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It is no secret, but many landlords and some elected officials do not want to talk about it.

As the COVID-19 public health crisis strengthens its grip on the nation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Supreme Court of Texas and a number of other states have enacted moratoriums on evictions.

In its eighth emergency order pertaining to the coronavirus since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster last month, the Supreme Court of Texas on Wednesday amended a previous order that banned evictions until April 19 to extend that period through June 1. HUD has placed a moratorium on evictions for residents of government-assisted housing until July 24.

Thousands of people have lost jobs or had working hours cut in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. It is the first of the month, rent is due and many are nervous about scraping up enough to keep the roof over their heads. They also worry about paying late fees or several months of back rent once the orders are lifted.

McLennan County Justice of the Peace Pete Peterson and McLennan County Constable Walt Strickland discouraged a news story about the evictions moratorium, saying that many renters likely are unaware of the order and will take advantage of the situation, costing landlords.