Fewer Eligible Tenants Get 'Right to Counsel' After Pandemic, Program Expansion: Report

"As evictions climb to pre-pandemic levels, most New Yorkers facing eviction may not be getting the legal representation they are entitled to, according to a new report from the New York City Independent Budget Office. The report, released Thursday, highlights ongoing challenges with the city's Right to Counsel program, which promises free legal counsel to low-income tenants facing eviction. But the report finds that only a fraction-30 percent-of eligible tenants got full legal representation under the program last year."

"To get Right to Counsel in the first place, tenants must show up in court. When they don't, the housing court can issue a default judgement, an automatic ruling in their landlord's favor. There were over 125,000 eviction cases filed in 2024, according to the report. But despite efforts to educate tenants about their rights, court appearance rates are stubbornly low. Just about half of tenants facing eviction show up, according to IBO's report."

Evictions in New York City have risen to pre-pandemic levels, and the city's Right to Counsel program offers free legal counsel to low-income tenants facing eviction. Only about 30 percent of eligible tenants received full legal representation last year. Eligibility expansions, changes to eviction law and practices, and stagnant program funding have reduced the share of eligible tenants who receive help. Court appearance rates remain near 50 percent, resulting in many default judgments. There were over 125,000 eviction cases filed in 2024. Representation rates for eligible tenants declined roughly 40 percent after the pandemic. Legal representation substantially improves housing court outcomes.

Read at City Limits