City data shows that since New York State’s eviction moratorium was lifted in January of 2022 over 4,000 evictions have been executed in New York City alone, with evictions increasing almost every month, as reported by Gothamist.

In response, Legal Aid is calling on lawmakers in Albany to pass “Good Cause” eviction protections that would require landlords to demonstrate a good reason for evicting tenants in market-rate housing. The proposed law would also protect tenants from exorbitant rent hikes and allow individuals to advocate for repairs without the fear of retaliation.

“New York City’s eviction machine has displaced over 4,000 households, pushing many families and individuals onto the street or into the already overburdened shelter system,” said Judith Goldiner, Attorney-in-Charge of the Civil Law Reform Unit at The Legal Aid Society.

“These troubling numbers will only continue to grow should Albany fail to immediately advance ‘Good Cause’ eviction legislation to ensure that New Yorkers in unregulated units have basic tenant protections against frivolous eviction lawsuits, unjustifiable rent increases and landlord harassment,” she continued. “Lawmakers must answer the cries from their constituents and act on this critical measure now.”