action, in many instances, kept people sheltered and stopped the potential spread of the disease by curtailing the growth of the homeless population.
President Joe Biden extended the program during his first days in office and the moratorium was expected to last through June, giving hundreds of thousands of families across the country breathing room and time.
But a federal judge this week ruled the CDC overstepped its authority and ruled the moratorium must stop.
The Biden Administration is appealing the decision.
However, Chula Vista, National City—California residents in general—can find relief in the fact that Gov. Gavin Newsom had extended the state’s separate eviction moratorium through June, as have other municipalities and counties up and down California.
In San Diego County three of the five county supervisors—all Democrats—voted to support South County Supervisor Nora Vargas’ proposal to halt evictions until at least June 15, when the state is expected to lift all stay-at-home orders and pandemic restrictions.
As more people get out and about and patronize businesses, they in turn will hire more workers and those who pay rent will be able to catch up.
Landlords and property owners have not been completely left out in the cold. Federal and state funds have been made available to help tenants cover some of the cost of housing and cities like Chula Vista and National City, where the pandemic has struck hard—are still disbursing some of the funds made available to them.
But the money won’t be there long. Hopefully, it will be just long enough to help those of us most in need hag on until we’re back on our feet.
