 TITLE: Need Help Paying Rent? Here’s What to Do CONTENT: Learn About Tenants' Rights in Your Area\n----------------------------------------\nYour rights as a renter can vary widely depending on where you live. Complicating matters, pandemic responses from municipalities and states can be vastly different from one area to the next. The CDC's eviction protection is currently set to expire at the end of March—though it's possible it will be extended—but you may also be protected by statewide order, such as the one in California that extended the eviction moratorium there through June 30, 2021.\nFor a more detailed look at eviction protections, check out the following:\n*   NOLO's state-by-state overview of housing and utility protections.\n*   Just Shelter maintains a national database of organizations that can help with housing assistance, legal aid, tenant rights, education and advocacy.\n*   The Legal Service Corporation can help you find nonprofit legal aid organizations in your state that may be able to help you with legal assistance.\n*   The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development page, which links to tenant rights information in each state.\nRemember that even if you're covered by an eviction ban, that doesn't cancel your rent. You still owe the money, and the landlord may have the right to evict you when the moratorium ends. But again, check local laws as there may be specifics about how quickly you need to repay past-due rent.\nLaws aside, some landlords have also threatened to illegally evict tenants in areas where a ban is in place. Or, they may try to force you out by refusing to do repairs, locking you out or cutting off utilities. If this happens, look for legal assistance by contacting a local tenant lawyer or using one of the tools above to find a legal aid clinic. END