Res. No. 13
Resolution calling upon the New York City Housing Authority to allow Housing Court Answers to set up an assistance table for the benefit of unrepresented residents outside NYCHA housing administrative tribunal hearings.
By Council Members Mendez, Brewer, Fidler, James, Koppell, Lander, Palma, Williams, Chin and Dromm
Whereas, The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is the nation's largest housing authority with 336 developments and 2,600 buildings comprising approximately 179,000 units and 404,000 authorized tenants; and
Whereas, NYCHA housing issues involving its residents, such as proceedings to terminate a tenancy, are adjudicated at NYCHA administrative tribunals before hearing officers and are not adjudicated in the City's Housing Court system; and
Whereas, Many NYCHA residents without legal counsel who have appeared before NYCHA's administrative tribunals have reportedly been deprived of their constitutional and due process rights, such as allegedly being coerced by NYCHA attorneys, before the appearance at the actual administrative hearing, to sign stipulations that are detrimental to such NYCHA residents or not in conformance with NYCHA's own Termination Procedures; and
Whereas, Housing Court Answers (HCA) is a service of the non-profit City-Wide Task Force on Housing Court (CWTFHC) which is a coalition of housing advocates that was established in 1981 to address injustices faced by indigent litigants who cannot afford an attorney to represent them in landlord/tenant proceedings in Housing Court; and
Whereas, According to HCA's website, its staff currently "collaborates with community groups, legal service providers, eviction prevention specialists, academicians, and elected officials to further the goal of justice in Housing Court as a means of abating homelessness in New York City;" and
Whereas, HCA constantly provides a presence at each of the City's Housing Courts with assistance/information tables; and
Whereas, According to HCA, its information tables annually provide assistance to approximately 60,000 people most of whom are tenants, at which HCA staff and volunteers answer questions and provide factsheets, referrals to legal service providers and other eviction prevention organizations, resources, and agencies; and
Whereas, NYCHA does not currently allow HCA to set up assistance tables outside NYCHA's administrative tribunal hearings where NYCHA tenant cases are adjudicated; and
Whereas, HCA should be allowed to set up their assistance tables in a prominent location outside NYCHA administrative tribunal hearings to provide information to tenants and help guard against possible infringements of constitutional and due process rights to which residents of NYCHA developments are entitled; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York City Housing Authority to allow Housing Court Answers to set up an assistance table for the benefit of unrepresented residents outside NYCHA housing administrative tribunal hearings.
WM
Res 1308/2008