Governor Desantis,

​Millions of Florida residents are currently being laid off or forced to be without a paycheck due to no fault of their own. Unemployed workers due to the COVID-19 crisis must be assured rent and mortgage forgiveness after the pandemic. The current eviction suspension enacted by the federal government only provides temporary relief through the end of April, but suspended rent will accumulate and be due once the emergency ends. This will put hundreds of workers in the streets because they will have thousands of dollars due at once with still no stable income to pay their unpaid rent or mortgages. With only temporary relief, massive evictions and foreclosures will occur after the crisis due to the impossibility of paying three months, or even more, of accumulated rent or mortgage owed.

This situation happened and was well documented after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, where banks foreclosed on homeowners who were not able to pay suspended payments. Many owners were forced to refinance loans that were close to maturation into new 30-year mortgages. This resulted in higher interest rates and more debt. Many landlords simply evicted renters who could not pay their back rent.

We cannot let the same thing happen in Florida. Suspending evictions won't be enough to help our Floridians. Rent and mortgage payments that accumulate during the pandemic must be waived entirely. Please help the thousands of Floridians who will not survive from the hardships of COVID-19.

Respectfully,
Florida Residents