In September 2020, the Trump administration issued a directive halting the eviction of some renters through the end of 2020 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
On June 24, 2021, CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed an extension to the eviction moratorium, further preventing tenants who cannot make rental payments. The moratorium is being extended through July 31, 2021, and is intended to be the final extension.
The U.S. Supreme Court, on June 29, 2021, refused to lift a ban on evictions for tenants who have failed to pay all or some rent during the coronavirus pandemic. By a 5-to-4 vote, the court left in place the nationwide moratorium on evictions put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
You may need to take action now to avoid eviction. Carefully review the following information should you be facing eviction from your home.
Take these steps for eviction prevention.
Here, we guide you through the content of the CDC Declaration, one step at a time.
Step 1. Take advantage of free housing help
You can get help from a local expert with the steps below. Contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s housing counseling program.
Call (800) 569-4287 or find a housing counselor.
Download the CDC form
Download the CDC Declaration form
Keep reading to find out if this form applies to you and how to use it.
If you gave your landlord a signed Declaration before the CDC extended its order, you do not need to provide them with a new one.
Step 2. See if you qualify
If you can check at least one box in each list below (“Income” and “Financial Hardship”), you qualify for CDC protection.
Income
- I received a stimulus check (Economic Impact Payment) in 2020 or 2021
- I was not required to report any income to the IRS in 2020
- In 2020 or 2021, I earned (or expect to earn) less than $99,000 as an individual or less than $198,000 as a joint tax return filer.
- You are likely to have earned under this amount if you receive any of the following benefits:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- If none of the above apply, you do not qualify.
Financial hardship
I cannot pay my total rent or make a full housing payment because:
- My household income has gone down substantially
- I have been laid off from my job
- My work hours or wages have been cut
- I have extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses, defined as 7.4% of my adjusted gross income for the year
If none of the above apply, you do not qualify.
Did you check at least one item in each list? Your situation qualifies.
Step 3. Read and sign the declaration.
Read the statements below. Please make sure they are true. If they are true, download and sign the declaration.
- My income level qualifies for the reasons explained above.
- I have done my best to make timely partial payments as close as possible to the total cost and get government assistance in making my rent or housing payments.
- If evicted, I would have no other available housing options, so I would:
- Probably become homeless, or
- Have to move to a homeless shelter, or
- Have to move in with others who live in close quarters
- I understand that after I sign:
- Unless I agree with my landlord, I am still responsible for rent, back rent, fees, penalties, or interest under my lease.
- I must still follow the conditions of my lease.
- Unless I agree with my landlord, eviction is possible if I fail to make my required payments when this temporary halt of evictions ends.
- Eviction is possible for reasons other than not paying rent or not making a housing payment.
- I sign this declaration under penalty of perjury. I promise that the statements above are the truth. I understand criminal action can be taken against me if I lied.
Step 4. Give the signed declaration to your landlord
Make sure you sign and date the declaration before sending it. You can do this by mail, email, fax, or in person.
Keep a copy of the declaration for your records.
If you gave your landlord a signed Declaration before the CDC extended its order, you do not need to provide them with a new one.
More eviction help
Find out if your state or local government is stopping evictions.
Some state and local governments have limited evictions to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Are you facing eviction? Find out if you’re in covered housing.
If you live in a building with five or more units and your landlord is getting CARES Act mortgage relief, they can’t evict you for not paying rent or late charges.
####Larry Marvin
LifeCrafter
FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES
White House Coronavirus Task Force
Information about COVID-19 from the White House Coronavirus Task Force in conjunction with CDC, HHS, and other agency stakeholders.
USAGov
Information on what the U.S. Government is doing in response to COVID-19.
Take action to avoid eviction using the CDC order …. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/mortgage-and-housing-assistance/renter-protections/cdc-eviction-protections/.
