Residents of Lake County who are behind on their rent because of circumstances emanating from the coronavirus pandemic are no longer protected by a federal eviction moratorium, but they can still receive financial assistance from government programs to keep them in their homes.
Ample funds are available to county residents to prevent evictions if they act quickly enough, though landlords can now file cases in Lake County Court to take possession of the property after the United States Supreme Court lifted the moratorium Thursday.
Though the federal moratorium was ended by a 6-3 Supreme Court decision Thursday, Kasey Morgan, the public information officer for state’s 19th Judicial Circuit — which includes Lake and McHenry counties — said in an email a state moratorium remains in effect through Sept. 18.
Morgan said residential eviction cases can now be filed, but no judgments can be entered until after Sept. 1 against people financially impacted by the pandemic. In those cases, judges will provide time and urge settlement.
“In appropriate cases, the Judge will continue the case for 30 days and instruct the parties to attend mediation with one of our eviction mediators,” she said in the email. “Eviction files, with limited exceptions, are being sealed pursuant to recent legislation.”
People involved in eviction or foreclosure cases can seek assistance through the court’s help desk, Morgan said.
Brenda O’Connell, the county’s community development administrator who manages the $36 million the county has received to distribute to landlords and tenants for pandemic-related rent relief, said the county will have a representative present in court to help those facing eviction.
While O’Connell said 94% of the money the county has received for rent relief programs has been allocated to those like Waukegan Township and the Lake County Housing Authority, which shepherd participants through the process, sufficient money remains to help those who could be evicted.
Waukegan Township Supervisor Marc Jones said the change in the legal situation means people with COVID-19 related financial hardship must act quickly because the process can take four weeks on average.
“If you haven’t applied for assistance, you should do it now,” Jones said. “Time is of the essence.
Lorraine Hocker, the executive director of the housing authority, said the organization has helped 264 residents and distributed $1.9 million so far. She too urges acting quickly. Anyone who has lost a job because of the pandemic or had their hours cut reducing income is eligible.
“They should apply quickly before their landlord takes action,” Hocker said.
Hocker said people should complete their application online, but if they need assistance they can also come to the housing authority’s office for help. Jones said the township offers similar aid.
Jones said landlords of smaller properties can apply for help as well. Payment goes directly to the landlord, not the tenant.
Though the National Association of Realtors, one of the petitioners in the federal case, believes the decision was correct, spokesperson Patrick Newton also urges negotiations between renter and owner rather than eviction. He suggests using the federal assistance program too.
“With this rental assistance, now is the time to return the housing sector to its former, healthy function,” Newton said in an email. “We will continue to work with all parties to make that assistance readily accessible to tenants and housing providers.”
