REBNY Statement on Extension of New York State Eviction Moratorium

Following the recent Extraodinary Session of the New York State Legislature in which State officials approved an extension of the State's eviction moratorium, REBNY President James Whelan released the following statement:

“The best way for State officials to address the urgent challenge facing tenants and property owners is stay focused on enrolling more New Yorkers in the State’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and distributing ERAP funds as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the extraordinary session in Albany was a missed opportunity to address this urgent challenge. For example, every tenant who submits a hardship application under the eviction moratorium law should be required to apply for ERAP.  Simply applying for ERAP provides strong legal protections against evictions. However, State officials failed to put such a requirement in place. Unless State officials want to continually extend the eviction moratorium, they need to get much more serious about the dispersal of the rent relief funds available to tenants and owners.”

###