August 30, 2021
On Friday, August 26, 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that the Center for Disease Control’s Eviction Moratorium, initially enacted on September 4, 2020, is an overreach of the CDC’s power. The Supreme Court argued that if Congress believes an eviction moratorium is necessary, then Congress needs to enact one; the CDC does not have the legal authority.
Has the CDC’s moratorium been effective?
Yes, Peter Hepburn of Princeton University’s Eviction Lab states that there have been twice as many Americans behind on their rent since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there have been half as many evictions as usual. He estimates that there have been 1.5 million fewer evictions than normal in the past 11 months.
Thankfully, many landlords and property management companies have been committed to working with their tenants throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Goldfinch Management remains committed in this effort. We continue to provide best in class property management services for our residents falling behind in rent.
The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) reports that a majority of multifamily property management companies are committed to keeping residents safely in their housing. A study NMHC conducted in July of 2021 found that 100% of multifamily owners and property management companies worked with their residents to create payment plans, 96% waived late fees, and 78% deferred rental payments for residents heavily impacted by COVID-19. Rental management companies have been especially patient and flexible in communities where rental assistance is readily available for tenants.
What does this mean for Wisconsin renters?
Fortunately for Wisconsinites, the Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance program (https://www.wiscap.org/wera) has been efficient and coordinated in its efforts to distribute the $322 million Wisconsin received in federal rental assistance money. Even if your landlord has filed for an eviction in court, you are still eligible for rental assistance.
Are you in need of rental assistance in Brown County? If so, we recommend contacting Newcap at:
https://www.newcap.org/newcap_programs/wisconsin-emergency-rental-assistance-wera-program/.
Are in need of rental assistance in Manitowoc County, Door County or Sheboygan County? If so, we recommend contacting Lakeshore CAP at:
Are you a resident at one of our apartment communities and are in need of rental assistance? If so, please contact your Goldfinch property manager. There are resources for every individual and family in Wisconsin. If you need help getting connected with any other resources in your area, please call United Way at 2-1-1.
