Legal Clinic for the Homeless

Legal Clinic for the Homeless
To get help from the Legal Clinic for the Homeless, call 212-626-7383.
Overview
The City Bar Justice Center’s Legal Clinic for the Homeless (LCH) team, with the support of volunteer attorneys, provides advice, advocacy, and representation to residents of homeless shelters on issues related to the receipt of public benefits and other legal challenges that New Yorkers struggling with poverty face. LCH partners with shelter providers and law firms, corporate legal departments, and other entities to bring needed legal services to people living in New York City shelters.
More than 50,000 people, including over 15,000 children, sleep in the city’s homeless shelters each night. Of those experiencing homelessness in New York City, the overwhelming majority come from communities historically deprived of equal access to stable housing and employment due to structural racism. These historic socioeconomic factors, combined with today’s high cost of housing, food, transportation, clothing, Wi-Fi, cell service, and other necessities create barriers for individuals residing in shelters to achieve stability and independence. LCH primarily assists families experiencing homelessness and those who have exited shelter to secure state and federal public benefits that are vital tools in poverty prevention and alleviation. LCH advocates also contest denials of Cash Assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and shelter, public housing, and rental assistance supplements. LCH aims to help families in shelter and those who have left shelter on the road to economic and housing stability.
Lisa Pearlstein directs the Legal Clinic for the Homeless and Mariana Monahan Negron is the program coordinator.
Not sure if this is the right project? Contact our free Legal Hotline at 212-626-7383.
Latest news
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August 31, 2022
New York Expands Access to Child Care for Families with Limited Income
Lily Gottlieb was the summer intern of the Legal Clinic for the Homeless. In April 2022, New York Governor Kathy
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December 21, 2021
New CBJC Pro Bono “Recoupment Project” Brings Thousands of Dollars in Relief to Family with Mounting Utility Bills
Lisa Pearlstein is the Project Director for the Legal Clinic for the Homeless. *Disclaimer: Please note that pse
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December 20, 2021
Up to $10,000 in Benefits Available Now for Eligible Households with Utility Arrears
Lisa Pearlstein is the project director for the Legal Clinic for the Homeless. Under the federal American Rescue
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Upcoming events
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Fresh Start Financial Education: Gaining a Fresh Start After Bankruptcy
The Consumer Bankruptcy Project will hold a free virtual webinar covering topics such as updating your credit report, tips on rebuilding credit, and consumer rights. Please register here.
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Educación Financiera de Nuevo Comienzo: Obtener un Nuevo Comienzo Después de la Bancarrota
El Proyecto de Bancarrota del Consumidor llevará a cabo un seminario web virtual gratuito que cubrirá temas como la actualización de su informe de crédito, consejos sobre cómo reconstruir el crédito y los derechos del consumidor. Por favor regístrese aquí.