Diana Tyree-Eddy, Hansville
Kitsap Sun August 09, 2020
It was heartening to read that Kitsap County designated more federal relief funding for housing assistance at the end of July. Sadly, such help isn't available everywhere. Across the country, millions of low-income renters are under threat of eviction and homelessness. COVID-19 has cost more 40 million Americans their jobs. When people cannot work, they cannot pay the rent. Local and national eviction bans are expiring, putting over 20 million low-income renters at risk of losing their homes in the middle of pandemic. The House has passed legislation that would provide $100 billion in emergency rental assistance and enact a national moratorium on evictions. This will help renters stay housed and landlords get paid until the economy improves. But Senate leaders and the White House are standing in the way.
It's time for Congress and the White House officials to stand up and do the job they were elected to do -- protect the American people. When we are in the middle of a pandemic, housing is healthcare. We need to reach out to the Senate and the president to quickly enact COVID-19 bill that includes emergency rental assistance and a national moratorium on evictions.
Diana Tyree-Eddy, Hansville
https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/opinion/readers/2020/08/09/moratorium-evictions-still-needed/3331164001/