(Kingston, NY) – Beginning in May, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) will provide additional eviction counseling services through the establishment of two new positions made possible through an allocation of $200,000 by the Ulster County Legislature. Made possible through American Rescue Plan Act funding this program will come at no cost to Ulster County.
Since the expiration of the eviction moratorium in January 2022, proceedings have begun at a rapid pace, overwhelming the ability for legal aid societies to provide counseling to those who cannot afford representation in court.
“Tenants who are being evicted for their inability to pay rent are unlikely to receive adequate legal representation, and in many cases are unaware of their rights during an eviction proceeding. We in the Legislature are thrilled to contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley in order to provide this meaningful assistance to our neighbors facing eviction,” said Vice Chair Eve Walter (District 20 – New Paltz), the Sponsor of the Resolution.
Under the contract Legal Services of the Hudson Valley will offer multilingual tenant education and outreach, eviction services, including preparing a formal response to notices of termination, providing representation in mediation and administrative proceedings. Additionally, LSHV will report demographic data such as ZIP code, scope of services rendered, repeat services needed, source of referrals and other vital statistics to the County.
“Lack of affordable housing is at the root of many social issues, including poverty, educational disparities, and homelessness. With funding from the Ulster County Legislature, LSHV can provide the additional eviction counseling services critical to addressing these issues as we pursue equity through dismantling systemic oppression,” said Erin Burud, Attorney In-Charge of LSHV’s Ulster Office.
“As we move to formally define housing as a county purpose this coming session, paving the way for an unprecedented investment in new housing inventory, it is critical that we continue to make a priority of keeping as many Ulster County residents in their homes as possible,” said Deputy Majority Leader Abe Uchitelle (District 5 – Kingston), Chair of the Health, Human Services & Housing Committee.
Those seeking eviction counseling may contact Legal Services of the Hudson Valley at 1-877-574-8529 and through their website www.lshv.org.
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