Ellen Davidson, Staff Attorney with The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Law Reform Unit, appeared in an AP News explainer breaking down the state of New York’s eviction moratorium and Rent Relief Program, which was launched earlier this month to distribute billions in aid to struggling tenants throughout the state. Davidson noted that Albany lawmakers must extend the eviction moratorium to protect tenants as New York fully distributes these funds.

Davidson said that landlords in New York have been able to bring about lawsuits over evictions since last summer. But tenants are protected if they submit a hardship declaration form that tells the state they lost income or had more expenses during the pandemic or that moving would harm their health.

“If tenants don’t sign it, a landlord can move forward with the case like if there were no laws on the books,” Davidson said.