The economic turmoil created by the COVID-19 pandemic threatened millions of American families when lost jobs or reduced wages meant many people could not afford their housing bills. As part of the response, the federal government took unprecedented action to help them stay in their homes. Between 2020 and 2021, Congress and the executive branch established rental assistance funds, allowed federally backed mortgage borrowers to pause payments with forbearances, and placed moratoria on some evictions and foreclosures.