Housing advocates urge Newsom, lawmakers to help

Orange County Register - The Judicial Council of California on Tuesday announced it likely will end a statewide eviction moratorium on Sept. 1, aiding landlords seeking back rent but drawing dire warnings from community advocates about widespread evictions and homelessness.

Housing experts are warning that millions of California tenants could lose their homes unless Gov. Gavin Newsom issues an executive order delaying evictions and state lawmakers quickly enact more protections for renters financially struggling through the coronavirus pandemic. The judicial council’s proposal would give the governor and lawmakers two more weeks to craft a solution. A vote on the moratorium was expected this month.

Advocates say evictions will hit quickly and hardest in Black and Latinx communities. About three-quarters of renter households in California experiencing pandemic-related job losses included at least one person of color, according to a recent study by the UC Berkeley Terner Center for Housing Innovation. Many are cash-strapped despite performing essential jobs in retail, food services, construction and health care.

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