BETHLEHEM, Pa. (WLVT) - With the deadline to apply for CARES Act money now behind us, the next big deadline for renters is Jan. 1.
That's when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's eviction moratorium ends.
Marc Rittle, director of Bethlehem-based New Bethany Ministries, says he's expecting an "avalanche" of inquires.
"It'll probably be January before we start really getting all of those calls and it's going to because people are getting locked out of their house," said Rittle, whose agency helps people with transitional housing and homelessness.
The moratorium has helped people avoid homelessness during the pandemic. But it's also affected landlords -- many whose rent payments dried up months ago, according to David Berger, associate attorney at Norris McLaughlin.
"Do I anticipate on January 1st, the CDC order will expire? No, I believe even if it does," he said, "chances are the next administration may take some steps to extend that but also figure out, hopefully, a way to compensate landlords with the way everything's run so far."
Once the moratorium ends, renters will be responsible for back-rent not paid during the pandemic.
There's been no word yet on whether the moratorium will be extended.