FHR Continues to Lead Nonprofit Advocacy for State Eviction Action

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/10/2020

Nonprofits and Foundations Advocate Again for Statewide Eviction Moratorium Extension

Family Housing Resources (FHR) Spearheads Urgent Second Request to Governor Ducey

With less than 21 days left before the year ends and national eviction protections from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) expire, a group of 24 nonprofit agencies and foundations are once again, advocating to Governor Doug Ducey to take action to curb the potential humanitarian and economic crisis that may result if an additional extension is not put in place. In July of 2020, the coalition, which has grown from 14 to 24 made a similar effort, days after which Ducey announced an Executive Order extending the moratorium through Oct. 31. National protections were put in place by the CDC in September through Dec. 31, but come Jan. 1, 2021, if no actions are taken, projections are grim.  

FHR is a regional nonprofit leading this coalition’s effort and sharing the critical information and insight sharing that, “Without intervention, mass evictions will disrupt the lives of tens of thousands of Arizona’s renters, and will cause severe harm to their economic, social, mental, and physical well-being.  These evictions will also trigger a wave of debilitating downstream costs that will ripple through all of our social systems.” The letter goes on to share that, “Recent research shows the partial annual cost of caring for Arizona families that will face homelessness as a result of eviction is $2.5 billion, while the current rental shortfall is only estimated to be between $200-$400 million.”  

Meghan Heddings, Executive Director of FHR states, “This is a complex problem that continues to grow as federal protections are running out. COVID cases are the highest they have been nationally. Arizonans are being asked to stay home to keep our communities safe. In order to do so, they must have the means to stay housed. We are advocating for not only additional time for residents who may be facing eviction, but for the necessary resources and guidelines to distribute those resources to keep Arizonans safe as the pandemic rages across the nation.”