Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].
Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon issued a joint clarification Monday on the extension of the moratorium on evictions, which protects California residents from losing their homes to the effects of COVID-19.
"The COVID-19 continues to devastate communities across our state and too many Californians are one paycheck away from losing their apartments or homes. These families need protection and relief now," said California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The official said that this agreement to extend the moratorium on evictions will protect tenants and small owners from losing their homes until June 30 this year.
He added that work is already underway "as quickly as possible to implement California's portion of the latest federal stimulus bill, ensuring that up to $2.6 billion in tenant assistance is administered quickly, equitably and responsibly.
"These critical federal funds, targeted at the most at-risk households with rent arrears, will help tenants stay afloat during and after this pandemic. Tenants with qualified incomes and their landlords may choose to receive direct rental assistance in exchange for forgiveness of prior rental debt," he said.
In that regard, he noted that the moratorium on evictions and the rapid deployment of funds to those most at risk are among the state's priorities; however, there is still work to be done to address the crisis of the structural cost of housing in California.
"The pandemic aggravated these problems, it didn't create them. And our work to address these fundamental problems must continue with urgency and resolution," Newsom said.
