Governor Larry Hogan cancel the rent

Devastation in Immigrant and Working Families Continues

26 June 2020, Hyattsville, MD – CASA Executive Director Gustavo Torres issued the following statement after Governor Larry Hogan announced that he will funnel federal CARES Act dollars to landlords, ahead of July 25, the date evictions are set to resume in Maryland. 

“Since the pandemic first hit months ago, CASA, advocacy organizations, and renters across the state have demanded housing relief – Governor Hogan has witnessed the protests, letters, calls, and town halls filled with policy recommendations and proposals,” said Gustavo Torres, CASA Executive Director. “Yet, hundreds of thousands of Maryland families are still left waiting for relief. This is nothing in comparison to the estimated minimum of $150M needed to bring delinquent units current on their rent payments. In addition to the lack of desperately needed direct relief for renters, Governor Hogan has failed to implement common sense solutions proposed by CASA and scores of other experts such as prohibiting late fees, debt collection activities, rent increases and lease terminations during the state of emergency. Most urgently, Governor Hogan has yet to take executive action to expand the eviction moratorium to cover all types of eviction cases and extend the moratorium until families are fully recovered from financial loss of the coronavirus. That means, in less than 30 days, families will be thrown to the streets when the eviction freeze is lifted and mass evictions ensue.”

CASA member Beatriz Fuentes is a renter in Owings Mills, Maryland, who faces ravaging hardship after a difficult several months that included her family getting sick, losing their jobs due to the pandemic, having to borrow money for monthly rent payments, and most recently having her rent recently increased. She has personally called on Governor Hogan for assistance but unfortunately, no action has been taken to protect and provide relief for her family.

“I lost my job when I got sick with COVID and I’ve had to borrow money to pay my rent,” said Beatriz Fuentes, a Baltimore County resident. “I don’t know how I’m going to pay my rent next month and am worried that my family could be evicted if the Governor doesn’t extend the moratorium. Governor Hogan has abandoned Maryland families like mine just because of our immigration status.”

Governor Hogan failed to supplement federal monies with state support, meaning he is consciously gifting eviction and homelessness to undocumented families, including many essential workers. CASA will continue calling on Governor Hogan to support all renters in the state, regardless of immigration status; extend and expand his eviction order; and work with advocates to implement other critical measures for housing relief now.

Multimedia:

  • Youtube channel with personal stories of Marylanders, asking Gov. Hogan for help

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With over 100,000 members across the states of Maryland, Virginia, and South Central Pennsylvania, CASA is the largest member-based Latino and immigrant organization in the mid-Atlantic region. Visit us at www.wearecasa.org and follow us on Twitter at @CASAforall