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Eligibility Guidelines Tight Under New CDC Eviction Moratorium

Justin Hicks / IPB News

In a surprise to many, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new eviction moratorium Tuesday, targeting areas of the country that are at higher risk for spread of COVID-19.

Many legal experts – including, before Tuesday, the Biden administration – questioned the legality of any new eviction moratorium from the CDC.

READ MORE: How Is Indiana Distributing COVID-19 Vaccines? Here's What You Need To Know

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But as long as it’s in effect, it covers counties with significant or high spread of the virus, as determined by the CDC. That information is updated daily – and as of Wednesday morning, it covered all but eight counties in Indiana.

In order to be eligible, those getting evicted must have earned no more than $99,000 either last year or this year. They have to show that they can’t make rent because of a loss of income, a layoff or “extraordinary” medical expenses. They have to be trying to make some rent payments. And they have to show that, if evicted, they’d be homeless or forced to live in a shared living space.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.