In the latest stimulus package making its way through Congress, there’s no extension of the national ban on evictions that is set to expire this month, meaning millions of Americans could be at risk of losing their homes as the Covid-19 pandemic still rages.
President Joe Biden had called on Congress to keep the eviction moratorium in effect through September.
However, because Democrats have decided to pass the legislation through a process called budget reconciliation, they can’t include the eviction ban in the relief bill.
Democrats are pursuing the reconciliation route so that they can push through a massive $1.9 trillion stimulus bill without Republican support. Procedural rules in the Senate typically require bills to garner 60 votes to advance. Democrats have just 50 members, with Vice President Kamala Harris able to offer one more vote when needed. Budget reconciliation, on the other hand, requires only a simple majority.
Yet it also doesn’t let Democrats include Biden’s wish to extend the ban….
The New York Legislature approved a sweeping eviction ban for tenants living in the state, giving residents fearful of losing their homes during the pandemic some relief at least until May.
The law, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed late Monday, places a moratorium on residential evictions until May 1 for tenants who endured a “COVID-related hardship.” Tenants must show documentation explaining their situation to prevent evictions. Landlords can still evict people who don’t show that documentation.
The law also stops residential foreclosure proceedings until May 1. Homeowners and landlords who own 10 or fewer residences can also file hardship declarations with their mortgage lender or a court to prevent a foreclosure.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic began, we asked New Yorkers to protect each other by staying at home. As we fight our way through the marathon this pandemic has become, we need to make sure New Yorkers still have homes to provide that protection,” Cuomo said after signing the bill….