Pressley, DeLauro & Bush Unveil Bill to Provide Crucial Lifeline for Families Facing Eviction

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) unveiled the Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program (HELP) Act, critical legislation to provide much-needed assistance to those facing eviction amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation, which follows the expiration of the federal eviction moratorium, would prohibit credit reporting of evictions and rent and utility debt, fund legal representation for those at risk of eviction, crack down on illegal evictions, and more.

At a hearing last week, Rep. Pressley discussed how these protections would help prevent evictions and address the homelessness crisis, which disproportionately hurts Black renters, and in particular, Black women.

"Every eviction is a form of policy violence. This pandemic has had a devastating emotional and financial impact on our families, and Congress must act with urgency to protect them from eviction and keep them safely housed," Congresswoman Pressley said. "By passing this crucial legislation, we will shrink the gap in legal representation so more families have resources to fight eviction, will no longer have to worry about the stain of eviction, past rent, and utility debts on their credit reports, and will be better equipped to avoid homelessness throughout this pandemic and beyond. With millions of vulnerable renters at risk of being unhoused, including Black, brown and low-income folks, we must affirm housing as a human right."

"Evictions are a fast process, and with only ten percent of tenants having legal representation, renters are often set up to fail," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "As a child, I will never forget coming home to see my family's belongings on the street--we had been evicted. I know firsthand that evictions do not occur in a vacuum. These traumatic events often have collateral consequences, such as job loss, poor educational outcomes, poor physical and mental health, and lack of access to housing in the future. The HELP Act provides those at risk of eviction access to legal counsel, creates a database to track evictions, and prohibits credit reporting of evictions and rent and utility debt. We must work to end the vicious cycle of poverty and ensure that people have the resources and support they need for stable housing."

"Evictions can be a death sentence for the millions of Americans forced onto our streets each year," said Congresswoman Cori Bush. "When Black renters, particularly Black women, are receiving eviction notices at nearly twice the rate of white renters, when almost half of all Black renters don't know if they'll be able to make next month's rent, lawmakers have no choice but to step in and provide life-saving solutions. I'm proud to partner with Congresswomen Pressley and DeLauro to introduce the Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program Act. By taking steps to strengthen protections for renters through legal aid and expansive data collection, this legislation will address the systemic housing and eviction crisis."

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