WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued the following statement on the Massachusetts housing court decision to overturn the City of Boston’s eviction moratorium. 

“The City of Boston’s eviction moratorium has served as a critical lifeline for Boston families at risk of eviction, and yesterday’s housing court decision to overturn it is a devastating blow to these vulnerable residents who once again find themselves at risk of losing their homes. 

“As we enter the winter months, I stand ready to support Mayor Wu, the City of Boston and the Boston Public Health Commission as they explore every option available to protect renters, including by appealing this harmful decision and ensuring that emergency rental assistance funds continue to be rapidly disbursed to those who need it. I continue to fight at the federal level for emergency relief for tenants nationwide and for robust investments in rental assistance, and I reiterate my calls for the Massachusetts Legislature to enact the COVID-19 Housing Equity bill to establish crucial renter protections and expedite resource distribution. 

“Evictions are traumatic and preventable life events that continue to disproportionately impact Black, brown and other vulnerable communities, and we must move with urgency before more families are unhoused as COVID-19 continues to spread. I look forward to partnering with my colleagues across all levels of government to prevent this impending eviction crisis and the destabilization that would accompany it, and will continue working to affirm housing as the fundamental human right that it is.” 

In September, Rep. Pressley, along with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) and over three dozen colleagues, introduced the Keeping Renters Safe Act of 2021 to enact legislation to establish an urgently needed nationwide eviction moratorium. 

Earlier this summer, with the initial federal eviction moratorium set to expire, Rep. Pressley slept on the steps of the US Capitol to urge the Administration to act unilaterally to extend this protection—efforts that resulted in a new CDC eviction moratorium.  

On July 31, ahead of the expiration of the previous CDC eviction moratorium, Reps. Pressley, Bush, Gomez and their progressive colleagues sent a letter renewing their calls for President Biden and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky to extend the federal eviction moratorium. 

On July 30, Rep. Pressley joined House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) in introducing the Protecting Renters from Evictions Act of 2021, legislation to extend the eviction moratorium through the end of the year.  

In June, Rep. Pressley, along with Reps. Gomez and Bush, led over 40 of their colleagues on a letter urging President Biden and CDC Director Walensky to extend and strengthen the moratorium for the duration of the public health crisis.  

From the onset of the pandemic, Congresswoman Pressley has fought tirelessly to provide robust housing protections for families in Massachusetts and across the nation. 

• On March 18, 2020, Reps. Pressley, Katie Porter (D-CA) and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) wrote to HUD calling for a moratorium on evicting renters during the coronavirus pandemic.
• On March 19, 2020, Rep. Pressley, along with progressive lawmakers and organizations, introduced the Housing is a Human Right Act to authorize more than $200 billion in federal spending over 10 years for crucial housing infrastructure and reduce homelessness.
• On March 23, 2020, Reps. Pressley and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) introduced the Public Health Emergency Shelter Act of 2020, legislation to provide critical funding to states and local governments responding to the needs of families and individuals experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis. This legislation was included and passed through the HEROES Act and H.R. 7301, the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020.
• On April 10, 2020, Rep. Pressley urged Congressional leadership to prioritize recurring monthly cash payments to those most at-risk during the COVID-19 crisis. This funding would allow people to cover all their bills, including rent.
• On April 17, 2020, Reps. Pressley, Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and colleagues introduce the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act, a bill to institute a nationwide cancellation of rents and home mortgage payments through the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.
• On May 11, 2020, Reps. Tlaib, and Joe Neguse (D-CO) urge House and Senate leadership to include $11.5 billion in funding for Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) in the next relief package to aid the nation’s homeless population who are experiencing heightened vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• On July 24, 2020, in a Financial Services Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley discussed the unprecedented financial cliff facing millions of renters and homeowners, the economic consequences of millions losing their homes, including the ability to return to work, and why funding for legal representation is so critical.
• On July 28, 2020, Rep. Pressley, Rep. DeLauro and Sen. Harris introduced the Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program (HELP) Act to provide much-needed, layered assistance, including restricting credit reporting of evictions and funding legal counsel for those facing eviction amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
• On May 18, 2021, Reps. Bush and Pressley sent a letter to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), calling on the CDC to strengthen and extend the federal moratorium on evictions, ensuring families can remain safely in their homes for the duration of the COVID-19 global health emergency.

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