Multiple cities suspend evictions during coronavirus crisis

Multiple cities across the country are suspending evictions during the coronavirus crisis.

Officials in Denver, Seattle, San Francisco and San Antonio, as well as New York state, have announced a suspension in evictions during the outbreak, acknowledging that residents might have lost income and cannot afford to pay rent. 

These bans on evictions mean that property owners cannot file for new evictions, and existing eviction cases will not be addressed until later. 

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan (D) said a moratorium would be placed on residential evictions last week.

“We have entered an unprecedented era for our City,” she said in a Saturday statement. “Too many families are already struggling, and COVID-19 virus has disproportionately affected the communities who can least afford it.”

San Francisco Mayor London Breed issued a similar order Friday to limit the evictions influenced by the spread of COVID-19.

“This moratorium will help people stay stable if they lose income because they get sick, a family member gets sick, or their job is impacted by the economic damage the coronavirus is causing,” she said in a statement. 

Denver’s city government said in a statement Monday that the Denver Sheriff Department will deploy deputies away from evictions to other tasks.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a moratorium on evictions “if the tenant is able to show an inability to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Most orders have a 30-day limit as of now, CNN noted, but San Antonio’s suspension says it will continue “until further notice” and Boston’s is set in place to continue for 90 days, with reviews every 30 days.

The decisions to delay eviction cases follow other disruptions to American society during the outbreak like school closures and canceled events. As public health officials encourage Americans to practice social distancing and stay in their homes, people’s incomes and businesses are being negatively affected. 

The virus has infected more than 4,200 people in the U.S., leading to the deaths of 73 people, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.