Governor lifts moratorium on evictions and foreclosures

JOHNSTON — Eviction and foreclosure proceedings may resume in Iowa on Thursday. Governor Kim Reynolds declared a moratorium in mid-March, to prevent people from becoming homeless during the first of part the pandemic.

Reynolds says the Iowa Finance Authority is planning to help some of the Iowans who will now face the loss of their home or apartment.   “The program applies to residential evictions and foreclosures and will be available to eligible Iowans who’ve experienced a documented loss of income due to COVID-19 and are unable to pay their rent or mortgage payment,” Reynolds says.

The governor plans to use some of the pandemic relief money the state got from the federal government for this program. Eligibility details will be released Thursday.  “We anticipate it being ready for Iowans on Friday,” Reynolds says.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa says many Iowans still need time to pull together enough money to pay back rent that will be due and the governor’s decision to end the moratorium Thursday is a disappointment.