RICHMOND, Va. — Gov. Ralph Northam announced a stop to eviction proceedings in Virginia due to a temporary statewide moratorium.
The order was issued Monday by the Virginia Supreme Court and will remain in effect through June 28.
Evictions were put on hold in mid-March while court houses were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. But on May 17, the order to suspend non-emergency proceedings expired, allowing backlog eviction lawsuits to continue.
The moratorium gives Northam’s administration time to implement a rent relief program for residents facing housing insecurity during the pandemic.
Details regarding the rent relief initiative are expected to be announced in the upcoming weeks.