Commissioner Nikki Fried Applauds Evictions & Foreclosures Halt in USDA Multifamily Housing

Tallahassee, Fla. — President Joe Biden has directed federal agencies to extend the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures affecting millions of Americans through March 31, 2021. As a result, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending rental relief to those living in USDA-supported multifamily housing communities.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 17.2 million Americans reported being behind on rent or mortgage payments – including 29 percent of Black families and 17 percent of Hispanic families. In Florida alone, nearly 1.2 million Floridians are behind on rent or mortgage payments, including 490,000 Hispanic renters and homeowners and 319,000 Black renters and homeowners.

USDA’s Multi-Family Housing Programs provide affordable multi-family rental housing in rural areas by financing projects geared for low-income, elderly and disabled individuals and families as well as domestic farm laborers. USDA extends its reach by guaranteeing loans for affordable rental housing designed for low- to moderate-income residents in rural areas and towns. USDA also provides grants to sponsoring organizations to repair or rehabilitate housing for needy families and subsidizes rents for low-income tenants who cannot afford to pay their full rent.

“With more than one million Floridians unable to make their rent or mortgage payments, COVID-19 has dramatically worsened our already-existing affordable housing crisis,” said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “I thank President Biden for extending the eviction and foreclosure moratorium on USDA multifamily housing. This action will relieve thousands of Floridians who are rent-overburdened during this pandemic, will provide relief to vulnerable rural families, and will allow Floridians to stay at home and avoid COVID-19 infection.”

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services routinely partners with the USDA, administers more than $1 billion in USDA funding each year, and promotes participation in USDA programs.

Visit www.rd.usda.gov/coronavirus for additional information on USDA’s Rural Development COVID-19 relief efforts, application deadline extensions and more. USDA Rural Development will keep our customers, partners and stakeholders continuously updated as additional actions are taken to bring relief and development to rural America. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

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