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Meng Helps Introduce Legislation to Cancel Rent and Mortgage Payments During COVID-19

April 20, 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that she helped to introduce the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act, a bill that seeks to provide a nationwide cancellation of rents and home mortgage payments through the duration of the coronavirus pandemic emergency declaration.
The legislation would:
  • Constitute a full payment forgiveness, with no accumulation of debt for renters or homeowners and no negative impact on their credit rating or rental history;
  • Create a relief fund for landlords and mortgage holders to cover losses from the cancelled payments provided certain fair housing and rent requirements are met; and
  • Establish an optional fund to fully finance the purchase of private rental properties by non-profits, public housing authorities, cooperatives, community land trusts, and states or local governments—in order to increase the availability of affordable housing during this downturn.
"Over 22 million Americans—including approximately 1.2 million New Yorkers—have filed for unemployment benefits and that number will increase as we continue our efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic," said Meng. "These numbers are sobering and reflect a hard truth that many Americans, including my neighbors and community members in Queens, are struggling. We don't know when things will return to normal; but we do know people are under immense pressure and hardship to pay their rent and mortgage. That is why we need a two-fold solution to provide immediate rent and mortgage relief for both renters and landlords. For Queens residents, and all New Yorkers, we are living in the nexus of this health crisis. Combatting this pandemic will take each and every one of us to do our part – but we have to ensure people are not fighting two wars: one to stay healthy, and the other against housing instability. If people lose their homes, then our ability to combat this virus becomes impossible. "
The cancellation measure would be retroactive to cover April 2020 payments, and would extend one calendar month after the national emergency is lifted.