CDC Eviction Moratorium, EHPA and Shallow Rent Program

JeniWrightEsq.AIDSLawProjectof

Pennsylvania

aidslawpa.org

CDC EVICTION MORATORIUM

• OnSeptember1,2020theCentersforDiseaseControlannouncedanationalevictionmoratoriumthatappliestomany,butnotall,tenants.

•  TheorderwillbeineffectfromSeptember4,2020throughDecember31,2020.Theorderdoesnotreplaceoroverridestrongerstateorlocalevictionprotectionsinplace

CDC Eviction Moratorium Order

•  Theordercoversalmostallrentalproperties,includingsingle-familyhomes,mobilehomesandapartments.

•  Theorderbanslandlordsfromevictingtenantsfornon-paymentofrentthroughtheendof2020,IFthetenantshavesubmittedadeclarationofincomelossorsignificantmedicalexpense.

CDC Eviction Moratorium Order

• Onceatenanthassentthedeclarationtotheirlandlord,noactioncanbetakentoremoveorcausetheremovalofthattenantfornon-paymentofrentbeforeJanuary2021.Prohibitedactionsincludeservinganevictionnotice,filinganevictionlawsuit,orharassingorintimidatingatenanttovacate.

•  Tenantscannotbeevictedforthenon-timelypaymentofrentorsimilarhousing-relatedpayment(includingnon-paymentorlatepaymentoffees,penalties,orinterest).

RENT IS NOT CANCELLED

•  TheCDCMoratoriumdoesNOTcancelorstoptherentfrombeingduewhenowedorfromaccruing.

TENANTS CAN STILL BE EVICTED FOR REASONS OTHER THAN NON-PAYMENT

• Atenanteligibleforthemoratorium’sprotectionscanstillbeevictedbeforeJanuaryforengagingincriminalactivity,whileonthepremises;threateningthehealthorsafetyofotherresidents;orviolatinganyothercontractualobligation,otherthanthetimelypaymentofrentorsimilarhousing-relatedpayment(includingnon-paymentorlatepaymentoffees,penalties,orinterest).

TENANTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PROTECTION IF

• Unabletopaytherentduetoincomelossormedicalexpenses

• Eitherexpecttomakelessin2020than$99,000individuallyor$198,000asafamily,orreceivedastimuluscheckordidnothavetofilea2019taxreturn

• Try,orhavetried,toaccessanygovernmentrentalassistancefundsthatmaybeavailable

•Agreetomakepartialrentpaymentsbasedonwhattheycanafford

•Ifevicted,wouldbehomelessorwouldhavetomoveintoacrowdedorsubstandardlivingsituation

TENANTS MUST SUBMIT SIGNED DECLARATION TO GET PROTECTIONS

•  Togettheseprotections,thetenant—andalladultslivinginthehousehold—mustsubmitasigneddeclarationtotheirlandlordstatingtheyareeligibleandtellingthetruth,underlegalpenalty.

•  Tenantsshouldkeepacopyofthedeclarationandallcorrespondencewiththelandlord.

CDC DECLARATION Icertifyunderpenaltyofperjury,pursuantto28U.S.C.1746,thattheforegoingaretrueandcorrect:

•Ihaveusedbesteffortstoobtainallavailablegovernmentassistanceforrentorhousing.(1)

•Ieitherexpecttoearnnomorethan$99,000inannualincomeforCalendarYear2020(ornomorethan$198,000iffilingajointtax return),wasnotrequiredtoreportanyincomein2019totheU.S.InternalRevenueService,orreceivedanEconomicbenefit

ImpactPayment(stimuluscheck)pursuanttoSection2201oftheCARESAct;

•Iamunabletopaymyfullrentormakeafullhousingpaymentduetosubstantiallossofhouseholdincome,lossofcompensablehoursofworkorwages,lay-offs,orextraordinaryout-of-pocketmedicalexpenses(2);

•Iamusingbesteffortstomaketimelypartialpaymentsthatareasclosetothefullpaymentastheindividual’scircumstancesmaypermit, takingintoaccountothernondiscretionaryexpenses;

•IfevictedIwouldlikelybecomehomeless,needtomoveintoahomelessshelter,orneedtomoveintoanewresidencesharedbyother peoplewholiveinclosequartersbecauseIhavenootheravailablehousingoptions(3).

