Yesterday, Assemblyman Angelo Morinello (R,C,I-Niagara Falls) joined members of the Senate and Assembly Minority Conferences to call for the state to take action and distribute the approved $1.3 billion in federal funds into the hands of landlords and tenants who desperately need relief. New York has a deadline of September 30, 2021 to distribute the funds, and any funds not disseminated may be repossessed by the federal government.

“Our landlords and renters are facing extreme financial hardships,” said Morinello. “Landlords are unable to collect rent, and tenants are struggling to make payments. The existing protections for renters have put landlords in a bind, and renters are facing the same struggles from the pandemic as the general public. We have an exorbitant sum of money essentially sitting around, when we could be using these funds to provide relief for both landlords and tenants. Further, these funds will be repossessed by the federal government if not spent by September 30. Our renters and landlords need relief now. There is no sense in waiting when these funds could have an immediate impact and should be used to the fullest.”