Eviction moratorium extended, but tenant advocates call it a "cycle of panic"

Governor Andrew Cuomo has taken steps to ensure renters are not kicked out of their homes during the pandemic, but tenant advocates say the measures do not go far enough.

A PROGRAM THAT ISMEANT TO HELPPEOPLE WHO ARESTRUGGLING TO PAYTHE RENT..

IS NOWACCEPTINGAPPLICATIONS.BUT AT LEAST ONELOCAL GROUP SAYSNOT ENOUGH IS BEINGDONE TO HELP THEPEOPLE WHO NEED ITTHE MOST.GILAT MELAMEDLOOKS AT THE STEPSTHAT ARE BEINGTAKEN TO HELPPEOPLE MAKE ENDSMEET.RENTERS WHO MISSPAYMENTS DUE TOCOVID-19 FINANCIALHARDSHIPS WON'T BEEVICTED.BUT THE MISSED RENTISN'T GOING AWAY."A, IT ALL BLOWS UP ONUS AND MASS HOUSINGCRISIS OR B WEACTUALLY HAVE ASOLUTION OFCANCELLING RENT ANDMORTGAGES."PUSH BUFFALO WANTSTHE STATE TOFORGIVE THE MONTHSOF BACK RENT.TO AVOID PEOPLEHAVING A PILE OFPAYMENTS ONCE THESTATE'S MORATORIUMON EVICTIONS ENDS.GOVERNOR CUOMOEXTENDED THATORDER TO AUGUST20TH FOR PEOPLEWHO AREUNEMPLOYED ORFACING FINANCIALHARDSHIP DURINGCOVID-19."WHAT'S GOING TOHAPPEN IS WE'REGOING TO CONTINUETO LIKE KICK THE CANDOWN THE ROAD ORFIND WAYS THATPROLONG THEPROCESS OF BEINGEVICTED, BUT THENEVERY TIME WE GETCLOSER PEOPLE AREGOING TO PANIC AGAINABOUT WHAT'SHAPPENING."ACCORDING TO THEU.S. CENSUS BUREAUNEARLY 60% OFPEOPLE IN BUFFALOARE RENTERS.ANGEL ROSADO SAYSLANDLORDS SHOULDBE FORGIVEN ONPAYMENTS TOO.TIMOTHY WALTONGAVE HIS 5 TENANTSFREE RENT IN APRIL.BUT SAYS NOT ALLLANDLORDS ARE IN APOSITION TO NEVERGET THE MONEY BACK."I KNOW LANDLORDSWHO YOU KNOW BREAKEVEN ON THEM EVERYSINGLE MONTH ANDLIVE BILL TO BILLSOMETIMES.

SOMEPEOPLE DO THIS AS ARETIREMENT, SOMEPEOPLE DO THIS TOGET AHEAD, AND YOUKNOW NOTEVERYBODY'S IN APOSITION WHERE THEYCAN YOU KNOW ALL OFA SUDDEN PAY THEMORTGAGE ANDFORGET ABOUT THERENTS COMING IN."WALTON SAYS HEKNOWS SOMELANDLORDS HAVEACCEPTED 50%RENT.HE FEELS THERESHOULD BE NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL POLICYBECAUSE EVERYSITUATION ISDIFFERENT."IF THE TENANTSHAVING FINANCIALPROBLEMS LET THELANDLORD KNOW TRYTO WORK THINGS OUT.THERE'S AN EXECUTIVEORDER THAT ALLOWSTENANTS WITH ANAGREEMENT WITH THELANDLORD TO USE THESECURITY DEPOSIT TOPAY THEIR RENT ANDTHEN PAY THEIRSECURITY DEPOSITBACK LATER."AND AS OFTHURSDAY ELIGIBLENEW YORKERS CANAPPLY FOR THEEMERGENCY RENTALASSISTANCE PROGRAM.IT DOESN'T FULLYCOVER RENT.IT LOOKS AT THEDIFFERENCE BETWEENYOUR PRE-PANDEMICAND CURRENTSALARY.

AND GIVES ASUBSIDY.SO THE PERCENTAGEOF RENT THAT COMESOUT OF YOURPAYCHECK IS STILL THESAME.GILAT MELAMED, 7EYEWITNESS NEWS.