New York Launches Portal for Threatened Renters: How to Get Free Help

New York City has launched a portal offering free assistance to tenants facing eviction. This is the first city platform to present a single catalog of all rental-related resources. The edition writes about it Patch.

On Monday, August 10th, New York City launched "Resource portal for tenants" (from English Tenant Resource Portal). This site offers help and resources for tenants facing lockouts, evictions, and other issues. This is stated at the official NYC Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants in Twitter.

In particular, on the new portal, tenants can get free resources, legal assistance and much more.

The site went live shortly before the expiration of the moratorium on evictions and amid growing concerns that the recently passed tenant protection law may not be able to protect some of them. “The city is doing everything we can to support vulnerable families facing a health and economic crisis,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “With the launch of the Resource Portal for Tenants, we're introducing the city's first platform where tenants facing eviction can turn to find a single directory of all the housing resources they may need.”

During the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of New York tenants faced difficulties paying rent as many lost their jobs. However, they remained protected from eviction by a ban imposed by State Governor Andrew Cuomo, who effectively suspended housing proceedings.

On the subject: 7 things New York City tenants need to know during the COVID-19 pandemic

For example, New York State's Tenant Safe Harbor Act has provided tenants with additional protection against eviction if they cannot pay rent due to the pandemic.

But lawyers noted that the law could not protect tenants facing eviction threats before the pandemic began. Last week, 14 families in New York City who had been issued eviction orders prior to the pandemic risked ending up on the streets. But at the last moment, Cuomo extended the statewide moratorium until August 20.

However, Cuomo's order left it up to the state courts to reopen the eviction procedure.

Last week, the Office of Court Administration said the pause in the eviction process would remain in place.

However, State Chief Justice Janet DiFiore said on August 10 that lawsuits in Brooklyn Housing Court began in July, and this week they kick off on Staten Island on cases “filed before the pandemic in which both sides are represented lawyers ". Courts in other boroughs will resume operations in September, she added.

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Amid relative uncertainty, Bill de Blasio has pledged to help New Yorkers facing evictions for "economic reasons" or due to a pandemic. One of the steps by which the city intends to protect tenants is the launch of the city portal. To get free help on the new site, tenants need to answer a few questions, such as “My landlord says I have to move out,” and they will be redirected to a site with the resources they need.

This portal also provides up-to-date information on the status of evictions in the housing court.

Renters without internet access can get free specialist assistance by calling 311 and saying “Tenant Helpline”.