Assembly passes $100 million emergency rent‑relief voucher program; critics say it favors landlords

The Assembly advanced Assembly No. 1000522, the Emergency Rent Relief Act of 2020, allocating an initial $100 million in federal CARES Act funds to create a temporary voucher program that would pay landlords on behalf of eligible tenants who suffered income loss because of the pandemic.

Sponsor Mister Simberwitz described the plan as a targeted rent subsidy that pays landlords directly to stabilize tenants and local municipal revenues. The program targets tenants who earned at or below 80% of Area Median Income and were spending more than 30% of income on rent pre‑COVID; payments would be for a defined period and require documentation of income loss.

Critics — including members of the Assembly housing committee and Mister Baron — argued the measure was stripped of key tenant protections (no good‑cause eviction bar, no rent‑increase prohibition) and had been moved out of the housing committee into ways and means, a procedural move some members called undemocratic. Opponents said the $100 million figure was inadequate, that AMI thresholds would miss the most vulnerable and that the bill could leave tenants with back rent obligations and potential eviction thereafter.

Supporters said the bill is an imperfect but immediate first step that will keep some families housed and payments flowing to landlords, mortgage holders and local taxing authorities. The House passed the bill after extended debate; supporters urged returning to revise and expand protections in future sessions.

Sponsors and opponents agreed the measure is a partial fix and committed to further work to expand coverage, adjust AMI bands and add eviction protections in later packages.