News

DeKalb County Halts Evictions For 60 Days Following End Of Federal Eviction Moratorium

August 1st, 2021

Following the expiration of a nationwide eviction moratorium, DeKalb County has issued a ban of its own. The Chief Judge of the DeKalb County Superior Court signed an order Friday stopping all evictions in DeKalb for 60 days.

DeKalb is among several counties in Georgia which are working to distribute millions of dollars in federal rental assistance. According to the county’s press conference, it had only dispersed about $3.5 million of the $31 million allocated to DeKalb.

The local eviction moratorium is the first of its kind in Georgia since the pandemic began. On social media, housing advocates called on other local governments to follow suit.

Good for DeKalb county. Other states, cities and counties should immediately do the same. https://t.co/odpfwIeIYE

— Diane Yentel (@dianeyentel) August 1, 2021

A nationwide ban on evictions, originally issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, expired Saturday. It prevented all evictions for nonpayment of rent. Tenants were required to submit a form promising they lost income due to COVID-19.

Congress approved $46 billion in rental assistance in two separate federal stimulus bills. But local governments in charge of those funds have struggled to disburse the money quickly.

Note of correction: An earlier version of this story stated the order was signed by the chief magistrate judge. The story has been updated to reflect that the order was signed by the Chief Judge of the DeKalb County Superior Court.