The eviction moratorium has ended: Resources available to assist renters
On Aug. 26, the Supreme Court ruled to overturn the federal eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This ruling invalidated the federal eviction moratorium in most parts of Pennsylvania. Landlords may now evict tenants for non-payment of rent, and some local courts have limited restrictions on lockouts for tenants who have applied for back-rent assistance.
Money to pay back-rent is available. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) helps tenants who were unable to pay rent due to the pandemic. Philadelphia residents can apply at PHLRentAssist.org or by calling the City of Philadelphia at 215-320-7880.
Legal services are available to assist tenants facing eviction. Tenants in Philadelphia should call the Philly Tenant Hotline at 267-443-2500. Pennsylvania tenants 60 and older can call SeniorLAW Center at 1-877-727-7529.
Landlord-tenant mediation programs are active in 12 Pennsylvania counties, including Philadelphia. For information, go to HousingAlliancePa.org/eviction-prevention or call the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania at 215-576-7044. In Philadelphia, landlords are required to apply for the ERAP and participate in mediation before they can file an eviction for nonpayment in the Philadelphia Municipal Court.
After the Supreme Court ruling, the White House released additional information on how it is trying to prevent evictions through U.S. Treasury updates to ERAP and programs administered by other government agencies, including the U.S. departments of agriculture and veterans affairs. For information, go to home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus and click on “Assistance for State, Local and Tribal Governments” then “Emergency Rental Assistance Program.”
