The Legal Aid Society brought this federal class action, civil rights lawsuit on behalf of runaway and homeless youth aged 16 through 20 in New York City. The lawsuit sought to create a right to youth shelter, to increase the number of beds and services available to runaway and homeless youth, to ensure that homeless youth with disabilities are afforded reasonable accommodations in accessing youth shelter and services, and to establish due process protections for youth facing involuntary discharge from shelter.

In 2021, a federal judge approved a settlement between Legal Aid and the City. Among other things, the settlement provides shelter to all 16- and 17-year-olds who seek it, ensures that the City will maintain an adequate number of youth shelter beds, increases access to mental health services for those youth, and establishes due process procedures for class members facing involuntary discharge from shelter.

In addition to the terms of the settlement, the C.W. litigation team’s advocacy contributed to a 500 plus increase in the number of beds available to the class - nearly tripling the total number of beds – as well as the age range of eligibility for shelter and services following amendments made to the NYS Runaway and Homeless Youth Act.