What you should know
- US Senator Charles Schumer on Sunday urged the Treasury Department in a letter to set aside $ 25 billion in federal rental assistance funds that have not been used to help cities and states like New York.
- This is because more than 500,000 New Yorkers could still face eviction because they cannot pay the rent on their homes after the economic difficulties that the pandemic has generated. Each of them need help with rent, utilities, and more.
- The senator noted that after Sept. 30, the department can begin delivering those additional funds to New York’s assistance program.
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NEW YORK – US Senator Charles Schumer on Sunday urged the Treasury Department in a letter to set aside $ 25 billion in federal rental assistance funds that have not been used to help cities and states like New York.
This is because more than 500,000 New Yorkers could still face eviction because they cannot pay the rent on their homes after the economic difficulties that the pandemic has generated. Each of them need help with rent, utilities, and more.
The senator noted that after September 30, the department can begin to deliver those additional funds to the New York assistance program.
“New York was one of the states hardest hit by the pandemic and also has one of the highest renter populations. Our need was greater from the beginning and continues to be, ”said US Senator Charles Schumer. “That’s why it makes perfect sense in the world for the Treasury Department to reallocate the unused rental aid dollars left in other states and send them here to New York, because we still have hundreds of thousands of families on the brink of danger. financial in the middle of the pandemic “.
“Whether it’s rent, utilities, or other basics, New Yorkers still have the need, but we know the feds will have unused rental aid money from other areas to help people. New York should be at the forefront of that line, ”added Schumer.
Schumer recounted that more than $ 2 billion of the original state funds have gone to families and that they have helped more than 130,000 households, but the need remains for thousands of households.
In addition, the senator also explained that according to a survey of rent-regulated apartments conducted by the Community Home Improvement Program, renters in New York City owe more than $ 1 billion in rent. Almost half of Americans defaulted on at least one rent or mortgage payment in 2020 during the pandemic. That works out to nearly $ 6,000 in back rent for the average home, according to the Urban Institute.
“Without additional federal assistance, New York could certainly see a disproportionately large rate of evictions compared to other states once the current eviction moratorium expires,” the senator said in the letter.
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