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PRESS CLIP: “Queremos calidad de vida”: inquilinos denuncian las malas condiciones que viven en un edificio en Nueva York

Por Univision 41 Nueva York

Inquilinos se unieron para exigir soluciones a las constantes problemáticas en sus viviendas, en las que deben lidiar con la presencia de ratones, cucarachas y la falta de mantenimiento. Además, aseguran que el elevador del edificio presenta fallas, lo que afecta a los adultos mayores y personas con problemas de movilidad. El caso llegó hasta la corte y un juez le impuso un mes de plazo al casero para que complete las reparaciones.

Vea la entrevista por Univision 41 Nueva York: “Queremos calidad de vida”: inquilinos denuncian las malas condiciones que viven en un edificio en Nueva York

PRESS CLIP: ‘Housing is a human right’: Jackson Heights tenants rally against landlord for alleged poor living conditions and management negligence

February 27, 2023
By Carlotta Mohamed

A group of tenants residing in a Jackson Heights building rallied outside of the Queens Civil Court in Jamaica on Monday, Feb. 27, after taking on their landlord in a group repairs case after years of living in alleged unacceptable conditions. (Photo: Right to Counsel Coalition)

 

A group of tenants residing in a Jackson Heights building rallied outside of the Queens Civil Court in Jamaica on Monday, Feb. 27, after taking on their landlord in a group repairs case after years of living in alleged unacceptable conditions. They also highlighted the importance of passing legislation that will guarantee representation for tenants in courts across New York State.

The tenants, who are predominantly low-income people and Latino immigrants from Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras, are receiving support from the The Right to Counsel NYC Coalition (RTCNYC) and Catholic Migration Services’ legal and organizing teams in their case.

In Monday’s hearing, the tenants of the building, located at 94-16 34th Rd., and the landlord agreed on a settlement that will allow the city Housing Preservation Department (HPD) to inspect the building. The tenants agreed to grant access to the landlord to make the repairs. The next court date will be held on Monday, April 3, when any outstanding violations will be reviewed.

Following the court hearing, Tenant Association Leader Wanda Martinez said she was under duress to leave her apartment because of safety issues. She even spoke about one tenant who self-evicted due to the landlord’s failure to maintain secure premises.

Prior to being connected with Catholic Migration Services, Martinez said she felt afraid to stand up to her landlord. She wasn’t fully aware of her rights as a tenant.

“Personally, Sarah Hainbach, staff attorney at Catholic Migration Services, made all the difference,” Martinez said. “She informed us of our rights and removed fear from the equation, so we felt comfortable standing up for our wellbeing.”

In their case against the landlord, the tenants say the building continues to be severely undermaintained, even though the tenants have been paying rent. Over the years, there have been numerous power outages in individual units. Tearing up the walls to work on the wiring left dust flying around apartments for over a year, leading multiple tenants to develop asthma and other health complications. There have also been problems with the elevator, rodents, and heat.

On Feb. 23, one tenant was without heat for over 11 hours, according to their Heat Seek device. For some of the tenants in the building, it has been nearly impossible to reach their super for maintenance or cleaning needs, and the tenants have resorted to maintaining the building themselves.

There have also been security issues that the landlord has failed to address. There have been numerous reports of people who don’t live in the building (and weren’t invited as guests) getting inside the building, and the mailboxes, which were once broken into, have still not been repaired.

“They’re paying the rent. They’re upholding their end of the bargain, and all they want is safe living conditions,” said Bryan Fotino, an organizer with Catholic Migration Services.

The tenants of 94-16 34th Rd. are not alone in facing unacceptable living conditions.

In 2021, New Yorkers in approximately 8% of privately owned rental units in New York City suffered under serious housing code violations–HPD’s “class C” violations that are “immediately hazardous” and violate a tenant’s legal right to safe and livable conditions.

Landlords, code enforcement, city agencies and politicians allow these conditions to persist along racial lines: more than twice as many Black and Latinx New Yorkers live in units with three or more maintenance deficiencies than Asian or white New Yorkers, according to the Equity NYC Report.

