New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy enacted a statewide eviction moratorium in March, prohibiting people from getting kicked out of their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

But landlords have continued to file eviction claims in court — the first step to evicting a renter. In July, landlords filed 5,700 eviction proceedings, bringing the total number of landlord-tenant filings to 21,000 since April.

While that's roughly half the proceedings filed during the same period last year, housing advocates say those numbers are likely just the beginning of a potential wave of evictions if more isn't done to help renters.

A bill offering tenants more time to pay back-owed rent passed the Assembly but has yet to be voted on by the state Senate.

The moratorium currently expires in November, 60 days after the state's public health emergency lifts.