LSHV receives $400,000 in funding for housing services

WHITE PLAINS (April 17, 2019) – Westchester residents facing eviction or homelessness will now have greater access to free attorneys thanks to a $400,000 grant to Legal Services of the Hudson Valley secured in the state budget by Westchester’s State Senate delegation led by Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

At a Thursday press conference in White Plains, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Senator Shelley Mayer, announced a $400,000 state grant to Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, the only provider of free civil legal services in the seven counties north of New York City.

The funding will allow Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to hire attorneys in each of its four offices across the county who will provide free legal representation in housing and eviction cases. Legal Services says the new project will go a long way toward addressing the growing housing and homelessness crisis in Westchester.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, "I am proud that the Senate Majority, was able to secure $400,000 for Legal Services of the Hudson Valley through the State Budget. This funding for Legal Services of the Hudson Valley will be crucial in assisting thousands of Westchester families and will help restart their Kinship Caregiver Advocacy Program. The Westchester delegation within the Senate Democratic Majority worked tirelessly for our constituents and local organizations throughout the budget process, and the results are clear."

“Every day, city and municipal courts are flooded with new eviction cases and tenants are mostly left to fend for themselves since many cannot afford an attorney. Legal Services of the Hudson Valley is often their only recourse for free legal services, but our ability to handle these cases pales in comparison to the actual need. But thanks to the new funding secured by our State Senate delegation, we will be able to hire desperately-needed attorneys who will prevent evictions and keep more Westchester residents in their homes. We are grateful to our State Senate delegation for enabling us to meet this need,” said Barbara Finkelstein, CEO of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley.

In 2018, city courts in Westchester experienced more than 11,000 eviction petitions filed against county families. This staggering number does not even include the hundreds of cases filed from the 36 other town and village courts. The vast majority of all these eviction cases involve low income families who cannot afford legal counsel. In fact, 90% of tenants appear in housing court without an attorney in contrast to landlords who are almost guaranteed to be represented by a lawyer. Yet tenants are twice as likely to win their case when they are represented. The number of housing cases is expected to continue increasing through 2019.

Senator Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx/Westchester), 34th Senate District said, “Providing free and high-quality legal services to individuals and families who cannot afford a lawyer is an important function of a just and humane society. Legal Services of the Hudson Valley provides this assistance to all seven counties of the Hudson Valley comprehensively and with cultural sensitivity. I am thrilled that our Westchester delegation was able to secure a significant grant of $400,000 for housing legal services in Westchester, and to restart their Kinship Caregiver Advocacy Program. This organization deserves our support so they can continue to thrive and assist our neighbors in need.”

"Housing should be a fundamental right, but unfortunately it is a luxury. Our state has been facing a homelessness crisis for far too long. We have consistently seen the number of cases involving eviction increase annually. I want to thank organizations such as the Legal Services of Hudson Valley, which provides free legal services to tenants facing eviction. Tenants who appear in court with representation are twice as likely to win their case,” said Senator Jamaal Bailey, 36th Senate District. “That is why I am proud to announce with Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and the Westchester State Senate Delegation, $400,000 in funds to the Legal Services of Hudson Valley."

State Senator Shelley B. Mayer, 37th District, said, “I am extremely pleased that, working with my colleagues, we were able to supplement the very important work of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley by providing funds to assist in areas near and dear to my heart—domestic violence, housing, veterans and kinship providers. As an attorney who knows first-hand how important it is to have an attorney or paralegal assit in any legal matter, these additional funds will allow Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to continue to have a positive and meaningful difference in the lives of my constituents.”

“We need to keep people in their homes and prevent homelessness, which is a crisis continuing to grow in New York State. This funding will play a critical role in helping those in need obtain free legal services to prevent evictions and win their housing cases. We know tenants are twice as likely to win a case when they have a lawyer, but in fact, 90 percent of tenants appear in housing court without legal representation. We will change this and thank Legal Services of the Hudson Valley for their important work,” said Senator David Carlucci, 38th District.

“The Westchester Senate delegation fought for and obtained ample funding for Legal Services of the Hudson Valley,” said Senator Pete Harckham, 40th Senate District. “Every Hudson Valley resident deserves access to quality legal services regardless of income.”

About Legal Services of the Hudson Valley

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley is a not for profit law firm headquartered in White Plains that is the only provider of free civil legal services in the seven counties north of New York City. It has four offices in Westchester in Yonkers, White Plains, Mt. Vernon and Peekskill.

In 2018, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley handled 3,409 eviction cases on behalf of Westchester families. This represented 51% of all cases that LSHV handled in Westchester. Of those, it was able to prevent 868 evictions, but as the numbers indicate, this paled in comparison to the actual need in the County. LSHV says the new funding obtained by Westchester’s State Senate delegation will help it expand its housing and eviction practice to the scale necessary to meet the need.

Photo (L-R): Senator Shelley Mayer, Barbara Finkelstein (CEO of LSHV), Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins

http://fios1news.com/news/legal-service-group-receives-grant-white-plains/

http://westchester.news12.com/story/40330693/dollar400k-grant-will-help-residents-who-are-facing-eviction-or-homelessness