April 2020 Newsletter

From our desk to yours

On behalf of IMAN Associates’ board of directors, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our doctors, nurses, hospital workers and first responders for their tireless efforts on the frontlines and our sincere prayers for their safety and protection during this global pandemic.  Also, we want to thank Muslim Hoosiers who are staying at home and doing their part in combatting the spread of the Coronavirus. The need to pull together as one community has never been greater, and with Allah’s will, we will weather this storm.
 
In these unprecedented times, we believe Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network's mission is as relevant as ever. The organization is committed to keeping you engaged with politics and strengthening your voter engagement. As a community, we have to keep track of the decisions that elected officials on the federal and local levels make during this pandemic and decide whether we re-elect them or vote them out! With the absentee voting extended to all Hoosiers, we urge each and every community member to practice their civic duty and vote this primary election. You can find your absentee ballot here.
 
While our candidate forums were suspended, we are still eager to help our Muslim voters make informed decisions at the polls in the primary election on June 2. In the coming weeks, we plan to issue a series of Voter Education Guides to shed a light on a number of different races happening in Central Indiana and where the candidates stand on various issues important to Muslim Hoosiers.
 
Also, the organization is keen to empower you with information that will help you navigate the challenges that come with this health and economic crisis. Recently, the federal and state governments enacted a number of laws and issued orders placing a ban on certain evictions and foreclosure procedures. We put together the below advisory in an attempt to answer some of your questions and provide you with some guidance at this challenging time.
 
Finally, without your continued support, IMAN Associates won’t exist! We are grateful for your involvement and we wish you and your family good health. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us, shall you have any questions or concerns.

With many blessings,
Hiba Alami, Executive Director

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Mortgage and Eviction Moratorium Advisory

What is the “Moratorium on Evictions and Foreclosures”? The federal government and state authorities have recently enacted laws and issued orders placing a ban on certain evictions and foreclosure proceedings. The phrase “Moratorium on Evictions and Foreclosures” refers to these laws and orders. Please note that the ban on Evictions and Foreclosures is not universal. Homeowners and tenants must determine whether they qualify for the relief on offer. This Advisory will help you make this determination.
 
Can I be evicted if I am unable to pay my rent during this crisis? The short answer is no. But we will need to dig a bit deeper to answer more detailed and relevant questions. If you rent your home in Indiana there are two sets of laws which will help you answer some of your question:

1. Governor Holcomb’s March 19th, 2020 executive order, bars landlord from initiating any eviction actions until the state emergency has been terminated. As of now, Indiana’s state emergency is set to terminate on May 5th, 2020. It is unclear whether existing eviction actions should be stayed pursuant to this order. However, this question is a matter of interpretation for the courts. The language in this executive order can be interpreted to imply a stay on all existing eviction actions.
2. The federal government under the CARES Act has also placed a bar on all new eviction actions for non-payment of rent, fees or charges. The CARES Act only applies if the subject property has a federally backed mortgage loan or participates in a federal housing program (example: HUD public housing programs) (refer to “How do you know if your loan is federally backed” to learn more). The CARES Act moratorium will last for 120 days starting March 27th, 2020. The CARES Act also requires landlords (if their properties are covered under the CARES Act) to serve a 30-day notice prior to eviction and the notice must be issued after the moratorium has ended. The CARES Act moratorium has significant loop holes as it: (1) does not apply to existing eviction actions; (2) is only limited to evictions which are initiated for non-payment of rent but does not address “no cause” evictions often permissible under lease agreements. It is of importance to note that if your leased property has federally backed mortgage or your landlord participates in a federal housing program there might be broader relief which is available by different federally backed mortgage investors like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, VA, FHA, etc. (Please refer to “Foreclosure Suspensions by Federally Backed Mortgage Investors in Effect Prior to the CARES Act,” Section for more details).

Read More

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Dates to remember:

May 4, 2020 Voter Registration Ends
Register to vote or check your registration here.June 2, 2020 Primary Election Day
To ensure Hoosiers practice their civic duty and vote in the primary election, Governor Holcomb moves it to June 2, and the Indiana Election Commission expands vote-by-mail options. All registered and qualified Indiana voters are provided the opportunity to vote no-excuse absentee by mail.
Get your absentee ballot here.