Marylanders facing homelessness demand emergency legislation to prevent mass evictions
Annapolis, MD — This Friday as legislators debate their future, tenants facing eviction will erect a tent city on Lawyers Mall to underscore the immediate risk of homelessness facing hundreds of thousands of Maryland residents in the midst of the ongoing pandemic.
While housing reform bills are advancing this legislative session, tenants will call on legislators to pass several emergency policies that are NOT included in the currently proposed legislation:
- Eviction protections until the end of the State of Emergency and economic recovery that covers ALL evictions
- Protection for renters from lease non-renewals and “Tenant Holding Over” evictions during catastrophic health emergencies
- A rental assistance program that requires participating landlords to stay all attempts to evict during the State of Emergency
- A requirement that landlords apply for emergency rental relief and offer a repayment plan before they can file for eviction
Many Maryland families continue to struggle through unemployment and are fighting hard to make ends meet during these difficult times. Despite the hardship, courts are reopening on Monday and eviction proceedings have already been scheduled for many. Join us in our fight to demand our state legislators take action to prevent mass evictions in Maryland.
WHAT: Speakers and Sleep In at Lawyers Mall
WHEN: March 12, 11AM Eastern Standard Time
WHERE: Maryland State House, 100 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401
WHO: Tenants facing eviction from Central Maryland to DC suburbs, CASA, Jews United for Justice, Renters United Maryland, Public Justice Center, Montgomery County Renters Alliance, Baltimore Renters United, and others.
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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