•IunderstandthatImuststillpayrentormakeahousingpayment,andcomplywithotherobligationsthatImayhaveundermytenancy,leaseagreement,orsimilarcontract.Ifurtherunderstandthatfees,penalties,orinterestfornotpayingrentormakingahousingpaymentontimeasrequiredbymytenancy,leaseagreement,orsimilarcontractmaystillbechargedorcollected.

•IfurtherunderstandthatattheendofthistemporaryhaltonevictionsonDecember31,2020,myhousingprovidermayrequirepaymentinfullforallpaymentsnotmadepriortoandduringthetemporaryhaltandfailuretopaymaymakemesubjecttoevictionpursuanttoStateandlocallaws.Iunderstandthatanyfalseormisleadingstatementsoromissionsmayresultincriminalandcivilactionsforfines,penalties,damages,orimprisonment.

_________________________________ ________________

•  SignatureofDeclarant Date

•  1“Availablegovernmentassistance”meansanygovernmentalrentalorhousingpaymentbenefitsavailabletotheindividualoranyhouseholdmember.2An“extraordinary”medicalexpenseisanyunreimbursedmedicalexpenselikelytoexceed7.5%ofone’sadjustedgrossincomefortheyear.3“Availablehousing”meansanyavailable,unoccupiedresidentialproperty,orotherspaceforoccupancyinanyseasonalortemporaryhousing,thatwouldnotviolateFederal,State,orlocaloccupancystandardsandthatwouldnotresultinanoverallincreaseofhousingcosttoyou.

Philadelphia Emergency Protection Housing Act (EHPA)

• Didyouloseyourjob,losehoursatwork,havetostayathomeorcouldn’tfindajobbecauseofCOVID-19?

•  Ifyes,completetheEHPACOVID-19HardshipCertificationFormandsendyourlandlordimmediately.

EHPA PROTECTIONS

• BysendingtheCOVID-19HardshipCertificationFormtoyourlandlord,youhavearightto:• Gotomediationbeforeyourlandlordfilesagainstyouincourt.

• Waive(cancel)recentlatefees.• Getonarepaymentagreementforanyrentowed.

COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance:

•  ApplyforCOVID-19EmergencyRentalAssistance:Phase2atphlrentassist.org/apply(Philadelphia)orhttps://www.phfa.org/pacares/rent.aspx(allPennsylvaniacounties)•  ApplicationdeadlineextendedtoNovember4,2020•  Paysupto$1500permonthinrentforupto6months.•  Onlyhouseholdsthatlost30%ormoreoftheirincomeduetoCOVID-19pandemicareeligible.•  Applicationsacceptedonafirstcome,firstservedbasis.•  IfyouappliedforPhase1andreceivedassistance,youmaybeeligibleforPhase2butyoumustreapply.•  Foreligibilityinformation,visitphlrentassist.org/phase-2

SHALLOW RENT PROGRAM

•  TemporaryCOVID-19rentalassistanceisavailableforpeoplelivingwithHIVinPhiladelphiaarea.

•  ThePhiladelphiaDepartmentofPublicHealth’sAIDSActivitiesCoordinatingOffice(AACO)isfundingtheprogramwithfederalHIVfunding

• PhiladelphiaHealthManagementCorporation(PHMC)administerstheprogram

Shallow Rent Program Eligibility Requirements: •  LivingwithHIVandhaveacurrentRyanWhitecertificationcard

•  ExperiencedalossofincomerelatedtoCOVID-19

•  RentanapartmentorhouseinBucks,Chester,Delaware,Montgomery,orPhiladelphiacounties.

•  Haveawrittenleasesignedbytheproperty’slandlord•  Grosshouseholdincomenomorethan500%offederalpovertylevel

•  Notliveinpublichousingorreceiveanyotherpublicrentalassistance,likeSection8orHOPWA

•  YoudoNOTneedtohavecontractedCOVID-19toobtainthesebenefits•  PreferencewillbegiventoapplicantsontheHOPWAwaitlistadministeredbythePhiladelphiaOfficeofHomelessServices

Additional Requirements for Philadelphia Tenants

•  LandlordsmustbecurrentinCityofPhiladelphiataxes,havearentallicense,andnothaveopen,dangerousL&Iviolations.•  Landlordsmaybegivenaperiodofuptooneweektoobtainarentallicenseand/orbecomecompliantwiththePhiladelphiaDepartmentofRevenue.

