New York lawmakers plan to convene for a special session on Monday to discuss extending the ban on residential evictions, which is set to expire on Jan. 1.

The bill applies to evictions related to the pandemic and lawmakers will be meeting remotely for the special session.

The Senate calls the Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act the strongest bill in the nation to block eviction proceedings from moving forward.

The official announcement says it will help ensure New York renters and homeowners can stay in their homes if they're facing hardships due to the pandemic.

Evictions that are pending and those that will start within a month of when the bill takes effect would be put on hold to give people a chance to submit a hardship declaration that would prevent any evictions until May 1.

In the official announcement, Sen. Brian Kavanagh said, “From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic we have understood that housing security must be an essential part of our effort to protect the health and wellbeing of all New Yorkers. By enacting this comprehensive residential eviction and foreclosure moratorium, we are delivering real protection for countless renters and homeowners who would otherwise be at risk of losing their homes, adding to the unprecedented hardship that so many are facing."

The bill also protects property owners who own 10 properties or less, including their own primary residence. They would be able to fill out a form with their mortgage lender or with a court that prevents them from paying their mortgage or property taxes because of lost income.