New York Proposes Right to Counsel in Housing Court

New York City is one of many in the United States that's facing a crisis of homelessness and lack of affordable housing.  Recently, NY City Council members Mark Levine and Vanessa Gibson  introduced legislation to establish a right to counsel for all low-income tenants in housing court. "The bill would make New York City the first in the nation to guarantee representation for tenants, and it would significantly decrease the number of families forced into homelessness" in New York City.  The proposal, and the rationale behind it, are described in this compelling op-ed in today's New York Times.