Housing advocates on Monday called for a broad ban of residential tenant evictions in New York as Governor Andrew Cuomo extended a moratorium until the start of 2021. 

Cuomo announced the extension for residential renters suffering financial hardship due to the effects of COVID-19 pandemic. A commercial tenant moratorium has also been extended. 

"I want people to have fundamental stability in their lives," Cuomo said in a conference call. "Nobody is going to be evicted because of housing."

The executive order barring the evictions has been in place since the start of the emergency declaration. The shutdown of large portions of the state's economy created a spike in unemployment and drove fears of tenant evictions as a result. 

“Governor Cuomo’s decision to extend the eviction moratorium is a positive step in the right direction," said Citizen Action Political Director Stanley Fritz. "However, his executive order must prohibit all evictions and eviction filings. Anything less would only sell the people of New York short."

Meanwhile, calls continued for more protections for renters grew as well. Democratic state lawmakers are backing measures that would cancel rent and mortgage payments owed at the end of the moratorium. 

“Along with a universal eviction moratorium, New Yorkers need other robust permanent solutions to the COVID-19 housing crisis," said the advocates at Housing Justice For All. "That’s why Cuomo and the state legislature must cancel rents and mortgage payments for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis, with direct financial relief given to small landlords to ensure they remain whole."