That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Public Information Office, the Housing Liaison, the Multiservice Center, the School Department, and other relevant City departments to create a comprehensive digital, postal, and traditional media outreach campaign educating residents on the Cambridge eviction moratorium, tenants’ rights, and resources available to at-risk tenants

WHEREAS:

Massachusetts’ statewide eviction moratorium expired on October 17th, 2020, but Cambridge’s municipal eviction moratorium remains in effect until further notice; and

WHEREAS:

Evictions always pose a significant public health risk to our residents through housing destabilization and financial impact, but evictions are an even greater public health concern amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, as evicted residents may ‘double up,’ leading to increased household transmission, or become homeless; and

WHEREAS:

The Cambridge eviction moratorium prevents constables from forcibly carrying out an eviction order, but residents may not be aware of nor fully understand the rights they have under the moratorium, and may be misled to incorrectly believe they must leave their home; and

WHEREAS:

The Multiservice Center, the City Manager’s Housing Liaison Office, and community organizations offer free housing support, financial assistance, case management, referrals, legal services, and more, but tenants similar may not be aware that these resources exist; and

WHEREAS:

While some housing professionals were sent an informational letter, and there are plans to send out a postcard on tenant protection to all households, the City must quickly develop a robust virtual outreach strategy using all means of communication, especially social media and CPS communication channels, in order to truly educate and protect tenants’ health and housing stability; now therefore be it

ORDERED:

That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Public Information Office, the Housing Liaison, the Multiservice Center, the School Department, and other relevant City departments to create a comprehensive digital, postal, and traditional media outreach campaign educating residents on the Cambridge eviction moratorium, tenants’ rights, and resources available to at-risk tenants; and be it further

ORDERED:

That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter by the November 9th regular meeting.