Queens Community House Steps Up As Eviction Moratorium Expires

On January 15, the statewide eviction moratorium expired, more than a year and a half after it was established to protect tenants impacted by the pandemic. To help prepare Queens families for the change, Queens Community House (QCH) partnered with community-based law office Communities Resist to host a Tenant’s Rights Workshop on Zoom. The workshop provided guidance and options now that the moratorium is no longer in place.
 
QCH has been providing housing and homelessness prevention services to families in areas hardest hit throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our housing team has been educating individuals and families on their rights as tenants, providing support navigating the City systems, connecting them to resources, and facilitating referrals,” said Marilyn Sotomayor, QCH Director of Housing and Family Services Programs. “The moratorium has been a safety net for many of our participants who are experiencing financial hardships. Now that the eviction moratorium has expired," she says, "our team will need to work harder than ever to help keep people in their homes.”
 
In the workshop, Communities Resist Staff Attorney Areeb Khan discussed rights and protections, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), and steps tenants should take when facing potential eviction. The workshop was translated for Spanish-speaking attendees.
 
“Through workshops like these, we are working to ensure our participants are up-to date with the most current information about housing court,” said Sharif Khan, QCH Assistant Program Director of Eviction Prevention Program. “We want to make sure our participants are well-prepared and know what to expect when they appear in court.”