Whitmer Extends Moratorium On Evictions Amid Coronavirus Crisis

MICHIGAN — A moratorium on evictions during the coronavirus pandemic due to non-payment of rent has been extended, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Thursday night.

Whitmer signed Executive Orders 2020-118 , which extends the duration of protections for tenants and mobile home owners from being evicted from their home until June 30, and Executive Order and 2020-119, which extends protections for people housed in Michigan’s county jails, local lockups and juvenile detention centers until July 9.

“By extending the protection against eviction for non-payment we can ensure that COVID-19-infected individuals and vulnerable populations can isolate in the safety of their homes while continuing to protect incarcerated persons in our prisons, jails, and juvenile detention centers,” Whitmer said. “These orders will ensure that we can continue to flatten the curve, avoid a second wave of infection, and protect the heroes serving on the front lines of this crisis.”

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Executive Order 2020-118 also relieves courts from certain statutory restrictions so they can stay eviction-related proceedings until after the coronavirus crisis has passed.

Executive Order 2020-119 temporarily suspends transfers into and from Michigan Department of Corrections facilities unless jails adopt certain risk-reduction protocols. Many counties—including Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb, have already resumed transfers. The order also allows local officials more flexibility in releasing vulnerable populations who do not pose a threat to public safety.

Michigan has reported more than 59,000 cases of the coronavirus as of Thursday. The state has also reported more than 5,500 deaths due to the virus.