Link | Publication: Kate Amara, WBAL TV | Date: Dec. 28, 2020
Excerpt
Housing advocates want to overhaul Maryland’s evictions process, saying some 200,000 Maryland families currently face the threat of eviction.
Claudia Ruiz, who has lived in Dundalk for 15 years, told lawmakers through an interpreter on Monday that the coronavirus pandemic almost left her family with no place to live.
“Both of us were infected with COVID. After we were sick, it was very difficult for us to find new work that would allow us to cover all of our bills,” Ruiz said.
Housing advocates said 30% of Marylanders who earn less than $50,000 a year have not paid last month’s rent.
“Just as with job loss and COVID-19 itself, the rent struggles are disproportionately impacting Black households in Maryland with a steady 36% unable to pay last month’s rent — (that’s) 2 1/2 times more than white households,” said Zafar Shah, and attorney with the Public Justice Center.
“Our most effective protection from COVID-19 has been to stay at home, but now, hundreds of thousands of Marylanders are at risk of losing their homes,” said Montgomery County Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins, D-District 20.
State lawmakers announced a package of legislation for Session 2021 that are designed to protect renters, homeowners and small landlords.
“The General Assembly can prevent mass suffering. It has the moral obligation to do so,” said Montgomery County Delegate Vaughn Stewart, D-District 19.
The bills include measures to expand and extend emergency rental protections through April 2022, extend the foreclosure moratorium through the end of the state of emergency and overhaul the evictions process, adding the right to counsel and court fee reform.
“If you want more evictions, lower the cost. If you want fewer evictions, raise the cost. We believe that our legislation will bring us in line with most of the states around the country,” Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said.