Boston Extends Eviction Moratorium In Public Housing Through February

The city of Boston is extending its moratorium for nonessential evictions in public housing for a second time since the pandemic started.

Officials say most evictions from Boston Housing Authority properties will be paused through the end of February. (Evictions related to criminal activity, and those that are necessary to protect the health and safety of BHA residents, employees, and others, will still be allowed to continue.)

BHA administrator Kate Bennett says keeping people safely housed is a key part of fighting the pandemic.

"Folks are struggling economically, they're struggling emotionally, and it's just something that helps keep people in their homes, and also keeps them from having to worry about being displaced."

The Boston Housing Authority serves about 25,000 people at its properties.

"It's been a difficult year, with a dueling public health and economic crisis that has hit our communities hard," said Boston Mayor Marty Walsh in a statement on Tuesday. "This moratorium continues to serve the best interests of both our residents who struggle to make ends meet and of our city as a whole, as we fight to maintain the health and safety of our city."

The BHA's previous moratorium on non-essential evictions had been set to expire at the end of 2020.