Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Ramos
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Request for State Action - Extend Eviction Moratorium
For the purpose of calling on Governor Hogan and state leaders to extend the eviction moratorium and to require landlords to work with tenants to apply for rental assistance prior to filing eviction.
body
Recitals
According to the Mayor's Office of Children and Family Success (MOCFS), there were 28,000 families behind on their rent in Baltimore City as of March 2021, placing them at high risk for eviction. Many families have had difficulty finding work, with them or their loved ones at risk for COVID-19 and feel unsafe to work. Other families have had to stay home to support their children's education.
As of April 2021, MOCFS also reported they have helped only 4000 families with the state, federal and local Rental Assistance funding, spending over $18 million. MOCFS has approximately $19 million more to spend - although has allocated $16million for United Way for the "landlord bundle" program for larger landlords. The City anticipates another $24,330,727 in state funds and $23,127,929 in federal funds to assist families.
This Baltimore City Council has taken action to assist renters in Baltimore. We recently passed legislation to ensure that no tenants are pushed out of the home because the lease has ended, for 180 days after the lifting of the State of Emergency. We passed legislation to ensure that late fees are not charged until 10 days after the rent is due for those with benefit checks. Last Council session, the Baltimore City Council passed legislation banning increasing rent and charging late fees during the COVID pandemic and 90 days after the lifting of the State of Emergency, and Right to Counsel in Eviction matters legislation which awaits funding.
Baltimore City is expecting substantial funding to assist our families but for many reasons rental assistance has been slow to reach households. Our City agencies are diligently working on building staff capacity, creating online portals, and conducting outreach to inform families and households about resources and assistance. The Baltimore City Council continues to look for ways to assist. For ultimate success, however, we need more time.
* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the Baltimore City Council urges Governor Lawrence J. Hogan to extend Maryland's eviction moratorium to comply with the Center for Disease Control deadlines. We urge the Governor to require that landlords work with their tenants to apply for emergency rental assistance to resolve a claim of non-payment of rent prior to initiating an eviction action based on such claim; and to prohibit the state courts from entering judgment for possession in an action based on non-payment of rent when there is evidence shown that a pending rental assistance application and payment would resolve the landlord's claim.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Governor of Maryland, the President of the Maryland Senate, the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, the Baltimore City Delegation to the General Assembly, the Mayor, the Baltimore City Council President, the City Council President's legislative staff, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.