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.  (read more…)

The front page of the new Tenant Portal, where tenants can find resources to help them stay in their homes. Image Credit: Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants

Tenants can answer questions on the portal to be directed to relevant resources. On August 10, 2020, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the launch of the NYC Tenant Resource Portal, the first City-hosted online resource designed to help residential renters access free resources that assist in stabilizing housing situations and preventing evictions. (read more…)

Mayor Bill de Blasio. Image credit: CityLand

The Community Dispute Resolution Centers will be available in all five boroughs. On July 21, 2020, Mayor de Blasio and the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity announced the start of a new mediation program for small landlords and tenants across the City. The Citywide Landlord-Tenant Mediation Project will provide both parties with an opportunity to resolve rent-related disputes outside of the housing court system to prevent evictions during the pandemic. (read more…)

Council Members Vanessa Gibson and Mark Levine and activists celebrate the anniversary of the passage of the Right to Counsel bill in September 2018. The program will now be expanding to include more ZIP codes. Image Credit: Official NYC Council Photo by William Alatriste

The expansion provides free legal assistance for tenants in five additional ZIP codes. On December 13, 2019, the Mayor’s Office announced an expansion of the Right to Counsel program that provides free legal assistance to New Yorkers fighting eviction. The Right to Counsel program, implemented by a ZIP code by ZIP code approach, will be expanded to five more ZIP codes across the City. (read more…)

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. (read more…)