Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020

Floor Speech

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Ms. PRESSLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank Madam Chair for her leadership at such a time as this.

Two months ago, I stood before my colleagues in this Chamber sounding the alarms that, without immediate relief, millions in our communities would face housing instability and eviction.

Today I rise once more to remind us all that, in only 2 days, the rent is due. In my district, Massachusetts Seventh, 30 percent of families have missed a rent payment during the pandemic--30 percent.

Our families, in particular Black families, are on the edge of an eviction tsunami just as the renter protections put in place through the CARES Act are due to expire next month.

A report released yesterday by City Life/Vida Urbana found that 78 percent of all evictions filed in Boston before evictions were banned statewide were in census tracts where the majority of residents are people of color.

This is an issue of racial, economic, and health justice.

Housing is a critical determinant of public health, as evidenced by the disproportionately high infection rate amongst our neighbors experiencing homelessness. I am proud that this bill includes my Public Health Emergency Shelter Act and will provide more than $11 billion in funding for rapid rehousing and efforts to improve the health and safety of those experiencing homelessness.

We must support this critical legislation and affirm our commitment to housing as a human right and housing as a form of justice.

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