DeSantis Extends Evictions and Foreclosures Moratorium

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) is receiving praise for extending the moratorium on foreclosures and evictions until July 1^st. With the Governor’s orders, evictions will be prevented from being processed. It was set to expire at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday.

Taking to Twitter to respond to the news, Helen Aguirre Ferré, the Communications Director for the Florida Governor commented that it’s “the right thing to do.” She added that the Governor “extended an Executive Order that provides temporary relief from mortgage foreclosure/evictions for Florida homeowners & tenants through July 1, 2020, because he believes it’s the right thing to do given the harmful economic impact of COVID19.”

In addition, Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani (D) also praised the move, but she also voiced her disagreement at the timing of the move.

In speaking to the Orlando Sentinel, the Florida lawmaker said that “Floridians need to be fully paid with their unemployment benefits before they’re expected to make monthly payments like rent.” She added that she has been “requesting an extension on this moratorium since April” and that she is “glad to see it happen, though the last-minute announcement caused unnecessary anxiety for those still waiting for unemployment benefits.”

Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the unemployment rate in the sunshine state escalated from 2.8% in February to 12.9% in April. The Department of Economic Opportunity has been flooded with unemployment claims, and it has made it difficult for Floridians from acquiring important relief from both state and federal governments.

The executive order was signed by the Florida Governor, but it also states that the individual is not relieved from making mortgage or rent payments.