Hochul asks U.S. for $1.6 billion to fund New York's much needed COVID-19 rent relief efforts
ALBANY — Gov. Hochul is again asking the feds for more rent money as her primary opponents seek to make housing a central campaign issue.
The governor made yet another appeal Thursday to the Treasury Department, calling for an additional $1.6 billion in funds for struggling tenants and landlords who have applied for pandemic rental assistance.
Hochul has made several similar overtures in recent weeks as New York’s eviction moratorium expired and a court order forced officials to reopen the application portal for the state’s COVID rent relief program.
“New York State continues to demonstrate a large need for this federal funding,” the governor said in a statement. “We need to ensure that all eligible tenants and landlords are able to tap into this critical assistance.”
The state’s overburdened Emergency Rental Assistance Program exhausted its initial allotment of $2 billion earlier this month, distributed nearly $1.4 billion to landlords via 109,000 direct payments after receiving just under 300,000 applications, according to the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. The remaining funds are tied to approved applications.
Gov. Hochul, NYC Mayor Adams ask for more federal COVID funds
Reopening the application portal earlier this month offered only short-term protections against evictions for struggling tenants but little else with no funds to cover the additional claims.
The Treasury Department ponied up only $27 million late last year after Hochul requested $996 million to cover the underfunded program. Earlier this month, the governor joined several other states in requesting a reallocation of federal COVID relief left unspent.
Hochul’s continued push received plaudits from across the political spectrum as both the Legal Aid Society and the Rent Stabilization Association, the city’s largest landlord organization, voiced support.
Her challengers, meanwhile, hammered the incumbent governor over her housing platform.
Earlier Thursday, New York Communities for Change, a progressive advocacy group, staged an endorsement event outside of Brooklyn housing court as members rallied behind city Public Advocate Jumaane Williams’ gubernatorial bid.
Hochul will face Williams, who joined advocates in calling for greater eviction protections, as well as Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) in June’s Democratic primary.
Suozzi, meanwhile, attacked Hochul over a proposal put forth earlier this month that would legalize accessory dwelling units in single-family zoned areas.
The governor’s plan would require local governments to allow basement apartments, backyard cottages, garages, attics and other so-called accessory dwelling units in neighborhoods zoned for only single-family homes.
“Governor Hochul’s radical proposal would take away zoning control from municipal governments, erode local government authority, and end single family housing across New York,” Suozzi said.
