The legislation also calls on the Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish and oversee a “Landlord Relief Fund,” to cover any losses landlords would receive as a result of the payment cancellations. 

Omar, under the legislation, also hopes to increase the availability of affordable housing by creating an optional buyout to enable the purchase of private rental properties by nonprofits, public housing authorities, cooperatives, community land trusts, and states or local governments. 

“To avoid an even larger crisis, we must cancel rent and mortgage payments during this pandemic,” the Democratic congresswoman added. “This isn’t a radical idea. It’s what is needed to prevent an even bigger crisis.”

The Minnesota congresswoman added that while

’s sweeping $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, dubbed the American Rescue Plan, “extends the national rent moratorium,” it is “not a longterm solution.”