STATEWIDE — With hours left before Gov. Ron DeSantis' moratorium on evictions and foreclosures was set to expire, the Florida governor extended the order once again as the coronavirus pandemic stretches on.
What You Need To Know
- New moratorium will last until 12:01 a.m. on August 1
- Advocates also want state-provided rent relief for landlord
According to an executive order issued Tuesday night, the moratorium will now be extended to 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 2020.
On Tuesday, housing reform advocates gathered outside the Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee to call on DeSantis to extend that moratorium.
On Tuesday, the governor made no mention of the moratorium during a news conference in Juno Beach, and avoided the question from reporters.
Last month, when the moratorium was supposed to expire on June 1, the governor extended it another month late on May 31. Advocates hope that will happen again.
Housing advocates also called for state-provided rent relief and mortgage assistance for working-class landlords.
Last week, the governor announced $250 million in CARES Act funding for rental and mortgage assistance.
It is unclear if what the advocates are calling for would coincide with the governor's $250 million plan.
This comes as thousands of Floridians are still out of work and unable to make payments during the pandemic, including James Simon of Orlando.
"Pushing the eviction notice to back in July, it helps but it doesn't solve the issue. You know, it does help but at the end of the day, we are still liable for the rent," Simon told Spectrum News in early June.
Housing reform advocates are also calling on DeSantis to start working with legislators on "long-term solutions to stop COVID displacement."
They are concerned about mass evictions and foreclosures.
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