The change will suspend a requirement for the Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (FHEPS) where applicants had to show proof that their landlord had filed an eviction against them in housing court for rent payments.
A coalition of housing and homeless advocates, along with the city’s top real estate group, are calling for the city and state to expand and improve three key rental assistance programs to aid struggling households at risk for eviction — especially before the state’s eviction moratorium expires in May.
In his Monday speech, Cuomo spoke vaguely about providing resources to tenants and small landlords. He made specific reference only to his proposal to outlaw fees on overdue rent—which does not address the overdue rent itself.
Next year will mark a critical time for New York land use and housing policies, as the city faces a looming evictions crisis and the de Blasio administration will push to approve its final neighborhood rezonings.
‘The program’s eligibility requirements are so stringent that very few tenants actually end up qualifying. The state now runs the risk of losing the remaining available funds to the federal government if it does not distribute them by Dec. 30, as legally required by the CARES Act.’
There are now more than 200,000 families across New York State in eviction court. Since Cuomo opened the door to new eviction cases in June, over 33,000 cases have been filed. With a million-plus New York tenants behind on their rent, this number will continue to rise.
Although there’s no clear data tracking the number of rent strikes taking place across the city, the advocacy coalition Housing Justice for All says they’ve become more common during the COVID-19 crisis. An informal count by the group estimated 100 tenant groups or associations in New York participated in the nationwide rent strike action earlier this spring.
Tenant advocates say Gov. Cuomo’s extension of a moratorium will permit too many eviction cases to proceed through the courts.
According to a recent National Low Income Housing Coalition report, from 30 to 40 million renters could be at risk of eviction, including a million in New York.
Councilmember Donovan Richards, the likely next Queens Borough President, talks about his plans for the office, while political expert Christina Greer discusses the lessons New York can take from June’s primary election.
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