Rally For A Good Cause

inwoodgazette

January 14, 2022

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Scores of tenants and housing activists gathered today on the steps outside the main NYPL branch on 5th Avenue. The occasion was the end of New York’s eviction Moratorium tomorrow. They were joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Comptroller Brad Lander.

While acknowledging that everybody knew the moratorium wouldn’t last forever, Williams said that now is the worst possible time to end it. Evicting thousands of families in the dead of Winter during a Covid surge means that many would likely wind up in congregate homeless shelters where crowding and ventilation conditions would create a public health hazard. He urged NYS Legislature and the Governor to pass a Good Cause eviction law to protect tenants.

Lander echoed that message and added a story about a real estate investment group that’s bought up over a hundred Brooklyn properties since the pandemic began. Their actual business plan, he explained, is to evict tenants and raise the rent.

Chanting “Housing Is A Human Right!” the group of around a hundred people made its way across town to Third Avenue where they set up a human barrier forcing traffic to detour around them. They were about a block from Governor Hochul‘s NYC office. As time went on and a few more speakers addressed the crowd, NYPD began to appear in growing numbers. After monitoring the mobilization for awhile and conferring among themselves, they broadcast a recorded warning to get on the sidewalk or get arrested.

Most of the activists heeded the warning but about a dozen or so chose to get arrested. There appeared to be almost no tension over the arrest process and two NYPD vans were soon filled with zip tied activists. After that the rest of the group began to drift away.

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine‘s Office sent out the following list of NYC Eviction Resources:

What you need to know about your Right to Counsel

Until recently, RTC was being phased in by zip codes; that is no longer the case. Right now, the City is assigning RTC attorneys to all cases that are moving forward in housing court, regardless of income, where you live, or immigration status. Tenants with notices of upcoming court dates in eviction cases should reach out to get an attorney. Tenants will also be assigned attorneys at their hearings if they appear virtually (by phone or video conference) or in person. If you have a notice of a court date or an illegal lockout:

  • Call 718-557-1379 or 212-962-4795 from Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm
  • Call 311 and ask for the Tenant Helpline.
  • Email the Office of Civil Justice at civiljustice@hra.nyc.gov. Provide a name, telephone number, and housing court case index number for your eviction case (if known) in your email.

This is a helpful FAQ about Right to Counsel from the Office of Civil Justice.

ERAP (Emergency Rental Assistance Program) Applications Have Re-opened

New York State ERAP has re-opened applications for the program that covers owed rent and utility payments. Although the State has run out of ERAP funding and is requesting more from the federal government, tenants are  still encouraged to apply because even a pending application provides temporary protection from eviction. **Immigration status doesn’t matter for ERAP.**

Tenants are eligible for ERAP if they meet all the following criteria:

  • Household gross income is at or below 80% of area median income (either current monthly income OR calendar year 2020.)
  • A household member received unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in income, incurred significant costs or experienced financial hardship, directly or indirectly, due to the Covid pandemic.
  • A member of the household has rental arrears owed on or after March 13, 2020 at their current residence.

ERAP covers up to 12 months of past-due rent and utilities, and for some households up to 3 months for future rent.

What you need to apply:

  • Personal identification
  • Proof of rental amount
  • Proof of residency and occupancy
  • Proof of income

Mayor’s Office Fact Sheet about Tenants’ Rights during Covid.

The Mayor published an online factsheet (available in 12 languages) about options for tenants facing hardship because of Covid. It covers ERAP, cash assistance and benefits to pay for rent and necessities, eviction, outside-of-court mediation, NYCHA rent reductions, and quarantine issues, including sick leave, isolating at a hotel, construction, and domestic violence. It will be updated with new information as available, so keep the link handy.

Other Organizations and Resources

 

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