Late last night, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had exceeded its authority in establishing a nation-wide moratorium on the eviction of renters who are behind on their rent payments because of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Lisa Cylar Barrett, Director of Policy, at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), issued the following statement in response to the Court’s decision:
“The Supreme Court’s decision to bring an end to the national eviction moratorium is a significant blow to the millions of Americans who are suffering from the historic and lasting economic impact caused by COVID-19 – especially those in Black communities and other communities of color who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
“Indeed, this ruling immediately puts millions of individuals and families at risk of homelessness, which would deepen the existing housing and homeless crises in our nation. Further exacerbating this situation has been the woeful distribution of federal economic hardship aid passed by Congress earlier this year. To date, nearly 90% of those funds have not been distributed to those in need and desperate for assistance.
“The Court’s decision comes at a time when the Delta variant is rapidly spreading across the nation, further endangering communities of color and their ability to remain safe and healthy in their homes. We call on Congress to immediately establish a new national moratorium to protect the homes and safety of renters across the country.”
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Founded in 1940, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization. LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund or LDF. Follow LDF on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
