White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday that the eviction ban, which had been extended several times before, was “always intended to be temporary” and that the President’s aim is to provide COVID-impacted tenants with a sort of off-ramp once it ends.
“Hence, we’ve also worked to take additional steps to ensure people are getting the support they need to stay in their homes, whether they are renters or homeowners,” Psaki said. “But we’d certainly defer to the CDC on their decision and their timeline.”
Following the CDC’s decision to extend the emergency pandemic protection, the White House announced a series of actions to stabilize homeowners and help them make the transition without massive social upheaval. The administration’s new initiative includes accelerating the distribution of emergency rental assistance, developing eviction diversion programs, and more.
Landlords and housing organizations have made it clear that they are against any extension. Last week, a coalition of real estate organizations wrote a letter to Biden pointing out that it is time to put an end to the moratorium.