Litigation

From our landmark victory in Callahan v. Carey more than twenty years ago, the Coalition's groundbreaking litigation has protected essential rights for homeless New Yorkers - including the right to shelter and the right to vote - and sought protections for people living with mental illness and HIV/AIDS.

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The Legacy of Callahan

The 1981 consent decree in Callahan v. Carey established the legal right to shelter for homeless individuals in New York City. Download documents related to the right to shelter:

• Mayor's homeless plan won't work
  New York Daily News
  February 26, 2003

• Bloomberg Pursues Plan to Eject Homeless Men and Women from Shelters to the Streets
  

• Right to Shelter Fact vs Fiction (pdf)

• Shelter Termination Regulation (18 NYCRR 352.35 pdf)

• Callahan Appellate Brief 2003 (pdf).

• 2000 Callahan Decision (pdf)

• Special Report: City Plans Appeal of Court Decision that Protects Right to Shelter Summer 2002 (pdf)

• History of the Right to Shelter (pdf)

• Right to Shelter Timeline (pdf)

• The Callahan Consent Decree (pdf)

• 1979 Callahan Decision (pdf)

Other Coalition Litigation

For more than twenty years the Coalition for the Homeless has sought to protect homeless New Yorkers through groundbreaking litigation. Download Coalition Litigation Summary (pdf).

Volunteer Opportunities

Shelter Monitors
Pursuant to the Callahan consent decree, the Coalition for the Homeless was designated by the court as shelter monitor to ensure that applicable standards are enforced in municipal shelters. Volunteers assist Coalition staff in monitoring and documenting shelter conditions. Shelter monitors spend from 5 to 15 hours each month observing the physical conditions in shelters, interviewing shelter residents to assess services, and writing reports. Volunteers must attend an orientation and training session at the Coalition. Experienced shelter monitors accompany new volunteers for at least two shelter visits. Volunteers interested in becoming shelter monitors may call 212.964.5900 ext. 177.