The Legal Aid Society is sounding the alarm over the expiration of state-mandated eviction moratorium policies that have thus far prevented tens of thousands of New Yorkers from losing their homes during the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the NY Daily News. The economic effects of the months-long shutdown has left roughly one-third of tenants unable to pay their rent – and left housing advocates scrambling to parse conflicting legal advisories as the court system continues forward re-opening housing cases. Landlords may be able to file cases online as soon as this week, and Legal Aid attorneys fear that their numbers will increase rapidly.

“When restrictions are lifted there will be tens of thousands of cases … This would overwhelm the courts and likely prompt a new wave of infections and evictions,” said Judith Goldiner, Attorney-in-Charge of the Civil Law Reform Unit at The Legal Aid Society.