COVID Policy & Advocacy

Updated  June 28, 2021

Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act, which includes nearly $50 billion in housing and homelessness resources, including $27 billion for rental assistance. This, combined with the $25 billion provided by Congress last year and a separate $5 billion for utilities in the American Rescue Plan, can eliminate over $50 billion of rent and utility arrears that struggling renters have accrued during the pandemic and will enable longer term housing stability for some renters. The American Rescue Plan Act also provides $5 billion in new funding for states and cities to provide housing stability for tens of thousands of people experiencing homelessness.

With the passage of this legislation, advocates and Congressional leaders have secured nearly $85 billion in emergency housing and homelessness assistance since the start of the pandemic through the American Rescue Plan Act, the December COVID-19 Relief Bill, and the CARES Act. 

The CDC's national eviction moratorium was extended through July 31, 2021. When ordering the extension on June 25, the Biden administration announced that it will implement a whole-of-government approach to prevent an historic wave of evictions this summer. Extending the eviction moratorium through July gives state and local governments more time to distribute $46.55 billion in emergency rental assistance (ERA) to those most in need.