For Immediate Release
August 28, 2020
Contact:
Duc Luu, Public Advocates Inc., dluu@publicadvocates.org, 857-373-9118
Housing Justice Organizations Say More Must be Done to Protect Renters During the Pandemic
Sacramento, CA – Housing justice organizations call for passage of AB 3088 and demand stronger action to protect people from evictions during pandemic:
Today, Governor Newsom announced a new proposal, AB 3088, to protect renters who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis. With the looming September 1st expiration of the existing statewide eviction moratorium, huge numbers of struggling California renters face the prospect of eviction as soon as next week.
The Legislature must pass this bill because it offers some important protections for renters hurt by COVID-19. However, it still allows many evictions to go forward. Unless it is paired with a blanket eviction moratorium, COVID-impacted renters could be evicted by landlords using other excuses to get rid of tenants AB 3088 is supposed to protect. And even renters who can pay rent could be subject to arbitrary evictions for minor lease violations or, in some cases, just because the landlord feels like kicking them out.
We call on the Governor to issue an Executive Order before September 2 that preserves the statewide eviction moratorium through at least the end of the year, and on the Legislature to pass more comprehensive and long-term renter protections as soon as it reconvenes in January.
No one should be evicted during a pandemic. As our state faces new challenges posed by wildfires and continues to struggle to contain the spread of COVID-19, allowing evictions other than those necessary for safety reasons is dangerous and contrary to public health directives. Evictions will further disrupt children’s education, put court staff at risk, and exacerbate California’s homlessness crisis. Evictions will also lead to the further disenfranchisement of voters—disproportionately Black and Brown people—ahead of the crucial November election. A forced change of address—or lack of address—just as ballots are being sent out and need to be returned will make it impossible for people to vote.
As millions of California families hang on by a thread to the shelter that is protecting them from a global pandemic, we remind our elected leaders of their responsibility to keep families home. Now is the time for BOLD leadership to protect millions of California renters struggling to stay in their homes.
From the start of this pandemic, organized renters throughout California have demanded action from the state to keep people in their homes. This growing movement will continue to fight for local and statewide solutions that prevent unjust evictions and ensure that renters are not saddled with crippling rental debt. Our organizations are committed to ensuring that every Californian, no matter their race, gender or income, has a safe place to live. We call on Governor Newsom to help deliver on this vision.
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Housing Now!, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, PolicyLink, Public Counsel, and Public Advocates are organizations from throughout California dedicated to racial and economic justice.
