The pandemic has created financial hardship for many Long Islanders, including those who are having trouble paying their rent.

Earlier this month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the COVID Rental Assistance Program. The aid program funded by the CARES Act will give rental assistance to those who have lost incomes due to COVID-19 job loss or other financial hardships.

However, tenant advocacy groups say that qualifying for the aid can be challenging and only helps with a short-term subsidy for only part of the total rent amount.

Nonprofit groups say the application window closes at the end of the month, and that rental assistance needs to be looked at for the long term in New York state.

"I think the program is a small solution to help folks who qualify to help with assistance with housing stabilization, but the region needs significantly more when it comes to addressing the needs of the incredible economic challenges that people are facing,” says Rebecca Sanin, of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island.

The rental assistance, if approved, is sent directly to the landlord and is based on need – not on a first come, first serve basis.

Applying for assistance requires a large amount of paperwork. Sanin says it can be challenging for those who don't speak English, those who pay their rents in cash or those who don't have a formal lease.

She believes the program will help New Yorkers but says much more needs to be done to help those struggling during this economic slump.

“We are going to have an explosion of housing destabilization on Long Island. We are going to see lots and lots of people struggling with poverty in ways they haven't before. It’s very scary,” says Sanin.