Legal Aid Society

Preventing Homelessness & Saving Homes

We work to preserve homes, prevent eviction and displacement by providing critical legal services. Through our direct representation and law reform efforts, we promote healthy, stable, affordable housing for our clients and remove the systemic barriers that keep people trapped in cycles of homelessness.

 

 

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Every day, in courthouses and communities across the city, we advocate for the rights of all New Yorkers. Learn more about the services we provide.

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Making a Difference

Projects, Units & Initiatives

Our specialized teams have experience working on nearly every area of law that impacts New Yorkers. Explore the ways we fight on behalf of clients and communities.

A Day in the Life

Preventing Evictions in the Citywide Housing Justice Practice

Munonyedi “Mun” Clifford and her team are fighting to ensure low-income New Yorkers have a voice in New York City’s housing court.

Munonyedi “Mun” Clifford 

Our Work with Partners

Challenging Disability-Based Discrimination in NYC's Homeless Shelters

We worked with White & Case LLP to bring Butler et al. vs. City of New York, a federal class action case challenging disability-based discrimination in the City’s homeless shelter system. Every night, there are nearly 60,000 people sleeping the City’s shelter system—a high proportion of them have difficulties resulting from a disability. We secured a settlement with the City on behalf of a class of individuals who have a disability and who currently live in a shelter, who will seek shelter in the future, or who tried to access shelter on or after May 14, 2012.

By the Numbers

Our work seeks to shift the power dynamic, ensuring New Yorkers have access to shelter and affordable housing, and that tenants have the resources they need to advocate for their rights.

136K+

Households who gained critical protections against eviction after we brought litigation to reopen the state pandemic rental assistance portal.

75K+

Public housing residents expected to benefit from urgently-needed building repairs through the Public Housing Preservation Trust legislation that LAS helped pass.

3/4

Families make up three-quarters of the homeless shelter population.

A contribution to The Legal Aid Society is about more than money.

Every donation helps us offer essential legal services to thousands of vulnerable New Yorkers, helping people buy food, pay rent, and care for themselves and their families.

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