New York City has until October 2017 to implement a program that will guarantee free legal services to all tenants of New York City Housing Authority buildings who are facing eviction. The NYC Council overwhelmingly approve legislation that would pay for legal counsel to all low-income residents facing termination of their leases and eviction.
The first city ever to do so
The announcement came as extremely good news to all low-income residents of NYC who often face eviction but do not have the funds to fight it out in court. New York has now become the first city in the country to guarantee legal representation to low-income tenants who are facing eviction.
The new legislation was also applauded by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio who stated, “Everyone, no matter their income level, deserves access to counsel to stop wrongful evictions and keep their homes.”
The ultimate goal
The city's ultimate goal is to stop illegal evictions. In 2013, only 1 percent of evicted low-income tenants received legal representation. That number increased to 27 percent in 2016. Now the city is guaranteeing that all low-income tenants would get full legal representation throughout the eviction process, paid for by the city.
As New York leads the way in offering free legal representation for low-income residents being evicted, it is very likely that other cities will follow. Preventing evictions will prevent homelessness, keep more low-income residents in their homes, and provide a much-needed break for low-income families who are struggling to survive.
Read more at www.housingwire.com/articles/40752-new-york-city-guarantees-legal-representation-to-low-income-residents-facing-eviction
