Assemblyman Joseph Angelino (R,C,I-Norwich) joined his Assembly and Senate Minority colleagues in calling for the state to take action to release badly needed aid to help struggling renters and property owners. The state received $1.3 billion in federal aid passed by Congress in December 2020, but it has yet to be released. The legislators are calling on the governor to issue a message of necessity on an appropriations bill to allow these funds to be released more quickly.

“Both New York tenants and small property owners are struggling to keep up with payments since the pandemic, which is threatening the stability of local housing in our region. New York has been granted $1.3 billion in federal aid to provide help, but the state has not moved swiftly to distribute these funds,” said Angelino.“The state cannot delay any longer. New Yorkers need help now.”

According to the most recent Housing Pulse Survey by the Census Bureau, roughly 42 percent of New Yorkers are at the brink of being evicted or foreclosed within the next two months. Releasing aid will help struggling renters, but also their landlords, who, according to the National Association of Realtors, are largely “mom and pop” property owners. They estimate that 73 percent of those who own single-family or two- and four-unit properties are small property owners such as retired couples and those just starting a family. Angelino asserts releasing this aid now will do a great deal of good in stabilizing housing throughout upstate.