The Jackson Heights tenants uplifted their case to highlight the importance of passing legislation, Statewide Right to Counsel (A1493-Joyner/S2721-May), that will address the imbalance of power between landlords and tenants in New York State’s housing courts by establishing the Right to Counsel for all New Yorkers in all types of cases that could result in eviction–including affirmative repairs cases.

The legislation was introduced by Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner (D-Bronx) and Senator Rachel May (D-Syracuse).

Under the proposed Statewide Right To Counsel bill, tenants across New York State would have the right to an attorney if their landlord violates their right to a liveable home. Many tenants, often uncounted in official eviction statistics, self-evict each year because of threats to their health and safety they experience at home. Without an attorney, a tenant’s legal right to seek justice in these cases is unattainable.

Read the original story in The Jackson Heights Post: ‘Housing is a human right’: Jackson Heights tenants rally against landlord for alleged poor living conditions and management negligence

Immigration Update Pertaining to Haiti and Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

UPDATE AS OF: Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Peze la pou tradui nan Kreyol Ayisyen

What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?  

  • Temporary Protected Status is an immigration status available to some people from countries the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated as “unsafe to return to” for various reasons, such as civil war, political unrest, natural disaster, etc. 
  • TPS is a temporary immigration status that may be renewed for as long as the TPS designation is in place. A TPS designation may be made for 6, 12 or 18 months at a time. Nationals of the country designated for TPS must register during that time.  
  • At least 60 days before the expiration of the TPS designation, DHS must decide whether to extend or terminate the designation, based on conditions in that particular country. If TPS is extended, those who were granted TPS must re-register under that extension. Some countries have been designated for TPS for decades. 
  • DHS may re-designate a country for TPS based on new events that make that country unsafe to return to. 
  • If you are granted TPS, you: 
  • May not be deported from the United States; 
  • Can obtain an employment authorization card and a Social Security number; 
  • Can obtain permission to travel abroad and return to the United States. 
  • To be eligible for TPS, you must meet the following requirements: 
  • Be a national of the designated country (or a person without nationality who last habitually resided in that country); 
  • Have been continuously physically present in the United States since a specified date; 
  • Have continuously maintained a residence in the United States since a specified date; 
  • File during the initial registration or re-registration period. 

Has Haiti been designated for TPS?  

  • Haiti was originally designated for TPS after the January 10, 2010 earthquake and redesignated on May 19, 2011. Haitian nationals who were continuously physically present in the United States since January 12, 2011 were eligible to apply. This original designation and redesignation have been extended for years. On November 10, 2022, it was announced that Haitians granted TPS under the original designation and the May 19, 2011 redesignation, and who have timely re-registered under every subsequent extension, will have their TPS status automatically extended through June 30, 2024. 
  • Haiti was redesignated for TPS on August 3, 2021 for 18 months, until February 3, 2023. Haitian nationals who have been continuously residing in the United States since July 29, 2021 are eligible to apply and must do so before February 3, 2023. On December 5, 2022, DHS announced that this designation will be extended for 18 months, until August 3, 2024. Those granted TPS under the 2021 designation must re-register from January 26 to March 27, 2023 in order to maintain TPS and work authorization. 
  • On December 5, 2022, DHS also announced that Haiti will be redesignated for TPS for 18 months, until August 3, 2024. Haitian nationals who have been continuously residing in the United States since November 6, 2022 are eligible to apply from January 26, 2023 through  August 3, 2024.  

When can I apply for TPS?  

