Ellen Davidson, a staff attorney at The Legal Aid Society, was featured in a New York Times guide for New York’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), which is in charge of distributing $2 billion in federal and state relief funds for tenants who have fallen behind in paying rent due to COVID-19 related hardships.

A previous rent relief initiative last year had set aside $100 million, Davidson said, though less was ultimately distributed. Extensive qualifications and documentation made the process difficult, resulting in a situation where many applicants did not qualify due to the restrictive application process.

Funds are limited so all eligible households should apply as soon as possible. For more details on eligibility and how to apply for New York State’s rent relief click here.