While the Right to Counsel program has had an immeasurable impact on individuals and families facing eviction, the program and the various stakeholders tasked with its implementation have faced significant challenges. NYLAG, along with Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A, Legal Services NYC, The Legal Aid Society and Mobilization for Justice dug deeper into the challenges the implementation of the right to counsel faces in a joint testimony to the NYC Office of Civil Justice. Below is an excerpt from their testimony:
“The rush to implement the RTC program Citywide and expand its coverage to all ZIP codes was necessary in the face of the housing instability caused by the pandemic; however, the swift pace of the expansion and lack of a concomitant increase in funding made it extremely difficult for the legal services providers to hire, train and retain the staff needed to meet the increased demand for services.”
