The White House has formally asked Congress to consider legislation to extend the national eviction ban, which expires at the end of July.
“This moratorium prevented hundreds of thousands of Americans from experiencing the heartbreak, homelessness and health risks that too often emanate from evictions—particularly during a pandemic,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement on Thursday.
Per CNBC, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s national eviction moratorium has been in effect since September. In June, the Supreme Court ruled that the policy could only be renewed through legislation.
Approximately 11 million renters are behind on housing payments, according to CNBC. The White House is pointing to research that shows that evictions lead to increased Covid cases and deaths.
Local governments are still at liberty to create their own timelines, as California has done with an eviction ban extension until September 30.