Public Defender Project The Public Defender (GAP) project helps seniors at risk of eviction by providing free legal and social services to resolve their housing court cases. To be eligible for the program, seniors must be 60 years of age or older, have an identifiable need for social services, and have ongoing housing court proceedings. If you are faced with a request from your landlord to make an eviction order against you, the OCJ can provide you with free legal services through our not-for-profit legal service provider partners under the City`s Right to Counsel Act. From now until at least May 1, 2021, New York City tenants who meet the following requirements will be eligible for HRA`s Family Homelessness Eviction Prevention Supplement (FHEPS) program before your landlord sues you to evict you for non-payment of rent. FHEPS can pay ongoing rent (and refundable rent) for families with children who receive cash assistance and risk eviction. Immigrant families may be eligible. Clients can begin the application process in one of four ways. It is illegal for a landlord to evict you without bringing an eviction action against you in court or before there is a court order authorizing a commissioner to evict you. If you believe you have been illegally locked out, you can take legal action (an “illegal lockout” or “restitution of property”) in the housing court. Starting June 1, 2021, the funds will be available to New York City households that are in arrears of rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible households can receive up to 12 months of relocation and receive three months` future rent and other support. The quickest way to find out if you qualify for free housing legal aid is to call your district`s Legal Aid Society neighborhood office: LawHelpNY.org provides legal information to New Yorkers who can`t afford a lawyer.
LawHelpNY lists more than 600 free legal services projects and organizations with their contact and admission information, as well as more than 4,000 Know Your Rights and self-help resources covering 16 areas of law. LawHelpNY.org is also available in Spanish. The Legal Assistance Line is available Monday to Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 212-626-7383, or you can request help online by filling out the online application form. If you are a member of a tenants` group or association or would like information on how to form a tenants` group or association, or if you are a board member or shareholder of HDFC coop, call the Housing Justice Unit`s advocacy helpline at 212-577-7988 Monday to Friday from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. or Email HousingGrpAdv@legal-aid.org. In upstate New York, a lender must file a lawsuit in the Supreme Court and obtain a foreclosure order against a homeowner who has not paid the mortgage. The landlord is legally entitled to collect rents and enter into leases until the foreclosure ends in an auction when the building is sold to a new owner or retained by the lender. At NYLAG, we fight to preserve housing, prevent homelessness, ensure economic security for families, and promote stability in our communities. “Harassment” is any act or omission by a landlord or landlord`s representative that results or intends for a person legally entitled to live in a room or apartment to waive their room or apartment or their tenancy rights. In upstate New York, tenant harassment can be a felony or misdemeanor. In New York City, tenant harassment is also a violation of housing law, and tenants can sue their landlord in housing court if they are harassed. The OCJ has partnered with Legal Services to provide tenants in New York City with free access to telephone legal advice and information. If you are facing an eviction case, the CJO may provide free legal assistance through our non-profit legal service providers to provide you with legal representation or other assistance in your housing court case under city law to a lawyer.
All tenants who are currently subject to an eviction order are eligible, regardless of their postal code, immigration status, or whether the tenant has previously refused or was not eligible for legal representation under the universal access program, and regardless of household income under an income exemption from the CJOC. Various organizations offer information to help tenants and landlords file an application or prepare for a housing court. For more information, see the links below. If you are a tenant and have questions about harassment by your landlord, repairs to your apartment or building, or your rights as a tenant, please call 311 and ask for the tenant helpline or visit the city`s online tenant resource portal for information and resources for New York City tenants. including free legal advice from the non-profit legal service providers of the CJOC. The City Bar Justice Center (CBJC) provides free legal services to low-income New Yorkers through various projects. The CJCB is also committed to providing self-advocates with the support they need to successfully protect their legal rights.