Legal Assistance

HRA’s Office of Civil Justice

The Office of Civil Justice (OCJ) was created at HRA in 2015 with the mission to coordinate, evaluate and improve civil legal services for low-income New Yorkers. New York City has made an extraordinary investment in legal services to level the playing field for New Yorkers in need who face potentially life-changing legal challenges, making it a national leader in providing this assistance for low-income families and individuals.

Read the Office of Civil Justice 2016 Annual Report.

Free Legal Representation for Tenants Facing Eviction

OCJ funds Anti-Eviction Legal Services in the housing courts and in community offices across the City. We provide comprehensive, flexible, and individualized legal and related services to help low-income households avoid eviction and homelessness.

Services may include:

Representation in housing court
Negotiations with landlords and/or other advocacy assistance
Inquiries into whether a tenant's rent level is correct, whether there are conditions that require repair and whether these constitute defenses to a proceeding
Preparation and filing of required agency and court papers

These services are free and you do not have to be an HRA client to apply. If you need legal help with an eviction, please find the Anti-Eviction Legal Services location nearest you by clicking here, by dialing 311 or by emailing civiljustice@hra.nyc.gov.

Free Legal Representation for Tenants Facing Landlord Harassment

OCJ funds Anti-Harassment Legal Services to work in select neighborhoods across the City with tenants, buildings, and tenant associations to help preserve their housing, protect against harassment or misconduct by unscrupulous landlords, and give representation and legal advice in evictions and other cases. Neighborhoods where these services are available are:

Brooklyn
11207  East New York
11208  East New York
11212  Brownsville
11213  Ocean Hill

Bronx
10452 Highbridge
10453 Morris Heights

Manhattan
10029  East Harlem
10034  Inwood
10035  East Harlem

Queens
11101  Long Island City
11354  West Flushing
11358  West Flushing

Staten Island
10301 Bay Street
10304 Stapleton

These services are free and you do not have to be an HRA client to apply. If you live in one of the ZIP codes listed above and need legal help because your landlord is harassing or trying to displace you or your neighbors, please call the Tenant Protection Hotline at (917) 661-4505, Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

Free Legal Representation for Immigration Legal Issues

OCJ and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of legal services programs for low-income immigrant New Yorkers in need of legal advice or representation in immigration matters.

These services are free and you do not have to be an HRA client to apply. If you need legal help with an immigration issue, please visit MOIA’s webpage, dial 311 or email civiljustice@hra.nyc.gov.