On August 26, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to end the federal Centers for Disease (CDC) eviction moratorium that was issued on August 3, and originally set to expire October 3. The moratorium ending early leaves thousands of Rhode Islanders at imminent risk of eviction. With the increase in infections of the coronavirus delta variant, it is imperative that we do everything we can to ensure the health of Rhode Islanders. Rhode Islanders need protection from evictions and foreclosures on a state level.

There is simply no place for people who are evicted to go. Rhode Island shelters are at capacity. According to the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness’s report from August 14, at least 395 individuals and 291 households were on the waitlist for a shelter. Reasonably priced single-family homes and apartments on the private market are increasingly difficult to find and obtain. We are not equipped to deal with an increase in evictions and homelessness.

This past session we advocated for legislation that would implement a moratorium on non-essential evictions and home foreclosures during declared states of emergency, as well as the sealing and unsealing of court files in residential eviction proceedings, including the permanent sealing of evictions for nonpayment that are paid through a rent relief program. We are calling on Governor McKee and the General Assembly to protect Rhode Island tenants by enacting a state level moratorium on evictions and implementing strategies to support eviction prevention and diversion.

Legislators need to hear from you. Please write to your Senator and Representative to let them know you expect them to act to keep people in their homes during this public health crisis.