New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is making the move to provide additional relief to those struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Residents of New York will not have to worry about losing their homes anytime soon after Cuomo decided to extend a statewide moratorium on evictions.
“New York State will extend the moratorium on evictions for those facing COVID-related hardship for an additional 60 days — until August 20,” Cuomo said.
#BREAKING: New York State will extend the moratorium on evictions for those facing COVID-related hardship for an additional 60 days — until August 20.
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) May 7, 2020
New York is also banning late fees and allowing renters to use their security deposits as payments.
“Today we are banning late fees and missed payments fees during the eviction moratorium period,” Cuomo said. “We are also allowing renters facing COVID-related hardship to use their security deposit as payment and repay the deposit over time.”
Cuomo encouraged the residents of New York to keep moving forward and practicing social distancing.
“What New Yorkers are doing is working. We have flattened the curve. We have lowered the infection rate,” Cuomo said.
He added, “We must stay the course. ‘If you’re going through hell, keep going.'”
What New Yorkers are doing is working.
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) May 7, 2020
We have flattened the curve. We have lowered the infection rate.
We must stay the course.
"If you’re going through hell, keep going."
Cuomo also announced the state will be implementing an agricultural buyback program.
“At a time when people are hungry, it makes no sense for food or milk to go to waste. We launched a program to buy excess agricultural products and donate them to food banks,” Cuomo said.
He continued, “We will bring products from 2,100 Upstate farms to 50 food banks, providing 20,000 households with food.”
At a time when people are hungry, it makes no sense for food or milk to go to waste.
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) May 7, 2020
We launched a program to buy excess agricultural products and donate them to food banks.
We will bring products from 2,100 Upstate farms to 50 food banks, providing 20,000 households with food.
Cuomo’s comments come after he announced Friday all K-12 schools and college facilities will be closed for the rest of the academic year, as IJR previously reported.
New York has become the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. As of Thursday afternoon, there are more than 329,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in New York and nearly 26,000 deaths due to the virus.