November 30th, 2022 View as Webpage

ADVOCACY TIPS FOR NOVEMBER

ONE OTDA (Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance) is currently processing eligible ERAP (Emergency Rental Assistance Program) applications submitted through September 30, 2022. This means that if a tenant submitted an ERAP application through OTDA before September 30, 2022 then OTDA will be denying or approving the application soon. Although some towns (such as Town of Brookhaven) have spent their allocated ERAP funds, residents in all towns can still apply for ERAP through the OTDA portal. Although the application may not be approved due to lack of funds, any eviction proceeding should be stayed if there is a pending ERAP application until there is a final decision including going through any appeals process. Town of Islip, Hempstead, and Oyster Bay have a separate portal where residents can apply. The Town of Oyster Bay's ERAP program has reopened! For the New York State Program, applications from subsidized housing tenants whose rent is limited to a certain percentage of income (e.g. section 8) are not currently able to be paid. State law requires that these applications be paid after all other eligible applicants have been reviewed and paid. Therefore, at this time, none of the subsidized housing applications can be paid regardless of the date their application was submitted. For the Oyster Bay and Hempstead programs, subsidized housing tenants may apply but only to the extent of the tenant paid portion of the rent and utilities that remains after adjustment by the subsidy provider for changes to household income. Long Island residents with rental and utility arrears should apply now for assistance before the funds run out. If you receive a decision on your ERAP application that you disagree with, make sure to appeal within thirty (30) days by calling 844-691-7368 or filling out the OTDA online application form. To apply and determine eligibility, visit the OTDA website. Residents of Hempstead ERAP program is currently not accepting applications. The portal will reopen December 9th at 9:00 am! For more information, call 631-435-4710 or email hempsteaderap@lihp.org. Residents of Islip Apply through Town of Islip: Community Development Agency (islipcda.org). Questions? Call (631) 647-5683 or email erap@islipcda.org Residents of Oyster Bay ERAP Program is currently accepting applications. For more information, visit Town of Oyster Bay Emergency Rental Assistance Program (lihp.org). Questions? Call (631) 435-4710 or email oysterbayerap@lihp.org. Other Long Island Towns Apply through the New York State website: Emergency Rental Assistance Program OTDA (ny.gov). OTHER RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS Suffolk and Nassau County DSS- The Department of Social Services has programs available to provide help with receiving shelter or rent arrears to prevent homelessness. Please visit https://otda.ny.gov/workingfamilies/dss.asp to find the contact information for your local Department of Social Services. Nassau Suffolk Law Services, in partnership with Empire Justice Center, can now assist Nassau and Suffolk residential tenants with housing-related legal problems (like eviction) and a household income of up to 80% of the Area Median Income. Services are available through this partnership regardless of immigration status. Please call the office closest to you to see if you are eligible for legal services. Interpreters are available. Suffolk residents west of 112 can call 631-232-2400 and east of 112 can call 631-369-1112. Nassau residents can call 516-292-8100. Feel free to share our flyer in both English, Spanish, and Haitian-Creole

TWO The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) started its new program year on October 1, 2022. LIHWAP helps low income households pay the cost of water and sewer services. The program can assist households who have past due bills (arrears) for water and/or sewer services. As the new program year has begun, households may be eligible for additional assistance even if they have already received a LIHWAP benefit in the past. For more information, please visit OTDA's website. NSLS' Public Benefits Unit provides legal assistance to persons who experience problems with public benefits programs which are administered by the local Departments of Social Services, including: Welfare (TANF and Safety Net) Medicaid Food Stamps (SNAP) Child Care Assistance HEAP Emergency shelter for the homeless Unemployment insurance appeals and overpayments Other emergency assistance programs We also assist low-income households in establishing Supplemental Needs Trusts to eliminate the Medicaid spend-down and assist homeless families to obtain rent supplements from DSS to enable families to leave the shelters or retain permanent housing. Suffolk residents west of 112 can call 631-232-2400 and east of 112 can call 631-369-1112. Nassau residents can call 516-292-8100.

