Biaggi legislation to extend eviction moratorium
New York State Sen. Alessandra
Biaggi, a District 34
Democrat, introduced legislation
last week to extend the
state’s eviction and foreclosure
moratorium until Oct. 31.
In light of the New York
Emergency Rental Assistance
Program’s failure to issue federal
aid to struggling tenants
and landlords, this bill aims
to protect tenants, homeowners
and small landlords who
continue to endure fi nancial
hardship due to the COVID-19
pandemic. New York State’s
eviction moratorium is set to
expire Aug. 31.
“The failure of the Emergency
Rental Assistance Program
to properly distribute
funds and the surge of the Delta
variant has put the livelihoods
of many New Yorkers at risk,”
Biaggi said. “With the eviction
moratorium set to expire August
31st and little COVID-19
rental assistance distributed,
many New Yorkers who still
owe rental arrears are fearful
of losing their homes come September
1st. We cannot let hundreds
of thousands of New Yorkers
risk homelessness due to the
negligence of our own government.
The Executive has failed
New Yorkers, and the Legislature
must reconvene to deliver
for the people that we were
elected to serve.”
This legislation extends the
COVID-19 Emergency Eviction
and Foreclosure Prevention Act
of 2020 and the COVID-19 Emergency
Protect Our Small Businesses
Act of 2021 until Oct. 31.
The legislation provides
the following protections:
Eviction: Under this bill, eligible
residential and commercial
tenants will continue to
receive relief from eviction if
they submit a hardship declaration
BRONX TIMES REPORTER,24 AUG. 13-19, 2021 BTR
form to their landlord or a
court. In submitting the form,
residential tenants must attest
that they have experienced fi -
nancial hardship due to the COVID
19 pandemic that prevents
them from being able to pay
their rent in full or move, or if
someone in the household is at
increased risk of severe illness
from COVID. Commercial tenants
must attest that they have
lost income as a result of COVID,
had a signifi cant increase
in moving expenses, or are unable
to relocate due to the cost of
moving expenses. Additionally,
all tenants must attest that any
government assistance they
have received, including rental
assistance, does not fully make
up for lost income.
Foreclosure and Tax Lien
Sales: Homeowners, small landlords
who own 10 or fewer units
including their own dwelling,
and eligible commercial property
owners and mortgagors
will continue to receive relief
from foreclosure or tax lien
sales by submitting a hardship
exemption form, following a
similar procedure to tenants.
As part of the 2021-22 enacted
budget, the Legislature created
the COVID-19 Emergency
Rental Assistance Program.
The program provides up to 12
months of rental arrears assistance
and up to three months
of prospective rental assistance
for residential tenants impacted
by the pandemic. Tenants must
be at or below 80% of the local
area median income in order to
qualify. The program has $2.35
billion in federal funds and an
additional $100 million in state
funds to distribute. Although
the program opened for applications
in June, only 55 households
have received funds as
of the end of July. More than
160,000 applications have been
received.
The 2021-22 enacted budget
also included funding to assist
small businesses, including an
$800 grant program administered
by the Empire State Development
Corporation and an additional
$200 in tax credits for
eligible businesses.
-Bronx Times
New York State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi. Photo courtesy Offi ce of Senator Biaggi
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