Millions of American families are at risk of being evicted from their homes starting Saturday because they have been unable to pay their rent for several months due to the pandemic, as the deadline for suspending evictions that protected them expires.
Members of Congress failed on Friday to reach an agreement to grant an additional deadline for financially strapped tenants, despite the urgent circumstances, especially with the outbreak of the delta variant, which is the reason for the rise in COVID-19 infections again.A parliamentary committee proposed extending the deadline until December 31, but this offer did not receive sufficient support, including among Democrats, so it was proposed to extend the grace period until October 18.

“Unfortunately, no Republican supported this measure ... It is extremely disappointing that Republicans in the House and Senate refuse to work with us on this issue,” Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement on Friday evening.A congressional source told AFP that the proposal is not unanimous among Democrats themselves.

White House spokeswoman Karen Jean-Pierre said earlier Friday during the daily press briefing, “It is a public health issue.”
Members of the House of Representatives began their recess, which lasts until the end of August, with senators following a week later, dashing hopes for a quick agreement.
Last minute - More than 10 million people are behind on their rent payments, according to estimates by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, an independent research institute.
About 3.6 million renters are at risk of being evicted from their homes within two months, according to an early July Census Bureau study of 51 million renters.
President Joe Biden asked Congress on Thursday to extend the suspension deadline, but his move is facing criticism as many take him to wait until the last minute to act.
“We are three days away from the expiration of the unconstitutional deadline announced by the CDC to suspend evictions, and what is the solution according to President Biden? Blame the court and call on Congress to address the issue,” said Patrick McHenry, Republican vice chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.He emphasized that the Republican members of the committee have drafted a text that would extend the deadline, but they have not received any response.

- Blocking financial assistance - The CDC, the main public health agency in the United States, directed the adoption of this suspension of tenant evictions in September 2020, and it has been extended several times.“Keeping people in their homes and out of crowded places or gatherings is an essential phase to help stop the spread of COVID-19,” the CDC explained on its website.

The Supreme Court ruled in June that the extension should come from Congress, not the CDC.
This deadline followed a previous deadline approved by the administration of former President Donald Trump in March 2020 to prevent the eviction of millions of people who lost their jobs due to the pandemic, but the CDC noted that this previous deadline “did not affect all tenants.”
To further complicate the situation, the funds promised by the federal government to help tenants pay their rent are delayed in reaching their bank accounts.
The money is paid to states and local associations, which are then tasked with distributing aid to families, but this requires setting up sophisticated systems. However, this requires sophisticated systems to receive applications, verify individuals, disburse funds, etc.
So, of the $46 billion approved by the government, only $3 billion has reached families, including $25 billion disbursed in early February.

The federal government's promise to help renters pay their rents has been delayed.