Services

Telephone Hotline Service

Each year UTA receives close to 6,000 calls on the hotline from people looking for apartments, worried about evictions, getting security deposits back, code violations in their buildings, rent increases, mortgage problems and many other housing concerns. While most of the calls are from the Albany area, a growing number of calls are covering NYS, from Buffalo to Plattsburgh and down the Hudson Valley to White Plains. Some of the calls may be a brief discussion with UTA housing counselors while others require more intensive counseling.

Mediation and Advocacy

Landlord/tenant mediation and advocacy are an important part of UTA’s housing services. Over the years United Tenants has been able to have a presence in city courts where UTA’s housing counselor has assisted with mediation.

Coordination of Homeless Prevention Services

UTA’s Homeless Prevention Program is directed at helping low income tenants to remain in their apartments. Through a combination of intensive counseling, landlord/tenant mediation and in some situations the use of emergency financial assistance, becoming homeless is greatly reduced.

A growing number of households pay over 45% of their income for housing and many of the severely rent burdened are the working poor, some of whom transitioned from public assistance into jobs that are often part-time or short term, and which seldom have benefits. A personal or economic crisis can often bring the families to the brink of homelessness.

Training on Landlord/Tenant Issues

The staff of United Tenants are available to conduct training on a variety of housing topics, including tenant/landlord rights and responsibilities, looking for an apartment, and organizing a tenant association or block association.

Organizing Assistance

United Tenants was born out of the organizing experience of tenants in Albany’s South End in the early 1970’s. While Untied Tenants’ direct services help so many people each year, we know that supporting the organizing efforts of Tenants is still very important. UTA has also facilitated the development of the only two independent Tenant Associations in the Capital Region. If you would like organizing assistance please contact us.

Court Advocacy Services

UTA provides court advocacy services in Albany Civil Court to assist unrepresented low-income tenants achieve justice in summary proceedings. UTA’s Court Advocates follow the tenant’s lead and grant them important legal information to navigate the eviction process and ensure positive outcomes that are aligned with the household’s desires. The Corut Advocate aids tenants in court by educating clients of their rights throughout the proceedings, helping to negotiate manageable repayment plans, empowering tenants to raise issues regarding substandard housing, getting cases dismissed due to improper conduct by landlords throughout the eviction filing process, and mediating stressful hearings to help tenants remain housed.

NOTICE – HMIS Policies and Procedures

CARES of NY, INC HMIS Policies and Procedures PDF