Support the Right to Counsel in Housing Court

On Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, the New York City Council will consider a bill that could make New York City the first city in the nation to guarantee the right to legal counsel to tenants who are up to 200% of the poverty line and facing eviction in housing court - and in doing so, take a giant step to address the crisis of homelessness in our City.    Be part of history and join the Right to Counsel Campaign on 

Monday, September 26th, at 9:30am 

at New York City Hall Steps 

for a press conference 

in support of  intro 214-A

followed by 

City Council hearings 

on this historic piece of legislation

and sign the petition to Mayor de Blasio.

Memorial for affordable housing - Tenants Day of Action Sept. 22, 2016

RALLY – 12 NOON
MARCH – 1 PM

in front of BARCLAYS CTR.

Flatbush and Atlantic Ave.

Join Met Council on Housing, FUREE 
(Families United for Racial and Economic Equality)  
in a memorial service to mourn the loss of affordable 
housing across our communities in New York City.  
This will be followed by a march. 

FOR NON-MARCHERS: Housing Conversation on the NYC Housing Justice Movement - Brooklyn Commons, 388 Atlantic Avenue

RSVP .  For more information: Mike, (718) 852 – 2960 / michael@furee.org.

Rent Justice Coalition Sues to Defend Rent Freeze

Rent Justice Coalition Files Lawsuit to Defend Rent Freeze

Lawsuit Against Rent Stabilization Association After Group Sues Board Over Rent Freeze

Rent Guidelines Board Voted for Second Year of Historic Rent Freeze on NYC’s Stabilized Units

New York, NY—Tenants, housing advocates and supporters convened today to file an intervention at the New York County Courthouse against the landlord group, Rent Stabilization Association over their lawsuit looking to cancel the rent freeze on stabilized apartment units. Attorneys from Urban Justice Center, Goddard and Legal Aid Society joined the Rent Justice Coalition to hold a press conference ahead of the filing.

                       

On June 27, 2016 the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) made a historic decision to extend the already historic rent freeze for another year. Last year, the RGB passed a proposal of a one-year rent freeze for rent-stabilized tenants: in a 7-2 vote from the 9 member board. It was the first time the RGB passed a rent freeze in the board’s 46 year history.

In response, the Rent Stabilization Association (RSA), which represents about 25,000 city landlords, filed a lawsuit to cancel the rent freeze, claiming the RGB inappropriately considered tenant affordability in issuing its rent order. The RSA asserts that the RGB may only look at the economic factors affecting landlords, despite Rent Stabilization Law’s mandate that the RGB consider data regarding the cost of living and any other relevant information.