DeSantis needs to end the eviction drama

July is speeding to an end and tens of thousands of Floridians are again being held in suspense over how long they might have roofs over their heads.

They’re waiting to see if Gov. Ron DeSantis will extend the moratorium on evictions. It’s been in place since April, when the financial crunch of the coronavirus crisis really began to hit.

DeSantis extended the original 45-day moratorium three days before it was due to expire. Since then, he’s turned the process into a serial cliffhanger.

He waited until 8 p.m. on May 31st to send an email announcing the moratorium had been extended through June.

As the clock ticked down on June 30th, DeSantis was asked at a press conference whether he would extend the moratorium through July.

“Anyone else want to ask a new question?” he said.

At this point, a lot of stressed-out renters and homeowners would like to ask DeSantis why he keeps putting them through the emotional wringer.

July is winding down and they again find themselves waiting on the governor to make up his mind. The moratorium clock will figuratively strike midnight at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

DeSantis should have announced his plans days ago, but as of Tuesday morning he was still mum on what he might do. He’s not even letting on when he will announce his decision.

That would be understandable if this were a fluid situation, if some new development were expected in the next few days. But little is going to change between now and Friday night.

More than a million Floridians will still be unemployed — some of them your neighbors, ex-coworkers and friends.

Of Florida’s 67 counties, Osceola, Orange and Lake rank 1-2-3 in the percentage of unemployed workers. Almost 200,000 people have spent the summer out of work in those counties.

Many have also spent countless hours mired with Florida’s chaotic unemployment system. They are hopelessly behind on paying their rent and mortgages. They know if a new month arrives, the eviction moratorium is the only thing standing between them and the street.

As scary as that prospect is, why drag out the drama?

DeSantis isn’t saying, as usual. His office did not respond to emails asking about his plans for August.

Like so many decisions in the pandemic, we realize there are no good options. But that’s no excuse for avoiding the topic and raising the stress level of Floridians already stressed about their futures.

Jeff Hayward, the president and CEO of the Heart of Florida United Way, said Central Florida could face a “tidal wave” of homelessness if the eviction moratorium is lifted.

DeSantis has to weigh that against the plight of lenders and landlords. They also have mortgages and taxes and bills to pay, and the government has essentially cut off their income since April. Many need help as badly as their renters.

The CARES Act provided $240 million in rental and mortgage assistance to Florida, but that is hardly enough to deal with the situation. The Senate rolled out its latest coronavirus relief bill Monday. The $1 trillion package is $2 trillion less than the bill passed the U.S. House.

That package includes almost $200 billion in housing assistance and an incremental 12-month moratorium on evictions. Congress has until its Aug. 7 recess to reconcile its differences and pass a bill.

Piling billions more to the runaway national debt is a daunting thought, but the eviction crisis calls for a long-term strategy. According to the Census Bureau’s latest Household Pulse Survey, almost 15 million Americans say they have little or no confidence they will be able to pay next month’s rent.

That struggle is going to continue for a long time. Meanwhile, landlords can’t go forever without any income.

Whatever plan lawmakers come up with, the monthly eviction suspense needs to end.

The pandemic has inflicted enough anxiety. The last thing people need is their governor needlessly adding to it. Editorials are the opinion of the Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board and are written by one of its members or a designee. The editorial board consists of Opinion Editor Mike Lafferty, Jennifer A. Marcial Ocasio, Jay Reddick, David Whitley and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson. Send emails to insight@orlandosentinel.com.