DECEMBER 04, 2020 05:00 AM, UPDATED DECEMBER 04, 2020 08:54 AM
Even though the first COVID-19 vaccines may soon become available for health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities, the misery caused by the pandemic is far from over.
An epidemic of evictions and foreclosures, resulting from the economic effects of the pandemic, is already hitting the Manatee County court system, and overwhelming the agencies trying to help people avoid homelessness.
A state moratorium on evictions and foreclosures provided cover since April for Floridians who lost their jobs, or were otherwise economically hurt by the pandemic. But Gov. Ron DeSantis allowed the moratorium to expire Sept. 30, and the Manatee County Clerk of Court has seen a rush of filings.
At Turning Points, a nonprofit that helps the homeless, and those one paycheck away from becoming homeless, the requests for help ramped up after the moratorium expired.
“Ninety nine percent of it is rentals,” said Andy Guyre, housing program manager at Turning Points.
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