USA: Response to Pandemic Shows What’s Possible in Housing

Since the pandemic began, many states have passed versions of an eviction stoppage. But the Massachusetts edition goes further than most. The state’s moratorium puts the kibosh on court proceedings that involve any eviction matters. It protects renters from late fees, Notices To Quit, negative credit reporting, and physical eviction by law enforcement. It also includes foreclosure protections, mortgage payment relief for qualifying landlords, and a freeze on evictions for small businesses and nonprofits. This sort of thing does not happen in Massachusetts often, to put it mildly. The state renowned for its astronomical real estate prices and a legislature that advances policy at a glacial pace, to the detriment of people who need help sooner.