Petition to Stop Evictions and Cancel Rent for all Arkansans during COVID-19

Governor Asa Hutchinson

Unemployment rates are rising. COVID 19 cases are not due to "peak" until early May. Even then, people will continue to become infected until vaccinations are available. Widespread testing is not occurring, and people can spread the virus without even having symptoms. It is unjust and short-sighted to turn people out of their housing during a pandemic, especially when they’ve lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

Even now, despite many courts being closed, evictions continue in Arkansas. The Governor must order this to stop.

Please sign our petition to demand Governor Asa Hutchinson take action to protect Arkansas families.

To: Governor Asa Hutchinson
From: [Your Name]

In the interest of the public's health and safety, and out of compassion for families facing homelessness during the coronavirus pandemic, we urge you to halt all eviction and foreclosure proceedings in the courts and eviction orders by law enforcement in the state until the current public health crisis has ended. Increasing homelessness and housing insecurity during an epidemic is harmful to everyone and runs counter to our goal of containing the spread of the virus.

In addition to a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, we urge you to increase housing assistance for those with health conditions that compel them to self-quarantine, potentially losing work and falling behind on mortgage payments or rent.

We demand the following:

1. Stop all evictions for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic
2. Cancel rent and mortgage payments for six months, with no debt accrued and no back pay required.
3. Enforce rent and mortgage forgiveness for missed payments starting from March.
4. Financial assistance for landlords cancelling rent through a relief fund
5. Suspend utility payments and shut-offs
6. House all unsheltered people to protect their health and safety, and public health at-large.

We believe extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures and for us all to work together to safeguard health of all Arkansans.

We hope you will consider these measures during this time of crisis in our state.