Help with renting a home in New York: who can get it and how
'13.10.2020'
Vita Popova
Thousands of dollars are being provided to New Yorkers to help pay their rent during this turbulent time. How to use it, the edition writes CBS New York.
State Governor Andrew Cuomo has extended the moratorium on evictions until January 1, 2021 due to the pandemic and the hardships New Yorkers face as a result. Nevertheless, rent arrears of many tenants continue to accumulate.
Here are the resources available to New Yorkers today to help them rent:
- Service 311;
- NYC Home Base - the organization helps to develop an individual plan to overcome the crisis related to housing;
- Catholic Charities Is a network of charitable non-profit organizations, one of the largest charities in the United States. For help, call the hotline: 1- (888) -744-7900.
“We are looking for all kinds of sources of help, be it the city, our own program, other sources such as FSTAT, through which our clients receive money to pay for several months of rent,” said a spokesman for Catholic Charities.
Catholic Charities is one of the few organizations in New York City that provide rental assistance, including payments to homeowners - support can reach $ 10.
To get help, you need to provide proof of your address, a copy of your lease, and the landlord's contact information. You may also need an original contract and a W-9 tax form.
The amount of financial support depends on many factors. It takes into account the number of household members, income, and whether the applicant is receiving other support, including SSI (Supplemental Security Income - a federal program that provides monthly cash payments to those in need).
On the subject: Financial assistance to New Yorkers under quarantine: how to get it
Despite the moratorium, evictions of debtors are carried out, often illegally - without a trial. The tenant is simply kicked out of the apartment.
If you have the money to pay the rent, do it as quickly as possible.
"Landlords can always get a court decision, the so-called money judgment (from the English. Money judgment - Ed.), And seize your property and your salary," advise in the Catholic Charities.
The law requires both the tenant and the landlord to act in good faith, especially in times of crisis.
Let us remind you that not only tenants, but also landlords hit by the effects of the pandemic COVID-19. The number of vacant apartments in New York has doubled over the past year. The 10% drop in rental rates was also the largest in nearly a decade. Landlords now offer an average of 1,7 months of free rent to lure tenants in.
As small landlords lose income, they may lose the ability to pay property taxes, which is New York's largest source of income. Lower property tax revenues will translate into reduced services, making New York less attractive to new residents.
