SPRINGFIELD – The city councilors have asked Gov. Charlie Baker to support legislation that would protect people from eviction and foreclosure.

Councilors Victor Davila, Adam Gomez and Jesse Lederman sent the following letter to baker last week: “The City of Springfield is confronted by an assortment of difficulties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic disruptions. There is growing concern about possible adverse impacts to my fellow residents’ housing. If residents are foreclosed on or evicted while we are still under threat from COVID-19, it will harm public health and could counteract the substantial measures taken to combat the virus.  The displacement of residents could aggravate any potential second wave of COVID-19, which experts predict could arise later this year, and hurt the entire community. The duration of this crisis remains uncertain and open ended. To provide my city’s residents with some security and certainty, they will need a period of time after the immediate emergency situation has passed during which to come to an arrangement with their landlord or mortgage holder, to get assistance, or to find alternative housing. We do not want to move directly from a public health emergency into a housing emergency.

 “The House of Representatives has passed H.1279/H.4615 and the Senate currently is considering its own version, S. 2621.  In the name of public safety, I recommend that you sign the foreclosure and eviction moratorium legislation that is put before you.”

“Our immediate economic outlook is uncertain due to this crisis. It has impacted not only the economic stability of our residents, but disrupted their daily lives as well. A foreclosure and eviction moratorium will give our residents a fighting chance and will assure them that their government has their backs.”

In a written statement Davila said, “The state has closed the courts until April 21st, 2020. A good start but not enough to deal with the pending financial crisis that we will face.  Although the courts are close, evictions can still be filed online. I fear that we will see a tsunami of evictions after the reopening of the courts. The urgent passing of a comprehensive bill protecting our residents from evictions is critical for public safety. If residents are evicted while we are still under the threat of COVID-19, it will be a great threat to public health and will undo the great efforts taken to combat this crisis. If people are evicted while this crisis is ongoing, where would they go to find housing? Their displacement could aggravate the potential second wave of the COVID-19 that experts are predicting later this year, making it worse and unsafe for the entire community.   In the name of public safety, we recommend that Gov. Baker signs the foreclosure and eviction moratorium legislation that is put before you.

 “Our immediate economic outlook is uncertain due to this crisis. It has impacted not only the economic stability of our residents, but disrupted their daily lives as well. A foreclosure and eviction moratorium will give our residents a fighting chance and will assure them that their government has their backs.”

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Chris Lisinski of State House News Service reported on April 11, “Gov. Charlie Baker hopes lawmakers can resolve differences and send him a viable bill pausing all eviction and foreclosure proceedings statewide by next week, he said Saturday while touting aid that will flow to undocumented immigrants who are ineligible for unemployment benefits.

 “During a Facebook Live interview with El Mundo Boston that host Alberto Vasallo III translated into Spanish, Baker said he is precluded by law from temporarily banning housing removals via executive order but that his administration has been working with the Legislature to try to prioritize the issue.

 “The House and Senate have been unable to agree on language of a moratorium for weeks despite sharing support for the concept. On Thursday legislators established a conference committee, a process lawmakers turn to when they are unable to informally work out disagreements.

 “Baker did not explicitly endorse either branch's approach, and he said he hopes negotiators find compromise soon on something he can support.

 “‘I know they're working on it this weekend and my hope is by next week they'll get a bill to me that I can sign,’ Baker said.

 “A trial court standing order has halted most hearings, but advocates say a formal moratorium is necessary to protect the most vulnerable from pressure.”