NEWS RELEASE


GOVERNOR DUCEY URGED TO EXTEND EVICTION MORATORIUM FOR RENTERS IMPACTED BY COVID-19
26 Arizona Nonprofits Join Wildfire In Requesting the Extension

PHOENIX, Ariz. (July 10, 2020): In a letter from Wildfire Executive Director Cynthia Zwick and supported by 26 Arizona nonprofit organizations, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey was urged to extend the moratorium on evictions through Dec. 30 for renters impacted by COVID-19 that is set to expire on July 23.

“More time is needed to connect the renters with the support,” Zwick wrote. “Aligning Arizona’s eviction moratorium with the C.A.R.E.S. Act deadline of December 30, 2020 provides agencies more time to get critical funding to those in need. Data shows that as a result of COVID-19 over 20 percent of Arizonans are housing insecure because they missed last month’s rent or mortgage payment.”

Zwick wrote that the Department of Housing has received more than 16,000 requests for help from the COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program, but as of July 6, only 1,136 had been approved statewide.

“The City of Phoenix has released $20 million to aid families affected by the crisis, and Maricopa County has made $30 million available to assist. Additional funds are also being released throughout the state,” Zwick wrote. “Agencies will need more time to prevent an avalanche of pending eviction notices. Allowing Executive Order 2020-14 to expire will only result in more Arizonans becoming housing insecure.”

In addition to providing relief to tenants, “but also for landlords,” the letter said. “Extending Executive Order 2020-14 provides relief to these small landlords so that they may receive rent owed by their tenants.

“The federal timeline for spending C.A.R.E.S. Act funding allows for assistance through December 30, 2020. Extending E.O. 2020-14 allows Community Action Agencies and nonprofits throughout Arizona to continue supporting Arizonans in dire need of housing assistance,” Zwick wrote.

Organizations supporting the request were: Arizona Center for Economic Progress, Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, Arizona Council of Human Service Providers, Arizona Family Health Partnership, Arizona Peer and Family Coalition, Campesinos Sin Fronteras,Central Arizonans for a Sustainable Economy, City of Phoenix, Children’s Action Alliance, Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, Garcia Family Foundation, Glendale Community Action Program, Human Services Campus, Mi Familia Vota, NACOG, NAMI Yavapai, NASW Arizona, Phoenix Community Alliance, Poder in Action, Primavera Foundation, Promise Arizona, Step Up to Justice, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 99, UMOM New Day Centers, Vitalyst Health Foundation, and WHEAT (World Hunger Education, Advocacy & Training).

For more information about Wildfire, visit wildfireaz.org.

About Wildfire: Wildfire is a growing movement to end poverty. We advocate for fair practices. We collaborate on policy issues. We support community action initiatives. Beyond easing the effects of poverty, our efforts aim to ignite lasting change: to stop poverty before it starts. This is advocacy in action for an Arizona where all may thrive. For more information visit wildfireaz.org.

Contacts:
• Cynthia Zwick, Executive Director, Wildfire, (602) 604-0640
• Steve Carr, The Kur Carr Group, Inc., (602) 317-3040