BxD Applauds City Announcement of Right to Counsel in Housing Court

New York – The Bronx Defenders released the following statement in response to the Mayor and Council Speaker’s announcement they have agreed to create a universal right to counsel for low-income New Yorkers facing eviction.

“We applaud Mayor de Blasio and the City Council for taking this historic step toward making NYC a more equitable city. The fact is that when it comes to protecting people’s homes, and the stability of their families, access to adequate legal counsel during an eviction proceeding should not be a luxury. There’s simply too much at stake. We look forward to working with the City, our partners in the Right to Counsel Coalition, and other stakeholders to ensure the final legislation meets the unique needs of our city’s most vulnerable tenants.”

The Bronx Defenders is a community-based and nationally-recognized public defender office dedicated to serving the people of the Bronx. As part of its holistic model of public defense, The Bronx Defenders provides clients with access to civil attorneys and advocates to help address the potential housing consequences of involvement in the criminal justice system. To learn more about his work, see our Civil Action Practice.