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EIS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Legal Aid/Elder Advocacy Program-
EIS’ Legal Aid/Elder Advocacy Program addresses the concrete need of affordable housing for the elderly,
ultimately preventing their homelessness through legal advocacy, social services assistance, and tenant
education and empowerment. Our Legal Aid/Elder Advocacy Program is designed to prevent the homelessness
of our elderly neighbors and protect and preserve affordable housing stock in New York City.
By advocating for seniors, Eviction Intervention Services assists the elderly, who may be disabled or
handicapped, and who are in danger of losing their homes. EIS attorneys provide free legal representation to
seniors in housing court. We mediate with landlords; and raise funds for rental arrears through private loans
or grants.
Legal Clinics with Housing Attorneys – EIS housing attorneys assist tenants on a one-to-one basis,
offering advice on particular tenant problems during our Legal Clinics. We hold 2 clinics per week, one of which
is especially geared towards seniors and held by our attorney for elders, though seniors may also attend the
other clinic.
De-Cluttering and Organization Workshop/Support Group- Our De-cluttering and Organization
workshop takes place once a week with a staff social worker. The workshop includes a weekly group session,
as well as an opportunity for clients to meet with the social worker one-on-one to discuss concerns and
individual strategies for de-cluttering. This new program emerged to address the long-term complications
involved in trying to maintain a healthy and organized living space in a New York City apartment. EIS identifies
the client’s needs and intervenes to help cure the clutter problem before the tenant becomes evicted.
Tenant Workshop Trainings and Educational Outreach – Two times each year we conduct training
programs, one of which is aimed at housing issues of particular interest to seniors. Our educational seminars
and workshops aim to empower our neighbors with housing laws and information and other pertinent
knowledge leading to an understanding of their rights and responsibilities as tenants in New York City.
Through education, EIS has enabled tenants to obtain necessary apartment repairs, maintain building safety
and prevent expensive, and even deadly, hazards, and save their affordable housing. Last year more than
300 people attended the workshops. We estimate that 85% of these people are senior citizens.
On December 10th, EIS held our “Fire Safety For the Holiday Season Tenant Education Workshop”,
presented by the Fire Education Safety Unit of the FDNY. Here, attendees learned how to avoid fire-related
incidents while using holiday lights and candles in their homes, and were able to ask specific fire safety
questions in a question and answer session. The attendees were also given complimentary smoke and carbon
monoxide alarm batteries, and a plethora of literature on fire safety, and were encouraged to share this
material with their neighbors.
On July 16, 2008 EIS held our Annual Senior Tenant Seminar. Led by Manhattan Borough President Scott
Stringer, the seminar was entitled “An Affordable New York: Housing Today And Tomorrow’s Manhattanites”.
The seminar was open to the public free of charge and held in the Grace Institute building. Attendees learned
about how to protect their affordable housing and how local government plans to approach housing in the
future.
Benefits Entitlement Counseling – Benefits Entitlement Counselors meet with clients and provide
counseling about government-sponsored entitlements. The clients are able to learn of public entitlements and
benefit programs available to them, including SCRIE, DRIE, food stamps, Medicaid and Medicare, and receive
application assistance when necessary. The counselor is a volunteer trained through the 55+ program at the
Community Service Society.
Housing Advocacy Program- EIS’s new Housing Advocacy Program addresses housing issues and seeks
out populations that are not served by existing EIS programs. The expansion of our existing programs and
the addition of a staff Housing Advocate, allows us to provide advocacy to all East Side residents in need of
housing assistance, regardless of age and family situation. Working with Benefit Entitlement Counselors, the
Housing Advocate is able to inform individual clients of their rights and responsibilities, entitlement to
government benefits, and stay apprised of affordable housing opportunities available for rent as well as for
purchase. Other services provided by the Housing Advocate include referrals for in-house legal services and to
outside agencies, obtainment of grants and loans from outside organizations on behalf of clients, and
individual counseling for clients’ housing issues. With the aid of staff attorneys, the Housing Advocate assists
clients with Pro-Se representation on an individual basis.
Emergency Assistance for Families With Children- EIS provides legal aid for families with children
under 18 who are facing eviction. If a family in need is on Public Assistance, these tenants must first apply to
the Department of Social Services- Homeless Diversion Unit for funds or rent subsidies from the government.
If they are labeled unqualified and cannot get the proper help to keep their family and children from being
evicted, EIS steps in to advocate for emergency funds from the City to cover rental arrears. In addition, we
conduct home visits to ensure adequate housing conditions and address repairs for all emergency anti-eviction
cases. EIS has seen an increase in the number of Seniors who are the primary care-givers of their
grandchildren. In the last fiscal year, we facilitated the obtainment of $1,525,700.00 in funds for 550 families,
including 1,200 children under the age of 18. Without EIS intervening and advocating on behalf of these
families, they would most likely end up homeless.
Mitchell-Lama Conversion Assistance Program- EIS’s Mitchell-Lama Conversion Assistance Program
assists tenants in recently converted Mitchell-Lama buildings sort out confusion involving government-
sponsored programs, Section 8 vouchers, and landlord assistance program aid. EIS representatives advocate
for tenants before elected officials, building management, government agencies and at section 8 hearings in
order to assure an appropriate “new” rent determination. EIS will continue to advocate for and educate these
tenants in Mitchell-Lama buy-outs as well as to research and to learn more about this emerging, evolving
problem in affordable housing.
Don't fit in to our guidelines above? Please call our Housing Hotline at 212.308.2210. Our call center
operators will connect you with the agency or organization that can best help you.
