Right to Counsel NYC Coalition

The Right to Counsel NYC Coalition (RTCNYC) is made up of tenant organizing groups, tenant advocates, homeless advocates, senior advocates, disability advocates, academics, legal services organizations and more! We are a unique coalition with a significant breadth of skills and expertise provided by coalition member organizations. The groups that make up the coalition bring years of experience in tenant organizing, legal and legislative advocacy, and litigation expertise.

We led the campaign that resulted in the passage of Local Law 136, the first law of its kind in the nation, establishing a right for low-income tenants to have an attorney in eviction cases when they defend their rights and their homes. The Coalition is actively organizing and advocating for a just implementation during the next four years of implementation, running a campaign to strengthen and expand the law and coordinating with other cities across the country to pass similar legislation.

We know that laws are only as powerful as our ability to uphold them and enforce them and we know that right to counsel won’t solve the housing crisis or end displacement and gentrification---but we believe it’s a powerful tool that can help build the power of the tenant movement, unleash organizing potential and power and help inspire bold tactics to reclaim our city.