SPRINGFIELD — Western Massachusetts lawmakers, community leaders and organizations have joined forces to urge eviction relief amid the latest coronavirus surge.
A letter signed by 20 area state senators and representatives, along with various other organizations and officials, supports the “COVID-19 Housing Equity Bill” (H 1434). The bill would temporarily halt foreclosures and no-fault evictions, and ensure that landlords cooperate with rental assistance programs ahead of action, officials said.
“As the more aggressive Delta variant surges and the COVID numbers tick up across the Commonwealth, we believe it is the state’s duty to act immediately to protect our constituents,” the letter said. “The COVID-19 Housing Equity Bill will provide that protection.”
The letter was addressed to the chairs of the Joint Committee on Housing, which has scheduled a public hearing on the bill Thursday.
The legislators said more than 2,700 evictions proceedings have been initiated in Western Massachusetts alone since a state eviction moratorium was lifted last October. That included 2,036 in Hampden County, 207 in Hampshire County, 139 in Franklin County and 354 in Berkshire County, the letter said.
In addition, 585 properties are under threat of foreclosure in Western Massachusetts, the letter said.
“This bill will protect tenants and homeowners from losing their homes during this pandemic while ensuring small landlords get quicker access to the rent they depend upon,” said state Rep. Bud Williams, D-Springfield, in a statement. “Evictions only widen the racial disparity gap as they disproportionately impact Black and brown people. We need to take this public health emergency out of the courts while we get the rental assistance out the door, and the COVID-19 Housing Equity bill is the way to do it.”
Williams is chairman of the Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights and Inclusion.
Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended a federal moratorium on evictions until Oct. 3. The moratorium temporarily halts evictions in counties with “substantial and high levels” of virus transmissions around the nation.
Area elected officials joining in support of state’s Housing Equity Bill included the mayors of Northampton, Greenfield, Easthampton, Pittsfield and North Adams and the Springfield City Council, officials said. Nearly 50 organizations from the region signed onto the letter including social services, medical, anti-poverty and education organizations.
“Our region can be proud of its commitment to keeping people safely housed during this extremely challenging time,” said Rose Webster-Smith, executive director of Springfield No One Leaves and co-coordinator of Homes for All MA, a statewide coalition of grassroots housing justice groups. “Now we need our legislative leaders to hear us and pass this protection into law immediately.”
Legislators signing on to the support letter were: state Sens. Adam Gomez, Eric Lesser, Jo Comerford, Anne Gobi, Adam Hinds and John Velis; and state Reps. Williams, Carlos Gonzalez, Orlando Ramos, John Barrett, Natalie Blais, Daniel Carey, Mindy Domb, Patricia Duffy, Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Paul Mark, Jake Oliveria, Smitty Pignatelli, Linday Sabadosa and Susannah Whipps.
Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, in a separate news release this week, said the CDC’s extended moratorium on evictions for nonpayment of rent includes Hampden County.
Sarno said WayFinders Inc., based in Springfield, provides financial assistance to tenants and homeowners to pay overdue rent, mortgage and utility payments. He urged those in need to seek the assistance.
Related content:
- CDC issues new eviction ban; moratorium will end Oct. 3
- ‘I’m going to be homeless, all because of this pandemic;’ Landlords, tenants fill courts as eviction moratorium ends