The Legal Aid Society took aim at Governor Andrew Cuomo’s announcement that New York’s COVID-19 rent-aid program would loosen eligibility rules to help spend down remaining funds from the federal government to aid tenants, as many will still find themselves ineligible due to having received benefit payments earlier in the year.

The state distributed just $40 million out of $100 million in the highly restrictive first round, leaving the majority of applicants without help, as reported by THE CITY.

Housing advocates have long objected that the restrictive eligibility rules have prevented many New Yorkers from receiving aid, and warn that they will continue to frustrate the state’s efforts to spend the $60 million it has remaining from the federal government.

“It makes no sense,” said Ellen Davidson, a tenant attorney at The Legal Aid Society. “I think they’re going to struggle to pay out the remaining portion of the money. I don’t think they’re going to be able to spend it, and it’s just immensely disappointing.”