New COVID-19 Online Resource for Tenants and Attorneys in New York

TenantHelpNY.org is a new website with self-help resources on evictions and COVID-19 in New York State.

Tenants can access Know Your Rights content and information on available legal aid, including:

• Plain language guides for tenants and the general public, developed in collaboration with grantees under the OAG initiative;
• A legal help directory to assist tenants in connecting with volunteer attorney programs in their region, and
• A list of Frequently Asked Questions about available COVID-19 housing protections

The website also includes an Advocate Gateway with specialized resources for attorneys and other advocates assisting tenants during this time.

For a full announcement of the website launch, and other information, click here.

New York Court System Releases Report on Status, Reforms

The New York State Unified Court System recently released its annual report.

It provides an update on the "Excellence Initiative," to streamline caseloads in the New York court system.

The also includes a summary of

the "standards and goals," including benchmarks of 90 days for misdemeanors and 180 days from indictment for felonies. In addition, the report highlights the state's Access to Justice Program and volunteer attorney activities, the Pro Bono Scholars Program, and efforts to support specialty courts.

Finally, the document contains a section on caseload activity of the entire court system.

The complete report can be found here.