The Legal Aid Society praised statewide legislation that would extend the eviction moratorium to August 31st, aiming to provide further relief to struggling New York tenants, as reported by Gothamist.

The legislation, introduced by State Senator Brian Kavanaugh and Assembly Member Jeff Dinowitz, would mandate that landlords provide a hardship declaration form to any tenant they seek to evict. If the tenant had experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19, they would then be protected from eviction through the end of the summer.

Judith Goldiner, Attorney-in-Charge of The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Law Reform Unit, praised the legislation and called for state lawmakers to pass the bill immediately to ensure that New Yorkers don’t lose their homes in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Acknowledging the reality that New York is still very much mired in a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, and answering the calls from struggling families throughout the state, the Legislature has introduced a bill that will prevent the residential eviction moratorium, a literal lifeline for millions of New Yorkers, from expiring,” Goldiner said in a statement.

“Both the Senate and Assembly should pass this bill immediately, and Governor Cuomo should sign it into law just as fast.”