Sign the Petition to Stop Evictions, Prevent Homelessness & Save Lives
Rhode Island General Assembly
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.
Please sign the petition to our General Assembly to let them know that you expect them to act to keep people from becoming homeless during a public health crisis!
Sponsored by
To:
Rhode Island General Assembly
From:
[Your Name]
As your constituent, I am calling on you to protect renters and homeowners in Rhode Island by supporting a state-wide moratorium on evictions as well as tenant protections similar to bill H6464, which provides that any record of evictions for nonpayment, in which the rent arrearage was paid by rent relief, will be sealed permanently.
The CDC moratorium on eviction set to expire on October 3 was prematurely overturned by the Supreme Court on August 26, 2021. Although the pace of distribution is improving, data show that to date Rhode Island has less than 10 percent of Emergency Rental Assistance through Rent Relief RI. Over 1,300 applicants have received an eviction notice. Like other states, Rhode Island needs time to allow dollars to flow to keep people in their homes.
In addition, there is simply no place for people who are evicted to go. Rhode Island shelters are at capacity. People are camping out in parking lots. Housing is extremely difficult to find and obtain regardless of income. We are not equipped to deal with an increase in evictions and homelessness here in Rhode Island. According to the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness, as of August 14 there are at least 395 individuals and 291 households on the waitlist for a shelter. With the increase in infections of the coronavirus delta variant, it is imperative that you do everything you can to ensure the health of Rhode Islanders by supporting strategies that make certain that residents remain stably housed and have time to access assistance.
A moratorium will:
- Protect renters and homeowners from eviction and foreclosure until the declared state of emergency is lifted
- Create a plan to keep people in their homes during future crises
- Give time for the State to distribute $200 million in federal Emergency Rental Assistance funds to landlords and eligible tenants who apply
- Provide stability for renters and homeowners so people can focus on returning to work and taking care of their children and families
- Help reduce spread of the virus as people get vaccinated
- Provide stability for renters and homeowners so people can focus on returning to work and taking care of their children and families
- Help reduce spread of the virus as people get vaccinated
I urge you to support a moratorium on nonessential evictions and to encourage your colleagues and State Leadership to protect the people of Rhode Island as well.