ADDRESSING CLIENTS’ NEEDS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

March 17, 2019

What happened on March 17, 2019:

  • Staff signed onto a letter with several Connecticut advocacy organizations that requested that the state leadership provide better protections for all individuals with disabilities, who are living in poverty, who are living in unstable housing, and individuals facing economic hardship as a result of the Covid-19 public health care crisis. You can read the letter here.
  • The state courts postponed foreclosure sales that were scheduled for Saturday, March 21 and Saturday March 28, 2020. Sales remain scheduled for April 4.  You can read the notice here.
  • The state courts stayed all “execution” orders so that tenants and former homeowners will not be removed from their homes through March 27.  You can read the court order here.
  • The state courts will not issue new executions until March 30, 2020.
  • State courts remain closed to foreclosure and eviction mediations, hearings, and advice table sessions. For more information about what the courts are doing, click here.
  • Staff informed housing advocates community of these requirements along with listserv of 200+ foreclosure defense attorneys.
  • Staff requested that the Connecticut Department of Banking reinstate many of the procedures and policies it put in place during the 2008 financial crisis to make it easier for homeowners to get a forbearance agreement and to stop the accrual of late fees and costs.
  • Staff continued discussions with executive department officials, legislators, court staff, and press regarding developments and need for continued efforts to address the ongoing crisis.

What has NOT happened

  • No moratorium on the filing of new eviction and foreclosure actions.
  • No moratorium on the filing of new requests for execution or default motions against people facing eviction or foreclosure.
  • No moratorium on the scheduling of law days in foreclosure actions.
  • Housing authorities are have not said how they will handle extensions of time on housing choice vouchers, the need for inspections of new units or staying notices of voucher terminations.
  • People continue to live in substandard conditions and cannot get assistance in moving out even though the conditions are harming them and their families.

What we are learning from our clients

  • State-regulated (including state-chartered) mortgage companies needlessly apply for executions of ejectment in disregard of actions taken by the courts.
  • Landlords continue to issue Notices to Quit and start eviction actions.
  • People continue to lose jobs and income as bars, restaurants, hairdressers, etc. close.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, MANDARIN, FARSI, RUSSIAN, ITALIAN, KREYOL, AND ARABIC, CLICK HERE.

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