Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes housing relief for furloughed government employees.

Highlights:

• Defines “closure of the United States government” as a closure of the United States federal government for a period of 14 consecutive days or longer as a result of a lapse of appropriation that leads to (Sec. 1):

• The curtailment of federal agency activities and services;

• A shutdown of non-essential operations;

• Non-essential workers being furloughed; and

• Only essential employees in departments covering the safety of human life or protection of property being retained.

• Defines “written proof” as (Sec. 1):

• A paystub issued by a federal government agency showing showing zero dollars in earnings for a pay period within the period of any closure of the United States government;

• A copy of a furlough notification letter or essential employee status letter indicating the employee's status as nonessential; or

• A letter from a company under contract with the United States government issued and signed by an officer or owner of the company or by the company's human resources director stating that the employee's not receiving payment from the contractor is directly attributable to a closure of the United States government.

• Specifies that any tenant who is a defendant in an unlawful detainer for nonpayment of rent for rent due after the commencement of a closure of the United States government and seeking a judgment for the payment of money or possession of the premises, will be granted a 60-day continuance of such unlawful detainer action from the initial court date if the tenant appears on such court date and provides written proof (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that any homeowner who, after the closure of the United States government, defaults on a note that is secured by a one-family to 4-family residential property and is subject to a foreclosure proceeding on any mortgage or to the execution of or sale under any deed of trust, will be granted a 30-day stay of such proceeding if the homeowner, within 90 days of such closure or 90 days following the end of a closure of the United States government, whichever is later, requests a stay and provides written proof to their lender (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that any owner who rents a one-family to 4-family residential dwelling unit to a tenant and who, after the commencement of a closure of the United States government, defaults on a note that is secured by such dwelling unit and is subject to a foreclosure proceeding on any mortgage or to the execution of or sale under any deed of trust, will be granted a 30-day stay of such proceeding if the owner, within 90 days of such closure or 90 days following the end of a closure of the United States government, whichever is later, requests a stay and provides written proof to their lender (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the provisions of the preceding highlights with respect to a continuance or stay of an unlawful detainer action or a foreclosure proceeding on a mortgage or an execution of or sale under any deed of trust, will be applicable to any tenant, homeowner, or owner affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (Sec.1).

• Defines “affected by” as experiencing a loss of income from a public or private source due to the Emergency, such that the affected party must request a stay or continuance by providing written proof to a court or lender stating that they are not currently receiving wages or payments from a public or private source as a result of the Emergency (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text