AARP Hearing Center
Background
Natural disasters, public health emergencies, and other crises can wreak havoc on the nation’s housing system. Policymakers at all levels play important roles in fostering housing stability in such situations. For example, they can put in place moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures. They can also provide financial assistance and extended repayment plans to help struggling renters and homeowners pay their housing costs.
HOUSING DURING DECLARED EMERGENCIES: Policy
HOUSING DURING DECLARED EMERGENCIES: Policy
Housing in declared emergencies
Policymakers should take steps to foster housing stability during declared emergencies. Among the temporary measures they should consider are:
- financial assistance to help households with low incomes make rent and mortgage payments,
- a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures until after the crisis has subsided, and
- a reasonable repayment plan for unpaid rent or mortgage payments during the crisis (see also Foreclosure Prevention).
Eviction and foreclosure moratoriums should freeze the ability to file for an eviction or foreclosure until the expiration of the moratorium.