THREE Did you know more than 50,000 New Yorkers have been sued for medical debt over the past five years! Governor Hochul signed legislation on November 23, 2022 that protects New York patients facing steep medical bills that can lead to wage garnishment or liens against their property. Previously, hospitals or health care providers had been able to impose and enforce liens on a patient's primary residence to satisfy a judgment in a medical debt lawsuit, leading to housing instability and devastating financial consequences for vulnerable New Yorkers. Effective immediately, health care providers who have judgments against an individual for medical debt are no longer allowed to place a lien on an individual's primary residence or garnish an individual's wages to collect on medical debt. NSLS's Consumer Debt Legal Assistance Project provides legal assistance to persons who are experiencing consumer debt problems, especially in the matters of medical and credit card debt. Services may include litigation defense and representation, phone advice, and/or referral for further services, including bankruptcy where appropriate. Suffolk residents west of 112 can call 631-232-2400 and east of 112 can call 631-369-1112. Nassau residents can call 516-292-8100.

FOUR Medicare open enrollment ends on December 7th. As you or a friend are reviewing and comparing different options to select an appropriate plan, know that scammers might take advantage of this period to impersonate Medicare agents. To learn more about how to spot scams, please visit the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) website.

NSLS IN THE COMMUNITY

On October 24th, an Open House Legal Clinic was held at the Nassau County Bar Association DOMUS building, in celebration of National Pro Bono Week. The event, chaired by the Access to Justice Committee of the Bar Association, Nassau Suffolk Law Services (with staff attorney Reisa Brafman), and The Safe Center LI, served local community members with legal questions; over 100 people attended the event and received free legal consultations from volunteer attorneys in their areas of expertise. The event was very well received by both the attendees and the volunteers, and the Committee hopes to coordinate a similar event in the Spring of 2023. On November 3rd, Nassau Suffolk Law Services participated in the Suffolk County Bar Association's Veterans' Clinic where veterans were able to meet with attorneys, non-profit organizations, and government agencies to ask questions or get advice about any issue they were facing as a veteran. Present were Jacob Buckheit (Paralegal, Veterans' Rights Project), Sharon Campo, Esq. (Supervising Attorney), Cathy Lucidi (Director of Community Relations), Carolyn McQuade, Esq. (Staff Attorney, Suffolk Pro Bono Project), and Elijah Vaillancourt (Law Graduate, Veterans' Rights Project). On November 16th, Supervising Attorney Sharon Campo presented to the Suffolk County Women's Bar Association about the services NSLS provides to Long Island and the opportunities for attorneys wishing to volunteer. Attorney Campo was joined by Suffolk County Pro Bono Project coordinator, Carolyn McQuade, Esq., and Community Legal Help Project Coordinator, Rashika Hettiarachchi, Esq. On November 17th, Nassau Suffolk Law Services Staff Attorneys Roberta Scoll, Esq (Volunteer Lawyers Project) and Amanda Davis, Esq. (ICAN) were celebrated as Long Island Business News 2022 Leadership in Law Honorees. The Leadership in Law Awards recognizes dedicated individuals whose leadership, both in the legal profession and in the community, has had a positive impact on Long Island. Congratulations to both Roberta and Amanda!

LSCA TRAININGS

PREVIOUS LSCA TRAININGS The Family Law Basics for Advocates LSCA training was held virtually by Supervising Attorney Larry Tuthill, Domestic Violence Unit Staff Attorney Kayla Schunk, and Family Law Unit Staff Attorney Vicki Davies on October 27th, 2022. This presentation gave an overview of the basics of common family law topics including custody, support and orders of protection and where you or your clients can go for more help. Please register to view the training. The Navigating Special Education in New York LSCA training was held virtually by Danielle Leake, Education and Disability Rights Unit Staff Attorney, on September 8th, 2022. Ms. Leake gave a general overview of both federal and state special education laws, as well as provide a step-by-step guide on how to navigate and secure special education services for students with disabilities in New York State. Please register to view the training. The Role of An Advocate LSCA training was held virtually by Cathy Lucidi, Director of Community Relations on June 9th, 2022 providing tools and tips on how to be the most effective advocate you can be. Please register to view the training. The Accessing Healthcare and Preventing Medical Debt LSCA training was held virtually on April 28th, 2022 by Nassau Suffolk Law Services Supervising Attorney Sharon Campo and the Health and Welfare Council. The presentation discussed how to apply for healthcare (including Medicaid), what to do when you are denied health insurance or your health insurance denies a claim, the new Surprise Bill Law, and how to handle medical debt collection. Please register to view the training. The Post Foreclosure Options LSCA training was held virtually by Kathy Maher, Foreclosure Unit Staff Attorney, on March 31st, 2022. Ms. Maher discussed actions to take if you are assisting someone who is at risk of foreclosure or is already in court for a foreclosure. This presentation is appropriate for attorneys and advocates alike. Due to technical difficulties, a recording of this presentation is not available. Please register to download the presentation slides.

