A Matter Of Urgency, A Letter Of Appeal

State Evictions Protections Expected to Expire Friday, July 31. Council Approves Letter, Urging Gov. Hogan To Extend And Expand State Moratorium On Evictions Due To COVID-19.

The Prince George’s County Council, during a virtual session on Monday, July 27, 2020, voted to authorize Council Chair Todd M. Turner’s signature on a letter to Governor Larry Hogan urging an extension and expansion of State evictions protections beyond the expected expiration date of tomorrow, Friday, July 31st.  

The Council, voting in support of the correspondence, joins the General Assembly, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, jurisdictions throughout the state, and several legal, community and nonprofit  organizations seeking to extend evictions protections to Marylanders as a result of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis until January 2021.

Council Chair Turner says State eviction protections should continue as residents struggle to meet the ongoing financial challenges presented by COVID-19.  “Prince George’s County residents, and many of our neighbors, have been presented with an onslaught of financial challenges resulting from COVID-19, and it is critically important that we identify ways to lessen their burden. State eviction protections should be extended and expanded so residents who are challenged with making ends meet, do not have to contend with the fear of eviction or homelessness as a result of this global pandemic.”

The County Council, in an effort to protect residents threatened with eviction, previously adopted CB-16-2020, an emergency measure amending the Landlord-Tenant Code to prohibit rent increases, rental terminations, provide payment plans with certain tenants, and prohibit late fees or penalties from being charged during the COVID-19 state-wide emergency.  In addition, the Council approved the use of over $8 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for housing and rental assistance, including establishing the County Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program in early May.

The correspondence expresses the Council’s support of the research, findings and recommendations expressed in Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh’s correspondence, from Delegates Kumar Barve, Chair, and Dana Stein, Vice-Chair, of the House Environment and Transportation Committee and the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Workgroup Report on COVID-19 and Housing, dated July 22, 2020.