A federal moratorium on housing evictions affecting many Kentuckians is set to expire in two weeks.
Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky Executive Director Adrienne Bush says there’s concern about unemployed renters who might find themselves owing $5000 in back rent. Bush hopes renters and landlords take advantage of almost $300 million in federal rental assistance directed to Kentucky. “There is money now to try to catch folks up, make landlords whole. Let’s hold off on evicting people, so we can get this money out the door,” said Bush.
Bush said housing advocates have asked the Biden administration to extend the eviction moratorium through the duration of the pandemic.
Bush noted renters and landlords should take advantage of these funds and avoid evictions. She added that offers more assurance landlords will get back rent. The housing advocate hopes President Biden will extend the eviction moratorium and she’s cautiously optimistic that will happen.
Bruce Rankin owns two central Kentucky properties with ten units. He said two evictions have occurred in those apartments during the pandemic with neither solely based on nonpayment.
The president of the Central Kentucky Landlords Association noted revised CDC guidelines considered the plight of landlords. “That was an improvement because everything else had been tenants shouldn’t be evicted for nonpayment of rent, but if the landlord loses his building, I guess the bank could foreclose and remove everything, so nothing is pain free,” said Rankin.
Bruce Rankin said a national report the end of last year showed more than 80% of renters were able to pay their rent. He said that figure represents a similar percentage to the period prior to the pandemic.
Here's more with Homeless and Housing Coalition's Adrienne Bush:
Here's more with Central Kentucky Landlord Association's Bruce Rankin:
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