Watsonville Halts Evictions Amid Coronavirus State Of Emergency

WATSONVILLE, CA — The Watsonville City Council approved Monday a temporary halt on residential and commercial evictions during the state of emergency, which was enacted due to concerns about the new coronavirus. Renters, who comprise six in 10 Watsonville households, will still be responsible for paying landlords back rent when the moratorium is called off, said City Manager Matt Huffaker.

People have lost work and parents must care for children since schools have closed in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus, according to a city staff report on the ordinance.

"The ordinance is aimed at protecting tenants who are at risk of eviction due to financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic," Huffaker said, "in an effort to keep people housed and protect the health and wellbeing of the community."

Renters must still pay their utilities. The city previous waived late fees and froze utility shutoffs amid the local emergency declared in the City of Watsonville March 12.

Emergencies due to coronavirus have also been declared at the state level and county level on March 4.

The city said it will release an FAQ sheet soon with information about the ordinance.

Read the ordinance:

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See Huffaker address the moratorium: