Minnesotans are protected as federal eviction ban lifts, officials say

Most Minnesotans who have fallen behind on rent during the pandemic do not need to worry about losing their housing after the nationwide ban on evictions ended at midnight Saturday. State leaders recently passed an eviction moratorium "off-ramp," which phases out the halt on evictions that Gov. Tim Walz instituted last year.

"I want renters to understand that the end of the federal eviction moratorium does not affect Minnesotans. Minnesota has its own timeline," Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho said in a statement, urging property owners and renters to work together to apply for emergency assistance. "We have the funds to help pay back rent and three months of future rent."

The state and local governments have received about $672 million to help people with housing expenses and have been encouraging residents to apply for the dollars through RentHelpMN.org. As of Friday, Minnesotans had requested $196 million in assistance, and officials had distributed nearly $27 million in aid.

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Minnesotans who have applied for the federal help and are eligible for it will be protected from evictions until June 1, 2022. Those who have not paid their rent and do not qualify for the aid could be evicted starting Sept. 12.

https://www.startribune.com/minnesotans-are-protected-as-federal-eviction-ban-lifts-officials-say/600084049/