East Bay Renters Lose House Regardless of Statewide Eviction Moratorium – CBS San Francisco
CONCORD (KPIX) – Contra Costa County’s housing lawyers warn property owners are using loopholes in the state’s eviction moratorium to force tenants out of their homes.
“It’s a myth that there is full protection and that there are no evictions,” says Kristi Laughlin, who works for the charitable path to living.
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The organization held a march and rally in support of Manuel Caballero and his family, who moved out of their Concord apartment on Friday evening.
“It’s very hard. My kids cried yesterday because we were moving. They said where are my clothes? Where are my stuff?” says Caballero, who worked as a wedding and event photographer until the pandemic.
Caballero says when his photo business dried up, he slipped back on his rent in August last year. He and his wife have four children between 12 and four months.
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The state’s eviction moratorium should have protected him from being forced out of his home for not paying rent. State lawmakers drafted the eviction moratorium to protect tenants from the financial consequences of the pandemic.
However, Caballero said the owners of his apartment had told him they were removing the property from the rental market, essentially depriving him of the protection of the state moratorium.
A lawyer representing the owners tells KPIX 5 that its clients have negotiated a settlement in which Caballero and his family agreed to leave the apartment by April 30th. The attorney says his clients are small mom and pop owners and Caballero’s inability to pay his rent jeopardizes their ability to pay their mortgage.
Caballero says he hasn’t found a new apartment for his family. Housing lawyers have raised money to temporarily stay in a hotel room.
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“You grew up there. My children were there for ten years, ”said Caballero.
