NEW YORK — Fantasia Dixon was recently laid off. The 21-year-old Chelsea resident says she’s fortunate her mother Cretta Johnson is working and can help support her, but they both feel for the many other New Yorkers who don’t have someone to fall back on.

“I do know other people who just don’t have the money to pay their rent and it’s been extremely hard, stressful,” said Johnson.

“Even getting through the interview process it can be a while,” said Dixon.

But, some New Yorkers are eligible to receive rent and homeowner relief as part of the new state budget.

The more than $2 billion in federal relief money is expected to be available to people who can demonstrate financial hardship during the pandemic, regardless of immigration status.

“While undocumented communities are specifically included, which is exciting, it’s going to be hard to get undocumented communities to trust that they can get this money and no harm will come,” said Andrea Shapiro, program manager and member organizer at MET Council on Housing.

The relief is expected to include payments for 12 months of back rent and utilities. The state eviction moratorium will expire in May. The fund is expected to help both renters and landlords.

"Some of the landlords are really hurting, you know we’re not talking about big landlords that own 50 buildings, but we’re talking about landlords that own 3 of 4 the tenements that haven’t collected rent,” said Morris Benjamin, a Chelsea resident.

Details on specific eligibility and how New Yorkers can access this money are still unclear.