  • If you have been granted TPS status under the 2011 designation and have maintained that status, you do not have to re-register for TPS because it has been automatically extended through June 30, 2024. However, as that designation was sought to be terminated by the Trump Administration and that termination is being litigated in court, you may want to register under the 2021 or the 2022 redesignations, which are not subject to litigation. To register under the 2021 redesignation, you must prove that you have been continuously residing in the United States since July 29, 2021 and you must apply before February 3, 2023. To register under the 2022 redesignation, you must prove that you have been continuously residing in the United States since November 6, 2022 and you must apply between January 26, 2023 and August 3, 2024. 
  • If you have been granted TPS under the 2021 redesignation, you will have to re-register for TPS during a 60 day period, from January 26 through March 27, 2023 in order to extend your TPS and work permit to August 3, 2024.  
  • Work permits with the expiration date of February 3, 2023 are automatically extended through February 3, 2024.   
  • If your initial application for TPS under the 2021 redesignation is still pending on February 3, 2023, you do not need to file another application to re-register. 
  • If you have continuously resided in the United States since November 6, 2022, you can register for TPS from January 26, 2023 until August 3, 2024 under the 2022 redesignation.   

How do I apply?  

We recommend consulting a lawyer to determine if you are eligible to apply for TPS and to learn more about what documents you need to include in your application.   

For more information about TPS and referrals to free legal service providers, you can call the New Americans Hotline at (800) 566-7636, Monday through Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. 

For additional information, you can also contact Action NYC at (800) 354-0365 – Monday through Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. – to connect with City-funded, free and safe immigration legal help. 

Download this update as a PDF: Immigration Update Pertaining to Haiti and Temporary Protected Status (TPS)


About Catholic Migration Services: For over 50 years, Catholic Migration Services, a not-for-profit legal services provider affiliated with Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, has been providing quality legal services to low-income individuals in New York City in the areas of immigration, housing, and employment laws. For more information, please visit www.catholicmigration.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @CMSBQ.

Senior Development Associate

 

 

 

 

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: SENIOR DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE 

Catholic Migration Services (“CMS”) is hiring a Senior Development Associate to work with our Development team. CMS, an affiliated agency of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, provides high quality free legal services, community education, and advocacy for low-income immigrants regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, or immigration status. CMS assists individuals with their immigration, housing, and employment legal needs. CMS is committed to “welcoming the stranger in our midst” by serving and working alongside underserved immigrant communities to advance equality and social justice in an ever-changing landscape.
The Senior Development Associate will be responsible for implementing Catholic Migration Services’ individual, corporate and foundation fundraising strategies under the supervision and guidance of the Director of Development.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Conduct outreach to individual and corporate donors through targeted mailings, e-blasts and newsletters, and assisting with CMS’ website;
• Research new corporate, foundation and government funding sources and evaluate Requests for Proposals;
• Coordinate CMS fundraising events and other donor engagement activities;
• Maintain updated and organized grant files and records including tracking donations;
• Assist the Development Director with document compilation and submission for grant applications and contract registrations; and
• Assist in other development related functions that may further the mission of CMS.

Qualifications:
• Undergraduate degree;
• At least 4 years of experience in frontline fundraising, non-profit donor relationship management, and/or sales;
• A compelling passion for Catholic Migration’s mission and programs;
• Exceptional persuasive writing, proofreading, and editing skills;
• Strong and flexible time management and organizational skills; and
• Ability to plan and balance multiple projects and priorities in a dynamic environment, with both long- and short-term deadlines.

Diversity and Non-Discrimination Policy:
Catholic Migration Services values workplace diversity and welcomes applicants and employees of all backgrounds. CMS strives to create a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment for all staff. CMS makes all employment decisions without regard to any applicant’s or employee’s protected characteristics, including their race, religion, color, national origin, immigration status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, arrest conviction record, or marital status.

Salary and Benefits:
Salary is on a union scale based on years of experience. The salary range for a Senior Development Associate with four to seven years of experience is $58,442-$62,019. CMS offers a competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance coverage, transit benefits, Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and a 403(b) retirement plan including employer contribution.  We offer generous leave policies, including four weeks paid vacation, four paid personal days, fourteen paid holidays and the week off between Christmas and New Year’s Days, inclusive.

Union Representation:
This is a bargaining unit position represented for collective bargaining purposes by the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, UAW, Local 2325.

