City intensifies efforts against illegal evictions in Brooklyn amid cold weather

February 2, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Community advocates from the Mayor's Public Engagement Unit talk with Brooklyn residents in East New York to raise awareness about tenants’ rights and protections against illegal evictions.
Photo courtesy of The NYC Human Resources Administration

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In a move to combat unlawful evictions during cold “Code Blue” temperatures, the Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit (PEU) conducted a targeted community outreach on Tuesday in East New York.

East New York was identified as having the highest rate of illegal lockout filings in the borough. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to inform tenants about their rights, spearheaded by the newly formed Tenant Protection Cabinet, in collaboration with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).

“In the face of rising housing challenges, tenants must understand their rights and know how to respond to illegal lockouts,” said Adrienne Lever, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit. “Our goal is to empower New Yorkers with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves and their families. If you have questions about your tenant rights, you can speak to a PEU Tenant Support Specialist by calling 311 and asking for the Tenant Helpline.”

Since August, the PEU has been proactive in distributing vital information across 37 high-risk zip codes in New York City, educating tens of thousands of tenants on how to respond to illegal lockouts. The outreach is crucial in zip code 11208 of East New York, which has been among the top five city-wide for illegal lockout court filings from 2020 to 2023.

HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. reiterated the city’s commitment to ensuring tenants are aware of their rights and the legal procedures for evictions. He emphasized the importance of familiarizing oneself with available resources and reporting any violations, such as utility shut-offs, to HPD through 311 or calling 911 in emergencies.

“It’s important that tenants know their housing rights — illegal lockouts are not just a violation of your space but a violation of your legal rights,” Carrión said. “In New York City, every tenant has the right and privilege to remain in their home until due process is followed and a judge orders an eviction. Become familiar with the resources available to you before you need them — dial 311 for the tenant helpline, engage with housing court in your borough, contact HPD through 311 to report utility shut-offs, or call 911 in the case of an emergency.”

Leila Bozorg, executive director for housing, praised the efforts of PEU and HPD in this vital tenant protection campaign.

The city reminds all tenants that legal eviction processes must be court-ordered and enforced by a marshal or sheriff, stressing that landlords cannot use utility shutoffs as an eviction tactic.

These protections extend to all tenants, irrespective of immigration status or lease agreements. Tenants experiencing illegal lockouts should immediately contact 911 and can seek further assistance and referrals by dialing 311 for the Tenant Helpline.