More than a dozen people in Garnerville fear they could by homeless this holiday season, but a lawmaker is stepping in to hopefully buy the tenants' time.
They say their landlord served them eviction papers telling them to be out by Nov. 30.
Sen. James Skoufis is now lending his powerful voice to buy time for about 16 tenants on the brink of being evicted and becoming homeless.
Tenants in Oak Tree Lane apartments in Garnerville were given eviction papers by their landlord to leave by Nov. 30 to demolish the buildings for an upscale development.
The landlord is offering tenants who comply $2,500 and their real estate fees covered, but that doesn't help Evelyn Craig who has no way to even look for apartments.
"We have no car and nobody to help us or take us anyplace," says Craig.
That's why Skoufis is vowing to help them fight the mass eviction, telling reporters that tenants have filled out COVID-19 hardship declarations, protecting them from eviction under the state's moratorium. That expires Jan. 15.
"Let these property owners know, these shameful property owners know that the tenants here who have signed these hardship forms are not going anywhere," says Skoufis.
The Legal Aid Society of Rockland County is also involved and now negotiating with the lawyers of the landlord.
News 12 has reached out to the property owner for comment and is waiting to hear back