Westchester creates office to help low-income residents facing eviction

Westchester County Executive George Latimer has signed a bill into law creating the Office of Housing Counsel located within the Department of Social Services, which will be tasked with offering legal counsel to low-income individuals facing eviction from their homes.

According to the Westchester County Right to Counsel Coalition, during pre-pandemic years when more than 10,000 eviction proceedings were filed in Westchester County courts, 93% of landlords were represented by counsel while only 7% of tenants had attorneys.

County residents eligible for the new office”™s services will need to have a household income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines or 60% of the County Average Medium Income. In addition to evictions, the new office will provide input on challenges to rent increases based upon a landlord”™s failure to provide proper notice, maintaining or restoring a covered individual”™s occupancy of a residential rental premises, possession of a residential premises for the non-payment of rent or a holdover, and the restoration or maintenance of essential services.

“Housing is a necessity, plain and simple,” said Latimer. “This legislation will help Westchester residents who are facing hardships remain in their homes, easing the burden on our social services and lowering the number of our neighbors facing a crisis in their living situations. I commend the Board of Legislators for their work on this trailblazing legislation here in Westchester.”