Would it be legal for the US govt to take over the renters' leases under the 5th amendment?
That is, they would "take" the leases (just like they might take land) and pay "just compensation" (which I assume would mean reimbursing landlords for all back rent, and whatever the lease rate is going forward). At that point the fed govt would become the tenant, and the original tenant would be a subtenant of the fed govt.
In that case, the fed govt wouldn't be dependent on states distributing federal rental aid, because they would be interceding directly in the landlord-tenant relationship.
(Let's leave aside the fact that politically, this will never happen, and practically, HUD doesn't have the staffing or logistical infrastructure to take responsibility for these leases en masse)
That is, they would "take" the leases (just like they might take land) and pay "just compensation" (which I assume would mean reimbursing landlords for all back rent, and whatever the lease rate is going forward). At that point the fed govt would become the tenant, and the original tenant would be a subtenant of the fed govt.
In that case, the fed govt wouldn't be dependent on states distributing federal rental aid, because they would be interceding directly in the landlord-tenant relationship.
(Let's leave aside the fact that politically, this will never happen, and practically, HUD doesn't have the staffing or logistical infrastructure to take responsibility for these leases en masse)