Application Instructions:
Applications will be accepted immediately and will be considered on a rolling basis. Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, a list of two professional references and a writing sample to: Kim Robinson, Director of Development at krobinson@catholicmigration.org.


Download this job announcement as a pdf: Senior Development Associate

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: PARALEGAL, PRO SE PLUS PROJECT

 

 

 

 

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: PARALEGAL, PRO SE PLUS PROJECT

Catholic Migration Services (“CMS”), an affiliated agency of Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens, provides high quality free legal services, community education, and advocacy for low- income immigrants residing in Brooklyn and Queens, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, or immigration status. CMS assists individuals with their immigration, housing, and employment legal needs. CMS is committed to “welcoming the stranger in our midst” by serving and working alongside underserved immigrant communities to advance equality and social justice in an ever-changing landscape.

The Paralegal will work in the Brooklyn office with our new Pro Se Plus Project (PSPP), a collaborative initiative of several non-profit legal service providers that was developed to respond to the needs of newly arrived migrants from the southern border. PSPP will provide community legal orientations, trainings for advocates, legal screenings, and pro se assistance with various immigration applications, both on a rolling basis and through scalable clinics and workshops. This is a unique opportunity for someone passionate about immigrant rights, energized to empower immigrant communities, and eager to participate in the development of an innovative project.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Assist in planning, developing and coordinating community legal orientations, volunteer trainings, and clinics;
  • Conduct screenings, intake, and information collection regarding eligibility for immigration benefits;
  • Prepare a variety of immigration applications and motions, on a pro se basis, including changes of address, motions to change venue, applications for asylum and work permits, etc.; file such motions and applications with the immigration court, ICE and USCIS;
  • Assist with Spanish/English translation of documents and oral interpretation;
  • Assist in training, onboarding, tracking and maintaining communication with PSPP volunteers;
  • Maintain physical and electronic files for program participants; assist with internal and external reporting;
  • Participate in PSPP meetings with other members of the collaborative (Central American Legal Assistance, UnLocal, New York Legal Assistance Group, MASA, and Venezuelan Immigrant Aid);
  • Participate in on-site and virtual PSPP events, including on evenings and weekends, such as legal clinics, educational events, or workshops held throughout the five boroughs; and
  • Provide additional support as needed.

Qualifications:

  • Required
    • Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree;
    • Fluency in written and oral Spanish;
    • Experience working with immigrant communities of color, including those who have experienced trauma;
    • Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently or as part of a team;
    • Strong, clear, and effective communication skills;
    • Excellent organizational and time management skills;
    • Meticulous attention to detail;
    • Excellent computer skills;
    • Availability to travel throughout the five boroughs.
  • Preferred, but not required:
    • Prior or related immigration experience;
    • Demonstrated interest in public interest work and social justice for underserved populations.

Diversity and Non-Discrimination Policy:
Catholic Migration Services values workplace diversity and welcomes applicants and employees of all backgrounds. CMS strives to create a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment for all staff. CMS makes all employment decisions without regard to any applicant’s or employee’s protected characteristics, including their race, religion, color, national origin, immigration status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, arrest conviction record, or marital status.

Salary and Benefits:
Salary is on a union scale based on years of experience. The salary range for an immigration paralegal with two to six years of experience is $49,725 to $55,080. CMS offers a very competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance coverage, transit benefits, Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and a 403(b) retirement plan including employer contribution. We offer generous leave policies, including four weeks paid vacation, four paid personal days, fourteen paid holidays and the week off between Christmas and New Year’s Days, inclusive.

Union Representation:
This is a bargaining unit position represented for collective bargaining purposes by the
Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, UAW, Local 2325.

Application Instructions:
Applications will be accepted immediately and will be considered on a rolling basis. Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, list of two professional references and a writing sample to: Raluca Oncioiu, Managing Attorney at roncioiu@catholicmigration.org. Please include “PSPP Paralegal” in the subject line.