Health

Mass. residents anxious about having to pay rent in Oct. after eviction moratorium expires

BOSTON — The clock is ticking on the state’s eviction and foreclosure moratorium.

The emergency measure was put in place in April to help thousands of residents struggling to pay rent during the crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Later on in the summer, Governor Baker announced he’s be extending the moratorium into October.

Baker, however, has recently indicated he will not extend the measures past the October 17th deadline.

Lawmakers, labor unions, and housing rights advocates kicked off a week-long series of rallies and protests Wednesday.

They’re urging lawmakers to approve the housing stability act filed in the house and senate. The measure will keep a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures in place for one year after the COVID-19 state of emergency ends, freeze rents in that span, and create a fund to support small landlords.

“Unless the Governor does something tens of thousands of people will lose their homes," said Senator Patricia Jehlen, co-sponsor of the Senate measure “These are the people who live in the communities with the highest infection rate, the highest death rate, they are the people who work the most dangerous jobs."

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 27% of Massachusetts residents are facing eviction or foreclosure in the next two months.

“There are many of us who are in need because we cannot pay the rent," said one tenant speaking in Spanish at the rally. “Cause many of us haven’t been called to return to work."

In the Boston metro area, that number is 31.5% and Mayor Marty Walsh says he’s concerned about the people in his city.

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