A new wave of relief funds will be issued in the United States. Why do tenants in various states still face eviction?

　　China News Service, March 31. According to a report by Qiaobao.com, since 2020, after the US federal government distributed the anti-epidemic relief fund, states' assistance to tenants has been hindered by various problems.

　　New York State Governor Cuomo announced in July 2020 that the state would allocate $100 million from the federal bailout funds to help tenants with tight funds pay for months of rent arrears, so as to prevent them from being evicted.

But as of the end of October of the same year, the state had only issued about 40 million US dollars in assistance, a total of 15,000 tenants were helped, and more than 57,000 applicants were rejected.

The picture shows American people dining in restaurants during the epidemic.

　　There are nearly 100,000 tenants in New York State seeking help.

For many tenants, the standards set by lawmakers are difficult to meet.

　　At present, the dilemma encountered by New York State is unfolding nationwide.

The cumbersome rules, poor project management, and homeowners’ refusal to cooperate all mean that thousands of tenants have never received assistance.

Some states also prohibit rent reduction and relief from taking effect at the same time because they fear that the money will not be spent before the end of the year as required.

　　Housing activists said the problem is that the federal government has never explicitly designated the bailout money to be used for rent reduction or exemption, which makes states scramble to set up projects without guidance on the allocation of funds.

On March 5, 2021 local time, in New York, USA, some theaters in the United States reopened, and relevant epidemic prevention and safety measures were taken.

Since the outbreak of the new crown in March last year, theaters in New York have opened for the first time.

　　According to statistics from the National Low-Income Housing Alliance, the federal bailout funds allocated for rental assistance are as high as 34 billion U.S. dollars.

However, according to a report issued by the National Council of Housing Institutions (NCSHA), as of January 2021, tenants are in arrears of as much as $34 billion in rent, and defenders said that more measures should be taken.

　　Since then, several states have made adjustments, hoping to better allocate the part of the assistance they received when Congress allocates more than $45 billion in rental assistance in the next few months.

　　The report pointed out that in 2020, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Mississippi and Kansas all experienced struggles when allocating rent assistance payments.

　　The State of Mississippi allocated $18 million for rent reduction, but by December, the amount distributed was less than $3 million.

The state stated that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) stipulates that the subsidy program cannot be used to help tenants who are burdened with rent, but can only be used to help tenants who are at risk of homelessness.

A HUD spokesperson denied this, saying the money could be "used as rental assistance."

　　New York State’s problems are blamed on too strict standards set by lawmakers, such as requiring tenants to prove that they paid more than 30% of their income.

The applicant must also show the loss of income from April to the end of July.

　　"When you have $100 million in aid and only spend 40% of it, there is a problem. There is no doubt that there are many people who need help." Justin, an attorney at Movement for Justice, a non-profit legal service provider in New York Ramot said that New York State’s assistance programs focused too much on preventing fraud, but failed to better help tenants.

　　During the epidemic, the massage shop operated by Bonnie Ginette suffered heavy losses in business.

She applied for relief in July 2020, but received a rejection response in October on the grounds that she could not prove her loss of income.

The 66-year-old New York City resident has now owed more than $26,000 in rent, and she is worried that she will be evicted.

　　Ginette’s landlord, Leonard Katz, said he didn’t understand why Ginette could not get help.

“We think it’s funny that New York State has been unable or unwilling to provide funds to tenants and landlords who are in urgent need of assistance during the epidemic.”

　　However, as a new wave of federal relief funds is coming, some states in the United States have already begun to make changes.

　　In Louisiana, approximately 7,000 applicants previously considered for eligibility will receive a total of US$161 million in priority assistance; Pennsylvania has set a rent ceiling of US$750; New York State has relaxed the requirements for assistance and will reconsider the original Applicants who have been rejected.