South Queens, NY – Before the New Year, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-South Queens) voted for the Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020.

“As the pandemic continues to disrupt our daily lives, causing unprecedented job losses and businesses to remain closed, tenants and small landlords alike are facing extreme financial hardship. New Yorkers shouldn’t live with the fear of losing their home because they’ve lost income during such a difficult situation, and especially during these winter months. That’s why we placed a temporary stay on evictions and foreclosures. But at the same time, we must also protect the small landlords who are losing essential income,” Pheffer Amato stated. “They are our family, friends and neighbors who rely on rental income to support themselves, and we must continue working with our federal representatives and the incoming administration to craft additional policy that supports homeowners, renters and small landlords. I’ll fight to ensure future relief funding is used to ease the rental burden on tenants in arrears and small mom and pop landlords who rent apartments to put food on their tables.”

The Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 places a moratorium on residential evictions until May 1, 2021 for tenants who can demonstrate COVID-related financial hardship. Additionally, it places a moratorium on residential foreclosure proceedings until May 1, 2021. Homeowners are able to submit hardship declarations with their mortgage lender, other foreclosing party, or a court that would prevent a foreclosure. More information about obtaining a hardship waiver is available at: https://www.nyc.gov/site/nycha/about/rent-hardship.