Legal Aid/Elder Advocacy Program-
EIS’ Legal Aid/Elder Advocacy Program addresses the concrete need of affordable housing for the elderly,
ultimately preventing their homelessness through legal advocacy, social services assistance, and tenant
education and empowerment. Our Legal Aid/Elder Advocacy Program is designed to prevent the homelessness
of our elderly neighbors and protect and preserve affordable housing stock in New York City.
By advocating for seniors, Eviction Intervention Services assists the elderly, who may be disabled or
handicapped, and who are in danger of losing their homes. EIS attorneys provide free legal representation to
seniors in housing court. We mediate with landlords; and raise funds for rental arrears through private loans
or grants.
Legal Clinics with Housing Attorneys – EIS housing attorneys assist tenants on a one-to-one basis,
offering advice on particular tenant problems during our Legal Clinics. We hold 2 clinics per week, one of which
is especially geared towards seniors and held by our attorney for elders, though seniors may also attend the
other clinic.
De-Cluttering and Organization Workshop/Support Group- Our De-cluttering and Organization
workshop takes place once a week with a staff social worker. The workshop includes a weekly group session,
as well as an opportunity for clients to meet with the social worker one-on-one to discuss concerns and
individual strategies for de-cluttering. This new program emerged to address the long-term complications
involved in trying to maintain a healthy and organized living space in a New York City apartment. EIS identifies
the client’s needs and intervenes to help cure the clutter problem before the tenant becomes evicted.
Tenant Workshop Trainings and Educational Outreach – Two times each year we conduct training
programs, one of which is aimed at housing issues of particular interest to seniors. Our educational seminars
and workshops aim to empower our neighbors with housing laws and information and other pertinent
knowledge leading to an understanding of their rights and responsibilities as tenants in New York City.
Through education, EIS has enabled tenants to obtain necessary apartment repairs, maintain building safety
and prevent expensive, and even deadly, hazards, and save their affordable housing. Last year more than
300 people attended the workshops. We estimate that 85% of these people are senior citizens.
On December 10th, EIS held our “Fire Safety For the Holiday Season Tenant Education Workshop”,
presented by the Fire Education Safety Unit of the FDNY. Here, attendees learned how to avoid fire-related
incidents while using holiday lights and candles in their homes, and were able to ask specific fire safety
questions in a question and answer session. The attendees were also given complimentary smoke and carbon
monoxide alarm batteries, and a plethora of literature on fire safety, and were encouraged to share this
material with their neighbors.
On July 16, 2008 EIS held our Annual Senior Tenant Seminar. Led by Manhattan Borough President Scott
Stringer, the seminar was entitled “An Affordable New York: Housing Today And Tomorrow’s Manhattanites”.
The seminar was open to the public free of charge and held in the Grace Institute building. Attendees learned
about how to protect their affordable housing and how local government plans to approach housing in the
future.
Benefits Entitlement Counseling – Benefits Entitlement Counselors meet with clients and provide
counseling about government-sponsored entitlements. The clients are able to learn of public entitlements and
benefit programs available to them, including SCRIE, DRIE, food stamps, Medicaid and Medicare, and receive
application assistance when necessary. The counselor is a volunteer trained through the 55+ program at the
Community Service Society.
Housing Advocacy Program- EIS’s new Housing Advocacy Program addresses housing issues and seeks
out populations that are not served by existing EIS programs. The expansion of our existing programs and
the addition of a staff Housing Advocate, allows us to provide advocacy to all East Side residents in need of
housing assistance, regardless of age and family situation. Working with Benefit Entitlement Counselors, the
Housing Advocate is able to inform individual clients of their rights and responsibilities, entitlement to
government benefits, and stay apprised of affordable housing opportunities available for rent as well as for
purchase. Other services provided by the Housing Advocate include referrals for in-house legal services and to
outside agencies, obtainment of grants and loans from outside organizations on behalf of clients, and
individual counseling for clients’ housing issues. With the aid of staff attorneys, the Housing Advocate assists
clients with Pro-Se representation on an individual basis.
Emergency Assistance for Families With Children- EIS provides legal aid for families with children
under 18 who are facing eviction. If a family in need is on Public Assistance, these tenants must first apply to
the Department of Social Services- Homeless Diversion Unit for funds or rent subsidies from the government.
If they are labeled unqualified and cannot get the proper help to keep their family and children from being
evicted, EIS steps in to advocate for emergency funds from the City to cover rental arrears. In addition, we
conduct home visits to ensure adequate housing conditions and address repairs for all emergency anti-eviction
cases. EIS has seen an increase in the number of Seniors who are the primary care-givers of their
grandchildren. In the last fiscal year, we facilitated the obtainment of $1,525,700.00 in funds for 550 families,
including 1,200 children under the age of 18. Without EIS intervening and advocating on behalf of these
families, they would most likely end up homeless.
Mitchell-Lama Conversion Assistance Program- EIS’s Mitchell-Lama Conversion Assistance Program
assists tenants in recently converted Mitchell-Lama buildings sort out confusion involving government-
sponsored programs, Section 8 vouchers, and landlord assistance program aid. EIS representatives advocate
for tenants before elected officials, building management, government agencies and at section 8 hearings in
order to assure an appropriate “new” rent determination. EIS will continue to advocate for and educate these
tenants in Mitchell-Lama buy-outs as well as to research and to learn more about this emerging, evolving
problem in affordable housing.
Don't fit in to our guidelines above? Please call our Housing Hotline at 212.308.2210. Our call center
operators will connect you with the agency or organization that can best help you.
Eviction Intervention Services
Homelessness Prevention
Tenant Advocacy
Preserving Affordable Housing
| 1233 2nd Ave., NYC 10065 212.308.2210 info@eisny.org |