Pritzker extends eviction moratorium to mid-September — and may push it back further: ‘We’ll adjust as we need to’

Gov. J.B. Pritzker quietly extended the state’s eviction moratorium last week, pushing the enforcement of those orders into the middle of September.

Pritzker’s executive order, signed on Friday, extends the moratorium to Sept. 18.

A spokeswoman for the governor said the goal was to bring the state’s eviction protections in line with the federal ban, which is in effect until Oct. 3. Since executive orders in Illinois last 30 days, the moratorium likely will be extended again to ensure the state follows the federal moratorium.

“We’ll match whatever the federal government does,” Jordan Abudayyeh, Pritzker’s spokeswoman, said. “... Pending any changes, we’ll adjust as we need to.”

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times file

Illinois landlords still can begin the eviction filing process, but evictions won’t be enforced until the end of the ban.

Groups representing landlords have taken President Joe Biden’s administration to court to try to lift the federal eviction moratorium. That case is being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Last month, Pritzker said evictions could be filed starting Aug. 1, but pushed the enforcement of those orders to Aug. 31.

The governor also encouraged tenants struggling to make payments to go through Illinois’ rental assistance programs seek part of the roughly $500 million in existing federal funds for rental assistance.

If approved, grants will cover rents owed from July 2020 through June 2021.

Renters may also be eligible to receive assistance for July, August and September of 2021, according to the application for tenants through the state’s housing authority. The maximum grant is $25,000.