
Photo Credit: Jeff Hopkins.
On August 11, 2017, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed legislation, the first of its kind in the nation, which guarantees legal representation for low-income tenants who face eviction. The new law has two major innovations with respect to eviction petitions brought in Housing Court. (more…)

Image Credit: NYLS
On November 2, 2017, the Impact Center for Public Interest Law and the Center for New York City Law hosted a discussion on the newly enacted local law which will insure that all low income persons facing eviction will have counsel in Housing Court. Professor Andrew Scherer, Policy Director of the Impact Center, moderated the panel featuring: Marika Dias, Director of Tenant Rights Campaign at Legal Services NYC (LSNYC); Carmen Vega-Rivera, Tenant Leader of Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA); Jordan Dressler, NYC Civil Justice Coordinator; and the Honorable Jean Schneider, Citywide Supervising Judge at the NYC Housing Court. (more…)

The Impact Center for Public Interest Law and
The Center for New York City Law at New York Law School
present
IMPACT THURSDAY:
New York City’s Right to Counsel for Eviction Cases: Implementation and Implications
Under newly adopted legislation, New York City has become the first jurisdiction in the country to ensure legal representation for all low-income tenants in eviction proceedings. The law’s implementation and implications will be discussed.
WHEN
Thursday, November 2, 2017, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
***
WHERE
New York Law School, Auditorium
185 West Broadway (between Worth and Leonard Streets)
(more…)

Council member Mark Levine. Image credit: William Alatriste/NYC Council
If enacted into law, Intro 214 would make New York City the first municipality in the nation to provide free legal representation to low-income tenants in Housing Court. On March 26, 2014, the “Right to Counsel” bill was introduced in the New York City Council by co-sponsors Council members Mark Levine and Vanessa Gibson. The proposed law would provide free legal representation to low-income City tenants and homeowners earning income that is not in excess of 125% of the federal poverty line and facing eviction and foreclosure proceedings in Housing Court.
(more…)

The cover of the Right to Counsel Progress Report. Image Credit: NYC DSS.
The implementation of the program citywide happened ahead of the scheduled 2022 goal. On November 17, 2021, the de Blasio administration released the Right to Counsel Progress Report for Fiscal Year 2021. The Right to Counsel Program works to address the gap in access to legal representation for tenants in eviction cases. (more…)