Part of the latest $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill could provide needed rental assistance for families facing eviction from their homes.

Along with $25 billion in rent relief, the bill also extends the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eviction ban until the end of January.

“Banning evictions doesn’t really fix the problem. Banning evictions with providing rental assistance fixes the problem,” explains attorney Sarah Taggart.

Sarah Taggart specializes in landlord/tenant law. She says the extension of the eviction ban with rental assistance is a better alternative for both sides— landlords and tenants.

“This is an extension of an eviction ban and a fund of money where tenants who’ve experienced financial difficulties are able to get both back rent and future rent and money towards a utilities,” says Taggart.

The previous bans have been a double edged sword, while they protected families from losing their housing, it really hurt landlords.