Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hosted a virtual town hall Thursday night where she spoke on the latest COVID-19 relief package and the rise in food insecurity and domestic violence during the coronavirus pandemic. 

The House of Representatives passed the ‘Heroes Act’ last week and the fate of the $3 trillion-dollar COVID-19 relief bill now sits in the hands of the Senate. 

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez says the top priorities include $175 billion in renting and housing assistance. 

It would also provide stimulus checks for ITIN taxpayers.

"This is an enormous area of progress that we have made,” said Rep. Ocasio-Cortez. 

It would also include mixed-status families, those where one person is a citizen but their spouse is undocumented.

 

As a result of the global crisis, access to food has become harder, but the city says it’s working through it. 

"We are committed that nobody's going to go hungry during this particular pandemic,” said New York City Department of Sanitation Commissioner and COVID-19 Food Czar Kathryn Garcia. 

New Yorkers are encouraged to get food at grab and go sites at public schools. Seniors have been prioritized in programs and over 700,000 meals will be delivered to New Yorkers citywide. 

The stay-at-home order has also raised concerns about domestic violence. The city has many resources for victims, including Family Justice Centers in every borough.