Housing Court Bar Association gains insight on public benefits from Judge Howard

January 5, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Judge Juliet P. Howard engaged with members of the Kings County Housing Court Bar Association during a virtual session on the intricacies of public benefits and rental assistance programs.
Screenshots via Zoom

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The Kings County Housing Court Bar Association held its monthly meeting on Thursday, where it hosted Housing Court Judge Juliet “JP” Howard.

The meeting focused on public benefits eligibility, specifically rental subsidies which are crucial in resolving non-payment and holdover cases. Key programs discussed included HRA one-shot deals, FHEPS, CityFHEPS and particular APS eligibility criteria.

“We were very fortunate to have Judge Juliet Howard come and speak with our members,” President Michael Rosenthal said. “This is a different topic than the ones we’re used to and one that would help us all when it comes to serving our clients.”

Judge Howard, renowned in both the legal and literary realms, has a distinguished legal career, including roles as a court attorney in the New York State Court System and an adjunct clinical instructor at Brooklyn Law School’s Elder Law Clinic.

Appointed as a judge in New York City’s Housing Court, she and her wife, Judge Norma Jennings, are noted for being the first married same-sex couple serving in the same court in New York.

The CITYFEPS Rent Supplement Program was a significant topic. It aids eligible families, particularly those at risk of shelter entry or currently in shelters, to secure permanent housing. Judge Howard highlighted the intricate eligibility criteria, stressing the limited availability of funds.

The meeting also shed light on the NYC Rent Freeze Program, encompassing the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE), designed to help eligible individuals maintain affordable housing by freezing rent.

The Kings County Housing Court Bar Association conducts monthly meetings via Zoom, focusing on various housing law topics. These meetings are somewhat informal and do not provide Continuing Legal Education credits, which are typical of standard bar association gatherings.

Judge Howard, accompanied by her court attorney Crystal Jackson, detailed various programs, emphasizing the role of APS in assisting applications and the importance of early referrals.

The “one-shot deal” requires applicants to be primary tenants and demonstrate the future ability to pay rent. Judge Howard noted the increasing arrear amounts and the case-by-case basis of eligibility, suggesting charities for additional assistance.

Judge Howard also touched upon the post-eviction focus in Room 406, an HRA office in the building, which promotes the one-shot deal and assists with application delays.

The city FEPS program, a rental assistance supplement, aims to streamline aid for litigants and ensure landlords are compensated. Requirements include landlord agreement and habitable housing conditions.

Crystal Jackson emphasized the necessity of a lease and housing inspection to qualify for CITYFEPS.

Ygnacio Silvestre, director of TESS (Tenancy and Eviction Support Services), outlined the transition from the Assigned Counsel Project to TESS, emphasizing its focus on preserving long-term tenancies and its reliance on referrals from Housing Court judges and court attorneys.

The Kings County Housing Court Bar Association meets monthly over Zoom to discuss various topics related to the practice. The meetings are slightly more informal and do not offer Continuing Legal Education credits like typical bar association meetings do. However, this lets the topics be more flexible, and attorneys still find the meetings helpful based on their robust monthly turnout at the meetings.