By LINNET TSE – Contributor
Nine months into the pandemic, with New York State’s eviction moratorium slated to expire at the end of the year, the Community Resource Center, CRC, and their clients are fearfully anticipating a “tsunami of evictions” according to Janet Rolon Fry, the CRC’s deputy executive director. Fry was one of three panelists speaking on the topic of pandemic-related evictions, a Zoom program co-hosted by the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Local Summit and LMC Media on Tuesday, Nov 10.- Moratorium on Eviction Impacts Residential and Commerical Tenants and Landlords
Blanca Lopez, who works with Westchester County Executive George Latimer’s office as an advisor on Fair and Affordable Housing, noted that the
New York State moratorium for COVID-related rental evictions has been extended until Jan. 1, 2021. The moratorium protects residential and commercial tenants, as well as homeowners suffering financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andrew Spatz, a local property owner and an attorney specializing in real estate law, shared that there has been a lot of confusion interpreting the governor’s executive orders. With the court system unable to proceed and arrive at a resolution in cases of dispute, Spatz emphasized the need for landlords and tenants to try to work together to settle differences.
While supportive of the executive orders that protect residential and commercial tenants from eviction, Spatz cautioned that there have been abuses on
both sides: landlords using various tactics to force tenants out and tenants refusing to pay their rent while having the means to do so. Spatz urged cooperation, creativity, patience and understanding by both tenants and landlords during these challenging times.
Community Hard-hit by Pandemic
Fry shared that the impact of the pandemic has been devastating to our community, particularly to the economically disadvantaged. Since the pandemic began,
more than 500 local families have contacted the CRC requesting financial assistance for food, rent, medication and other essential items. These low-income families, many of them undocumented/mixed families, were among the first to lose their jobs, typically landscaping, restaurants and childcare. By August, 175 clients were severely behind in rent, on average five months in arrears. Because of their immigration status, many are ineligible for government rent-assistance programs and fearful of deportation. Despite the moratorium, Fry shared that clients are being harassed by landlords. She has no doubt that once the moratorium is lifted, landlords will use the court system to force clients out of their home.
What can be done? According to Fry, one way to mitigate the impending crisis is to support fund-raising efforts such as the one the CRC is undertaking to
provide rental assistance to community members who are severely behind in rent. This financial aid is especially critical for undocumented residents who are not eligible for eviction prevention grants funded by the government. Secondly, Fry urges supporting the “right to counsel” initiative that seeks to provide legal assistance in eviction proceedings to low income families in Westchester County.
Eviction Prevention Programs in Westchester County
Lopez described the eviction prevention programs related to COVID-19 (also referred to as housing stabilization programs) that are currently available in
Westchester County. More than $10 million from the federal CARES Act and ESG, Emergency Solutions Grant, COVID-19 funding is going towards four
new programs designed to address residential eviction prevention; these are being administered by the county Planning Department.
The largest of these is the CFR, Coronovirus Relief Fund, Housing Stabilization Program for Landlords with Tenants Impacted by COVID-19, for which $7.5
million has been allocated. Eligible landlords will be selected by lottery and will receive payments of up to 75% of rental arrearages and late charges; landlords are required to forgive any arrearages covered by these funds and to stop any eviction proceedings against the tenant. Tenants must agree to a repayment plan for any outstanding portion of the 25% not covered by these funds.
The Foreclosure Prevention Assistance Program covers up to four months of mortgage arrears to eligible homeowners ($2 million allocated) and another,
referred to as the “Moving Forward” program helps eligible households pay their rent for up to 12 months ($1.9 million available). In all cases, selection of
qualified applicants is by lottery.
In addition to the residential programs, there are also programs that assist commercial tenants. The Westchester County Business First Grant Program, launched in September, provided 262 awards to nonprofits and businesses with 99 employees or less. These grants, totaling approximately $10 million, were funded by the CARES Act. Smaller programs are also in place to assist nonprofits and microenterprises.
For more information on these COVID-19 assistance programs:
Residential: https://homes.westchestergov.com/housing-help
Commercial: https://westchestercatalyst.com/
Nonprofits and microenterprises: www.westchestercounty.gov/cdbg
In closing, the panelists encouraged open dialogue and stressed the need for all parties to work together cooperatively to address the unprecedented challenges
faced by residential and commercial tenants and landlords.
This forum was co-hosted by the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Local Summit and LMC Media. The Local Summit is an informal community council that
seeks to make life better for all in the tri-municipal area. To view this Zoom Forum: https://bit.ly/summit-nov10-eviction . To learn more about The Local
Summit: https://www.localsummitlm.org/. To learn more about LMC Media: https://lmcmedia.org/. Our next program will be on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 8 a.m., topic to be announced shortly.
