The Homeless Rights Project (HRP) protects and enforces the rights of homeless families and individuals in New York City. We represent groups and individuals who come to us through our toll-free helpline, referrals, and our ongoing outreach at shelter intake sites. The Project also serves as counsel to the Coalition for the Homeless, a nonprofit organization providing advocacy, programs, and direct services for homeless individuals and families in New York City.

The Homeless Rights Project serves as class counsel on a number of landmark impact litigation matters, including Callahan v. Carey, which established the right to shelter in New York City for single homeless men. Callahan laid the groundwork for courts to extend this right to other homeless New Yorkers in Eldredge (single homeless women), McCain/Boston (homeless families with minor children and pregnant women), and the C.W. settlement (runaway and homeless youth). HRP is currently monitoring and enforcing a settlement in Butler v. City of New York, which ensures all New Yorkers with disabilities who need shelter can meaningfully access it.

Most recently, HRP defended the right to shelter when the City tried to modify Callahan such that low-wage and disabled longtime New Yorkers and new arrivals would be ineligible for shelter. If the City had succeeded, it would have led to mass street homelessness. After five months of court-supervised mediation, a settlement was reached, which leaves the original Callahan consent decree intact and ensures a right to shelter for new arrivals (with additional restrictions) for the duration of the City’s emergency order related to the influx of new arrivals.