Fighting the Spread of COVID-19 by Providing Assistance to Renters and Homeowners (Presidential document), 85 FR 49935, 2020-08-14, FR Doc. 2020-18015
Summary
Executive Order 13945 of August 8, 2020, Fighting the Spread of COVID-19 by Providing Assistance to Renters and Homeowners, published in the Federal Register on August 14, 2020 (Vol. 85, No. 158) as FR Doc. 2020-18015. Section 1 states that the CARES Act eviction moratorium has expired and that there is a significant risk of an abnormally large wave of evictions. Section 2 sets the policy of minimizing, to the greatest extent possible, residential evictions and foreclosures during the COVID-19 national emergency. Section 3 directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of CDC to consider whether measures temporarily halting residential evictions for failure to pay rent are reasonably necessary. It also directs the Secretaries of the Treasury and of Housing and Urban Development to identify available Federal funds for renters and homeowners.
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“Fighting the Spread of COVID-19 by Providing Assistance to Renters and Homeowners (Presidential document), 85 FR 49935, 2020-08-14, FR Doc. 2020-18015.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/fighting-the-spread-of-covid-19-by-providing-assistance-to-renters-and-08fdc91063/
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 158 / Friday, August 14, 2020 / Presidential Documents 49935
Presidential Documents
Executive Order 13945 of August 8, 2020
Fighting the Spread of COVID–19 by Providing Assistance to
Renters and Homeowners
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Purpose. The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID–19) pandemic,
which originated in the People’s Republic of China, continues to pose a
significant threat to the health of Americans throughout the United States.
As we have since January 2020, with the proactive decision to limit travel
from China and the passage of three massive economic relief packages,
my Administration will take whatever steps are necessary to reduce the
spread of COVID–19 and maintain economic prosperity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the Department
of Health and Human Services have concluded that ‘‘growing and dispropor-
tionate unemployment rates for some racial and ethnic minority groups
during the COVID–19 pandemic may lead to greater risk of eviction and
homelessness or sharing of housing.’’
This trend is concerning for many reasons, including that homeless shelters
have proven to be particularly susceptible to outbreaks of COVID–19. CDC
has observed that ‘‘[h]omelessness poses multiple challenges that can exacer-
bate and amplify the spread of COVID–19. Homeless shelters are often
crowded, making social distancing difficult. Many persons experiencing
homelessness are older or have underlying medical conditions, placing them
at higher risk for severe COVID–19–associated illness.’’ Increased shared
housing is also potentially problematic to the extent it results in increased
in-person interactions between older, higher-risk individuals and their young-
er relatives or friends.
My Administration has taken bold steps to help renters and homeowners
have safe and secure places to call home during the COVID–19 crisis. Prior
to passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES
Act) (Public Law 116–136), the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
implemented a foreclosure and eviction moratorium for all single-family
mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Furthermore, prior
to passage of the CARES Act, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)
announced that it had instructed the Federal National Mortgage Association
and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (the Enterprises) to sus-
pend foreclosures for at least 60 days. FHFA has since announced that
the Enterprises will extend the foreclosure suspension until at least August
31, 2020.
The CARES Act imposed a temporary moratorium on evictions of certain
renters subject to certain conditions. That moratorium has now expired,
and there is a significant risk that this will set off an abnormally large
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wave of evictions. With the failure of the Congress to act, my Administration
must do all that it can to help vulnerable populations stay in their homes
in the midst of this pandemic. Those who are dislocated from their homes
may be unable to shelter in place and may have more difficulty maintaining
a routine of social distancing. They will have to find alternative living
arrangements, which may include a homeless shelter or a crowded family
home and may also require traveling to other States.
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49936 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 158 / Friday, August 14, 2020 / Presidential Documents
In addition, evictions tend to disproportionately affect minorities, particularly
African Americans and Latinos. Unlike the Congress, I cannot sit idly and
refuse to assist vulnerable Americans in need. Under my Administration,
minorities achieved the lowest unemployment rates on record, and we will
not let COVID–19 erase these gains by causing short-term dislocations that
could well have long-term consequences.
Accordingly, my Administration, to the extent reasonably necessary to pre-
vent the further spread of COVID–19, will take all lawful measures to prevent
residential evictions and foreclosures resulting from financial hardships
caused by COVID–19.
Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to minimize, to the
greatest extent possible, residential evictions and foreclosures during the
ongoing COVID–19 national emergency.
Sec. 3. Response to Public Health Risks of Evictions and Foreclosures. (a)
The Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of CDC
shall consider whether any measures temporarily halting residential evictions
of any tenants for failure to pay rent are reasonably necessary to prevent
the further spread of COVID–19 from one State or possession into any
other State or possession.
(b) The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development shall identify any and all available Federal funds to provide
temporary financial assistance to renters and homeowners who, as a result
of the financial hardships caused by COVID–19, are struggling to meet
their monthly rental or mortgage obligations.
(c) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall take action,
as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to promote the ability
of renters and homeowners to avoid eviction or foreclosure resulting from
financial hardships caused by COVID–19. Such action may include encour-
aging and providing assistance to public housing authorities, affordable hous-
ing owners, landlords, and recipients of Federal grant funds in minimizing
evictions and foreclosures.
(d) In consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Director of
FHFA shall review all existing authorities and resources that may be used
to prevent evictions and foreclosures for renters and homeowners resulting
from hardships caused by COVID–19.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed
to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency,
or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and
subject to the availability of appropriations.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 158 / Friday, August 14, 2020 / Presidential Documents 49937
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit,
substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party
against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers,
employees, or agents, or any other person.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
August 8, 2020.
[FR Doc. 2020–18015
Filed 8–13–20; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295–F0–P
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