OUR PLATFORM
The Problem
New Yorkers have endured an eviction crisis for decades – and without state action, it will only worsen. With more than 175,000 active eviction cases statewide, nearly 160,000 people experiencing homelessness, and hundreds of thousands more at risk, evictions continue to displace families and destabilize communities every day. Evictions are not a product of individual failure – they are the result of policy choices that prioritize landlord profit over people’s right to a home. They are enforced through a court system that primarily functions as a debt collection agency for landlords and that prioritizes removing tenants rather than protecting them.
This crisis disproportionately impacts Black renters, women, and households with children, who make up nearly 40% of those facing eviction. New York must act now to stop displacement and transform the courts into a system that holds landlords accountable and keeps people housed.
Our Solutions
Together, our coalition of tenants, organizers, advocates, and legal services organizations are fighting to create an eviction-free New York. Through our Housing Courts Must Change! campaign, we’re advancing policies to dismantle the eviction machine, hold landlords accountable, and transform housing courts into places where tenants’ rights are upheld and people can stay in their homes.
Clean Hands Act (S4098 / A1621)
Introduced by Senator Parker and Assemblymember Rosenthal, our Clean Hands Act would stop landlords from suing tenants for eviction when housing violations exist in the tenant’s apartment or building. It makes clear that landlords cannot ignore unsafe conditions and still use the courts to collect rent and displace tenants.
Statewide Right to Counsel (S6772 / A4669)
Introduced by Senator Jackson and Assemblymember Solages, our statewide Right to Counsel legislation would guarantee every tenant in New York State a free lawyer when facing eviction. It would also require courts to enforce local Right to Counsel laws – addressing the widespread denial of tenants’ right to an attorney in NYC’s state-run housing courts.
Winter Eviction Moratorium (S9090 / A10121)
Introduced by Senator Brisport and Assemblymember Kelles, our Winter Eviction Moratorium legislation would pause the execution of evictions from November 1 through April 15. It protects public health and safety by keeping families housed during the coldest months, while providing tenants and landlords time to pursue rental assistance, repayment plans, or mediation.
We're building a movement to stop evictions across New York State!
Mapping Our Support
This interactive map, created by our partners at BetaNYC, highlights the growing support for our Housing Courts Must Change! campaign. Explore the map to see which state Assembly Members and Senators support our platform and find local organizations in your area that are part of our coalition.
On the map, you can:
- View State Assembly and State Senate districts, including the counties and ZIP codes each district covers
- See which pieces of legislation on the HCMC platform each legislator supports
- Contact your legislators to advocate for this legislation
- Locate Right to Counsel coalition member and endorser organizations across the state, see which legislation they support, and connect with them
Legislation Tracker
You can also use the chart below to quickly find out whether your state Assembly Member or Senator supports our solutions to the eviction crisis.