Austin News

During the coronavirus crisis, the Austin City Council has instituted a policy ensuring that renters will have more time to make rent payments before having to worry about any eviction proceedings.

Community Impact reports small business owners will also be eligible to receive tens of thousands of dollars in disaster loans from the city as the deadly virus that has shuttered businesses across the country continues to spread.

A March 26 meeting was the first time lawmakers have gathered since strict social-distancing measures went into effect as a way of limiting the spread of the disease. Led by Mayor Steve Adler, council members unanimously passed a proposal introduced by Greg Casar that requires landlords to grant renters an additional two-month grace period to pay rent due before eviction proceedings can commence. Earlier in the month, municipal court officials suspended all eviction hearings until May 8.

“No one should lose their home during a pandemic,” Casar said. “It’s wrong and it’s bad for public health.”

Casar said the government needs to do more to help renters through a crisis they had little to do with creating.  

“We are 100% committed to our folks in Austin,” District 6 Council Member Jimmy Flannigan added. “We are all suffering through this together, and we are going to get through it together.”

Flannigan later introduced a resolution calling for the study of local loan programs for workers and small businesses.

The City Council also unanimously approved the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. With local assistance coming from a $4.5 million fund the city has through the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department, the program offers $35,000 in gap financing loans to small businesses impacted by the coronavirus.