PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Florida could soon become the center of foreclosures in the United States.
The state currently ranks second in the nation in foreclosure filings only behind South Carolina.
Governor Ron DeSantis imposed a moratorium on evictions and foreclosure at the state of the pandemic. After extending it five times, he let it expire October 1.
Several Pinellas County leaders are coming together Friday morning to discuss the impact ending Florida's eviction moratorium could have in the Tampa Bay area.
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A major reason for the governor's decision was the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued its own moratorium which protects certain renters impacted by the coronavirus through the end of the year.
Because the CDC order is more limited than Florida's was, many officials fear a wave of evictions and foreclosures will occur over the coming months.
Micki Thompson, 211 Tampa Bay Cares CEO, is hosting a town hall discussion on the foreclosure crisis Friday morning. Joining her will be the following three panelists:
- Duggan Cooley, CEO at the Pinellas Community Foundation
- Tiffany Coleman, Esq., Staff Attorney at Bay Area Legal Services
- Eric Garduno, Government Affairs Director at Bay Area Apartment Association.
The discussion will cover the crisis's size and scope in the Tampa Bay area and outline the resources available to help tenants, landlords, businesses and nonprofits navigate this challenge.
You are invited to join in on the town hall discussion. It begins at 9:00 a.m. and will be hosted on Zoom. Click here to register for the event.
