Last night, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) sent a letter to the National Governors Association (NGA) requesting that the NGA take action to encourage all governors to impose a moratorium on utility (water and electricity) turn-offs during the COVID-19 pandemic, require the restoration of service for customers previously disconnected, and halt the execution of evictions to guarantee that no one is removed from their home during the pandemic. Adopting these common-sense humanitarian measures is critical to ensure the protection, health and safety of vulnerable Americans facing financial hardship during this crisis.
“The long-term economic instability caused by COVID-19 will disproportionately affect low-income members of society unless all governments undertake immediate and substantive protective measures. Furthermore, as jobs are lost and hours are cut across the country, it is particularly important that these safeguards are enacted to ensure people can continue practicing social distancing. Ending evictions, foreclosures and utility shut offs as well as eliminating sales tax on household necessities will better enable people to maintain housing and protect themselves and their community from getting sick.”
Read the full letter here.
