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Lewiston, Portland Mayors Call For Protections For Homeowners, Renters

The sun rises over Downtown Lewiston, Maine, Friday, March 17, 2017.
David Goldman
/
Associated Press file
The sun rises over Downtown Lewiston, Maine, Friday, March 17, 2017.

The mayors of Portland and Lewiston are calling on landlords to work with renters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even though evictions are not currently happening because courts are closed, both say that it’s important to ensure that residents are safely housed while they deal with changes in their employment and income status.

In Portland, Mayor Kate Snyder is asking that evictions be halted for 90 days for those who can show they have been financially affected by the COVID-19, that no rent increases take place for at least 90 days and that payment plans be created for residents who are unable to pay their rent with late fees waived.

And in Lewiston, Mayor Mark Cayer is telling his community that no homeowner or renter should face foreclosure, eviction or threat of eviction during the current state of emergency and for the first 90 days of recovery except when personal and physical safety are at risk.

“We just think it’s really important right now that that’s not on folks’ plate, dealing with that,” he says. “We need folks to have safe, affordable housing so they can focus their attention on their families and staying fiscally sound in their day-to-day lives.”

Cayer says, like public utilities, housing is an essential resource and that no one should incur accrued interest or late fees or new debt in order to stay in their homes.

Cayer also suggests that homeowners and tenants communicate with their mortgage holders or landlords if they are unable to make a payment. And while the mayors don’t have the authority to put a moratorium on evictions, a spokesperson for Gov. Janet Mills says she is evaluating steps that other states have taken to protect housing for people, including the temporary suspension of evictions for nonpayment of rent related to COVID-19.

Originally published March 23, 2020 at 4:55 p.m. ET.