Eviction ban nears an end with renter aid still in pipeline

HARRISBURG, PA. » Federal emergency aid for renters in Pennsylvania hit hard financially during the pandemic is still in the pipeline as Gov. Tom Wolf’s ban on foreclosures and evictions nears an expiration.

The application period for aid begins Monday to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. Five days later, Wolf’s moratorium expires.

Robin Wiessman, the agency’s CEO, said Wednesday that it will take a few days to verify the information that must be submitted to qualify for aid.

Wolf and state lawmakers are devoting at least $150 million in federal coronavirus emergency relief money for rental assistance of $750 per month for up to six months.

Assistance is contingent on the renter losing their job after March 1, or seeing their income drop by at least 30% due to the pandemic. An eligible renter also must make less than median income in their county. Landlords can apply, as well. Another $25 million was set aside for mortgage assistance, while some counties or nonprofit organizations are helping process applications.

Sen. Vincent Hughes, DPhiladelphia, said Wolf’s eviction moratorium does not necessarily have to end after July 10, given the fact that new virus cases are surging across the country and Pennsylvania is seeing an uptick.

The administration plans to reexamine the order as July 10 gets closer, Wolf’s office said.

Still, Hughes and 19 other Senate Democrats on Wednesday wrote to Wolf to ask that he extend the moratorium until at least Aug. 31.

More time is needed to ensure that money reaches renters or landlords before the moratorium expires, they wrote.

“Any delay in receiving payments from the program could potentially lead to mortgage companies and landlords beginning the foreclosure or eviction process while an application for assistance is pending with a county or PHFA,” they wrote.

In the meantime, the Wolf administration has been fighting legal action by landlords who say the governor overstepped his authority.

Sen. Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia, said the possibility that eviction complaints filed in courts will take more time than usual to be heard because of a post-shutdown backlog on dockets is little comfort.

Some jurisdictions may not have a backlog, and an eviction complaint stays on a person’s record and makes it much more difficult for them to find housing, Street said.

Wolf’s ban on foreclosures and evictions does not cover a tenant who damages property, breaks the law or breaches the lease in some other way aside from nonpayment or overstaying a lease.

Still, property owners have complained that they will be hard-pressed to keep up with taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance and mortgage payments without the ability to enforce lease agreements.

Member organizations, however, are not recommending that landlords pursue evictions for renters who are seeking emergency aid.

Rita Dallago, executive director of the Pennsylvania Residential Owners Association, said the number of renters who are unable to pay is undoubtedly higher than prepandemic figures, with some behind on rent going back to April or March.

“The applications do include verification from the landlord, so therefore the landlord will be aware that the tenant is applying for the funds, so that may forestall some evictions,” Dallago said. “It’s going to be on a case-by-case basis.”