VOLS has joined over two dozen of our sister legal services organizations in calling for the New York State Court system to pause recently issued administrative orders which would force pro se tenants to file court papers in their cases electronically. Our clients come from the communities that have been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, they are predominantly low-income, people of color, elderly, disabled, and/or non-English speakers. We believe that the Administrative Order does not account for the challenges faced by these vulnerable populations, and as a result many New Yorkers will have their homes and lives adversely impacted. Tenants in low income communities face technology barriers that make this shift to online filing impossible. The online directions are available in English only and will disadvantage non-English speakers, even if they have access to technology. The Court system should not implement these orders until they take into consideration the health and safety of all New Yorkers.