• PHMCwillverifywhetherthereisarentallicense,whetherthepropertyistaxcompliant,andwhetherthepropertyhasanyopenL&Iviolations.

Landlord requirements

•  Landlordsmustensureunitsaremaintaineduptolocalcode

•  Submitasigned“LandlordAgreementandAcknowledgementRelatedtotheCOVID-19ShallowRentEmergencyProgram”totheMedicalCaseManagerorHousingCounselor(HC)

•  Abidebythestipulationsdelineatedinthe“LandlordAgreementandAcknowledgementRelatedtotheCOVID-19ShallowRentEmergencyProgram”

•  Ifapproved,acompletedACHformwillberequestedbyPHMCsothatpaymentcanbemadeviadirectdeposittothelandlord.

Shallow Rent Program Benefits •  Thisgrantprovidestemporary,one-timerentreliefofatleast$2500orupto$5,000.ApplicantsarestilleligibleforDEFAassistanceupto$2500whileparticipatingintheshallowrentprogram.•  Eligibleapplicantswillreceiveuptosixmonthsofrentpaiddirectlytotheirlandlord•  Thefirstgrantmaycoveruptothree(3)monthsofforwardrent,nottoexceed$2,500totalforthethree(3)monthperiod.PleasenotethatmortgagepaymentsareNOTcoveredunderthisprogram.•  Approvedapplicantswillbereassessedattheendoftheinitial3monthassistanceperiodandmaybeeligibleforpaymentsofupto$2,500foranadditionalthree(3)monthperiods,nottoexceedto$5,000inassistanceoverthecourseofasixmonthperiod,paidtothelandlordofrecord.

Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) Shallow Rent application process •  Applicantsmustsubmit:

CompletedapplicationincludingthesignedanddatedConsentforServiceformandAffidavit

CopyofleasesignedbylandlordandtenantProofofRyanWhitecertificationPhotoidentificationIncomeverificationintheformofpaystubs(orotherdocumentation,ifselfemployed)WHATOTHERDOCUMENTATION

•  Scanneddocumentsareallowediflegible•  Applicationsmustbesubmittedbytheassignedmedicalcasemanager(MCM)orstaffatanAACO-fundedagency

Processing Shallow Rent Applications •  AllapplicationsareprocessedthroughPHMC.InformationcontainedinthisapplicationissubjecttotheconfidentialityprovisionsofPAAct59.

•  Applicationsmustbefaxedto215-985-2099totheattentionoftheDEFACoordinator.Applicationsmaynotbesubmittedbyregularmail,expressmailorpersonaldelivery.

•  Originalapplicationsmustbekeptinapplicant’sfileattheagency.

•  Applicationswillbeaccepteduntilfundsareexhausted

Processing Shallow Rent Payments

• PHMCwillprocesspaymentstolandlords•  Thefirstpaymentwillbepaidwithintenbusinessdays

•  Ifnecessary,PHMCwillcollectadditionalincomeverificationinformationfromMCMforapprovedapplicantsoverthefirst90daysafterthefirstpaymentisprocessed.

Shallow Rent recertification and continued support

•  TheassignedMCMoragencystaffwillrecertifyapprovedapplicantsatleasttwoweeks(andnotifyPHMC)beforetheendoftheinitial3-monthperiodtodetermineiftheyneedcontinuedassistanceforanadditional3months.•  TheassignedMCMagencystaffwillrecertifyapprovedapplicantsevery90daysuntiltheyhavereceivedsixmonthsofrentsupportor$5,000whicheveroccursearlier.•  Aftertheinitialpayment,PHMCmayneedtoobtainadditionaldocumentationfromtheMCMforapprovedapplicantstocontinuetoreceiveassistance.• Whilereceivingrentassistance,approvedapplicantsmustreportanychangesinhouseholdsizeorincometotheirassignedcasemanager.•  ApprovedapplicantsshouldbeevaluatedbytheassignedMCMoragencystaffattheterminationoftherentalassistancetodeterminewhetherthereisneedforareferraltootherprogramsorservices.