Washington:
US President Joe Biden on Monday urged the imposition of a new ban on evictions to protect against a wave of homelessness as the more infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus requires hold.
But just a day soon after a nationwide eviction moratorium expired, Biden acknowledged the administration does not have the legal authority to assist renters keep in their houses.
That leaves the White House with handful of tools to deal with the problem that could effect millions of households soon after the 11-month old moratorium ordered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lapsed early Sunday.
“Given the rising urgency of containing the spread of the Delta variant,” Biden asked the CDC to take into account “a new, 30-day eviction moratorium — focused on counties with High or Substantial case rates — to protect renters,” the White House stated in a statement.
However, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky has been “unable to find legal authority for a new, targeted eviction moratorium,” the statement stated.
The President also named on state and regional authorities “to extend or put in place evictions moratoria for at least the next two months,” joining a handful that have currently place protections in location.
The nationwide ban was intended to extend till September, but a current Supreme Court ruling meant it had to finish early unless renewed by Congress.
However, a last ditch work by Democratic lawmakers failed.
The White House has instructed government agencies to do what they can to protect against evictions in properties in federal applications or with federal loan guarantees.
“Our team is redoubling efforts to identify all available legal authorities to provide necessary protections,” the statement stated. “In the meantime, the President will continue to do everything in his power to help renters from eviction.”
Biden also urged state and regional governments to speedily send out the billions in emergency help supplied to assist renters keep in their houses.
The Treasury Department stated that as of June, only $3 billion in help had reached households out of the $25 billion sent to states and localities in early February.
Another $21.5 billion is accessible in a second round of funding, but it will not go out till the initially tranche is spent.
Unlike other pandemic-associated help that was distributed from Washington, such as stimulus checks, it was states, counties and cities that have been accountable for constructing applications from the ground up to dole out help earmarked for renters.
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