Washington, D.C. — Today, a federal judge appointed by former President Donald Trump vacated the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) temporary federal eviction moratorium. Following the ruling, Alexandra Cawthorne Gaines, vice president of the Poverty to Prosperity Program at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
Ensuring that everyone has access to secure, accessible, and affordable housing is not only a fundamental right but also a bedrock of public health and necessary to controlling the spread of the still-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It is not hyperbole to say that this decision could push the country into a “housing apocalypse,” leading millions of people to lose their homes. Housing is health care. A public health emergency is no time to kick people out of their homes. Especially in the wake of this decision, policymakers must continue to make robust investments in rental assistance. But rental assistance alone is not enough to keep people housed; preventing evictions is necessary to keep people healthy and ensure an equitable recovery. We strongly urge the CDC to appeal this decision and for policymakers at all levels to promote public health and economic security by enacting policies that ensure that everyone has a place to call home.
For more information about the implications of ending the eviction moratorium, read “Kicking Folks Out While They’re Down” by Rejane Frederick and Jaboa Lake.
For more information or to speak to an expert, please contact Julia Cusick at [email protected].