Murphy orders evictions, foreclosures to stop in N.J. during coronavirus outbreak

New Jersey is stepping in to prevent anyone from being evicted from their home or having their home foreclosed upon during the coronavirus outbreak gripping the state, Gov. Phil Murphy declared Thursday.

The state Legislature has begun advancing a number of emergency bills to help the state cope with the outbreak, including one that would give the governor the authority place a moratorium on evictions of homeowners amid foreclosure proceedings or evictions of rental tenants during and for up to two months after a widespread crisis.

The state Senate gave final legislative approval to it Thursday. Murphy signed it into law hours later and signed an executive order to “immediately suspend” such actions.

The order remain in effect for “no longer than two months following” the end of the state of emergency that Murphy has declared because of the outbreak.

“No one, and I repeat no one, in New Jersey should fear being kicked out of their home in an emergency,” the governor said during his daily coronavirus briefing in Trenton.

Under the bill, banks and landlords in the state could still pursue evictions and foreclosures during this time but would not be able to carry out an actual removal under the order is lifted.

It’s unclear whether officials will take any steps to help landlords who would lose revenue as a result of the governor’s order. The governor’s office did not immediately return a request seeking comment.

Murphy said he’s also urging “in the strongest possible terms” that banks and lenders in New Jersey “do what they can for their mortgage customers to make loan repayment much more flexible in coming weeks and months.”

“We simply cannot have families anxious over their health anxious about whether they’re going to lose a roof over their heads,” Murphy said.

Officials announced Thursday that New Jersey now has a least 742 known coronavirus cases, including nine confirmed deaths.

Murphy has closed all schools and a string of businesses across the state, suggested an 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, and limited public gatherings to fewer than 50 people to fight the spread.

The closings are causing ripple effects throughout the state, with many people losing jobs and businesses losing revenue.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Samantha Marcus contributed to this report.

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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.

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