Good health starts with stable housing.
But for North Dakotans whose income has been impacted because of involuntary unemployment, extended sickness or required quarantine during the COVID-19 crisis, stable housing is a major concern – in fact, nearly 1/3 of respondents to the North Dakota Department of Commerce COVID-19 Community Impact Survey that was released last week said they have concerns about housing evictions.
Gov. Doug Burgum won’t issue a temporary moratorium on eviction actions in the state. North Dakotans who are involuntarily out of work will be seeing government money in the form of stimulus checks and an increase in unemployment benefits, he said. For many North Dakotans, however, the checks aren’t coming fast enough – and for some, they’re not coming at all.
If Gov. Burgum’s not going to issue a temporary eviction moratorium, he needs to do something to protect North Dakota renters who are involuntarily out of work. Prohibiting late fees and dings to people’s credit would make it a lot easier for North Dakota renters to get back on their feet when the economy rebounds.
Learn more at a Tuesday morning press conference.
WHEN: 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 12
WHERE: Online via the Zoom Web Conferencing Platform
Click here: https://aclu.zoom.us/j/92220096008?pwd=RkxWZ3RXZ0JTREphQlBxSzQ0NlhXZz09
When you log on, you’ll have two options for sound: join with computer audio or dial in via phone. It’s generally easiest to join with computer audio. Make sure you have the volume turned up. You can also dial in via phone. Just call 646-558-8656 (when prompted, the meeting ID is 922 2009 6008 and the password is 265872).
SPEAKERS: Cody Schuler, Fargo-Moorhead Coalition to End Homelessness
Michelle Rydz, High Plains Fair Housing
Dane DeKrey, ACLU of North Dakota
The press conference will be recorded and available to replay tomorrow. For information, please contact Janna Farley, jfarley@aclu.org or 605-366-7732.