Pelosi backs bill to expedite rental aid after eviction ruling

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is throwing support behind legislation aiming to expedite federal rental aid to tenants and landlords, an issue that has taken on particular urgency for Democrats after a recent Supreme Court ruling that struck the down the Biden administration’s eviction moratorium.

Pelosi on Monday lauded the efforts by House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) in seeking to reform the nationwide emergency rental assistance program, as state and local governments have been slow to distribute federal aid amid a housing crisis that has worsened amid the pandemic.

During a call hosted by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Pelosi said Waters was working on building a "consensus" behind the rental aid bill, which like many Democratic priorities will require compromise to overcome likely Republican resistance.

In a Dear Colleague letter last week, Waters said the legislation she is working on — and plans to present for mark up on Sept. 13 — would require grantees “to accept the self-attestation of a tenant and to provide assistance directly to tenants in certain circumstances.”

https://thehill.com/policy/finance/570081-pelosi-backs-bill-to-expedite-rental-aid-after-eviction-ruling

[Hoyt]

1. Quick read, it sounds like a good plan. Supposedly there are billions of $$ in states that haven't

been distributed. Some of the states are run by Dems, so it's not just the rube states who are delaying.

"[Rep] Waters said the forthcoming bill would also allow landlords to “directly apply for back rent after providing notice to their tenants that they intend to apply” and instruct the Treasury Department and “grantees to conduct additional outreach to prospective tenants and landlords,” while also providing the Treasury with an additional $25 million to do so."

This needs top priority.

[haele]

3. That's similar to the program CA has. Ensures there's no double-dipping for the same rental.

If the tenant has applied but is not using the money for rental assistance, everyone knows and the tenant has some serious fraud charges coming up. When the landlord applies, that assistance in lieu of back rent makes up for the lost income in case the tenant can't -or won't - make the back rent.


Haele

[MichMan]

2. I dont know that giving it directly to tenants is a good idea

What if it doesn't get used to pay off the past due rent?