Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has said he cannot extend a statewide eviction moratorium — set to expire Monday — and has asked legislators to keep people in their homes by extending the moratorium and improving a program aimed at getting funds to struggling renters and landlords.
“Unfortunately, given my authority under the Emergency Services Management Code, an executive order further extending protections from foreclosure and eviction is not a viable option. Any further relief must be a product of the Legislature,” Mr. Wolf, a Democrat, wrote in a letter to legislators Monday. Both the state House and Senate have Republican majorities.
Housing advocates, citing the ongoing public-health crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to get federal financial assistance to renters, had hoped the moratorium could be extended. Advocates have warned the combination of double-digit unemployment and the end of an enhanced unemployment benefit a month ago could cause a spike in evictions during a time when people are still supposed to be at home as much as possible.
A program to distribute $150 million in federal aid to Pennsylvania renters and landlords has received thousands of applications since it started accepting them in July, but has been slowed by issues such as large numbers of incomplete applications, many applicants not having access to computers or printers, and a $750 monthly limit on rent relief, according to a report earlier this month from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, which oversees the program. An additional $25 million is available for homeowners who need help avoiding foreclosure.
Mr. Wolf's letter said problems with the legislation that set up the program are preventing aid from reaching those in need.
“The expiration of the moratorium would be less significant if the programs established to assist renters and homeowners in Act 24 were functioning as intended to provide payment assistance. Unfortunately, there are a number of provisions of the legislation that are creating significant administrative and programmatic challenges for the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Authority, which is charged with administering the program," Mr. Wolf wrote.
Among the issues he highlighted — the $750 monthly cap on assistance “has proven too low for landlords to go through the process necessary to participate in the program.” The program requires applications from both landlords and tenants.
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency said in a memo last month the requirement that households be 30 days in arrears to be eligible for assistance, as well as the required verification of an applicant’s unemployment through the Department of Labor & Industry, as well as other issues with the original legislation that established the aid program, were among the barriers to distributing funds in a timely way.
Advocates said they hope the program can be adjusted to help those at risk of losing their housing.
“While we are disappointed that the eviction moratorium will not be extended past August 31, eviction moratoria were only a temporary solution. We ask the General Assembly to make changes to the CARES Rent Relief Program to ensure swifter access to rent payments for people in need,” said Phyllis Chamberlain, executive director of the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania.
According to census survey data, more than 390,000 renter households in Pennsylvania did not pay rent last month, she said.
Action by the legislature on extending the moratorium appears unlikely.
The state Senate doesn't return to session until Sept. 8; the House is scheduled to return Sept. 1.
“What you are seeing here is the aftermath of ruling by executive order. For six months, we have been expressing concerns over the governor exercising such broad authority to lay down the law of the land without the involvement of the actual lawmakers," said a statement from Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre, that said Monday's letter was the first he had heard from the governor on the matter of the eviction moratorium.
State Rep. Austin Davis, D-McKeesport, said he has heard from a number of constituents about the need for this assistance.
“I hope [legislators] really understand the significant impact this has on working and everyday people,” he said.
To apply for rental assistance, visit http://phfa.org/pacares/rent.aspx or call 1-855-U-Are-Home (827-3466). Callers should listen for the prompt mentioning CARES assistance.
To apply for rental assistance in Allegheny County, visit https://covidrentrelief.alleghenycounty.us/ or call 412-248-0021.
Kate Giammarise: kgiammarise@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3909.
First Published: August 25, 2020, 1:34 p.m.
Updated: August 25, 2020, 7:01 p.m.
