New York State’s eviction moratorium has expired, leaving people across the state vulnerable to losing their homes. The Legal Society is calling on lawmakers in Albany to enact long-term solutions to address the housing crisis facing tenants, as reported by the PIX11 News.

As New Yorkers struggles to recover from a global pandemic, two key pieces of legislation are essential to keep families in their homes and prevent a compounding crisis of homelessness.

The “Good Cause” eviction bill would require landlords to demonstrate a good reason for evicting tenants in non-rent-stabilized units. It would also protect tenants from exorbitant rent hikes and allow individuals to advocate for repairs without the fear of retaliation.

The Housing Access Voucher bill would create a program similar to the federal Section 8 law, providing a rental subsidy for low-income New Yorkers to enable them to stay in their homes.

“Now more than ever, New York must enact meaningful, long-term measures to address the growing housing crisis and to stop the tidal wave of evictions that will likely begin now that the moratorium has expired,” said Judith Goldiner, Attorney-in-Charge of the Civil Law Reform Unit at The Legal Aid Society. “Across the state, millions of tenants in unregulated housing are still reeling from economic hardships caused by the pandemic, and they deserve basic, common-sense protections from unjust evictions.”