If your organization is interested in having Nassau Suffolk Law Services present on what services we provide or a specific area of law, please contact the Legal Support Center for Advocates at 631-232-2400 extension 3324 (advocates only).

UPCOMING CLINICS, EVENTS, AND LEGAL HELP RESOURCES

Upcoming Community Legal Help Project dates Our Community Legal Help Project will be at the Brentwood Public Library and the Middle Country Public Library (Selden) on the below dates. Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome. To make an appointment or for other legal issues not listed, please call our hotline at (631) 822-3272. For December at the Brentwood Public Library (34 Second Ave., Brentwood, NY 11717): Tuesday 12/6/22 2-5pm Attorney(s) will be available to see Suffolk residents on Family, Immigration, Matrimonial, or Criminal related legal issues. Tuesday 12/13/22 2-5pm-   Attorney will be available to see Suffolk residents over 60 in the areas of housing and utility issues, income/nutrition/benefits, health/long term care and advanced care directives, and consumer related legal issues.  Attorney(s) will be available to see Suffolk residents on Family, Criminal, or bankruptcy related legal issues.  Tuesday 12/20/22 2-5pm-  Attorney(s) will be available to see Suffolk residents on Family, Immigration, Matrimonial, or Criminal related legal issues. For December at Middle Country Public Library in Selden (575 Middle Country Rd., Selden, NY 11720): Thursday 12/8/22 3-6pm Attorney(s) will be available to see Suffolk residents on Family, Criminal, bankruptcy and mortgage foreclosure related legal questions. Thursday 12/15/22 3-6pm Attorney will be available to see Suffolk residents on Family or Criminal related legal issues.  Attorney will be available to see Suffolk residents over 60 in the areas of housing and utility issues, income/nutrition/benefits, health/long term care and advanced care directives, and consumer related legal issues.  For more information, please see our flyer. The Community Legal Help Project is seeking volunteer attorneys with experience in matrimonial, family, and immigration law to give half hour consultations during our library hours. If you are interested, please email us today!

NSLS OPEN POSITIONS

Are you looking to give back to the community while also getting paid? We would love to have you apply for our currently open attorney and paralegal positions. To find out more, go to our website.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

A little more about our volunteer needs:

Volunteer attorneys needed to assist pro bono clients with direct client representation in family, bankruptcy, matrimonial, and elder law Provide half-hour legal consultations with our Suffolk County library project in immigration, matrimonial, family, landlord/tenant, elder, consumer, and more

Law Student / Paralegal/ Pre-law undergraduate internships Assist Law Services Staff with intake, case analysis, case referral, and recruitment of volunteer attorneys Nassau County Volunteer Landlord/ Tenant Attorney for a Day

GIVE AND MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE FOR LONGISLANDERS IN NEED

Thank you to all of our 2022 Giving Tuesday supporters! Our Giving Tuesday Campaign running through the end of the year! This year we reach out to all of our supporters in hopes that you will continue to support Law Services, the largest provider of free civil legal assistance to Long Islanders in need. The past few years have shown us when we help, respect and support each other, together we can accomplish anything, and our Long Island communities will once again thrive.  For many Long Islanders, having a stable income, permanent housing, access to healthcare, and, most importantly, access to equal justice under law, gives them the support they need to begin to rebuild their lives.    This year we are asking you to consider signing up for monthly recurring donations in the amount of $30 or more and make a significant impact to Long Islanders most vulnerable residents and families. Your continued support can really make a difference to your neighbors in need by assisting Nassau Suffolk Law Services in “Doing What’s Legally Possible to Create a Just World.”  We are Long Islanders helping Long Islanders.  Though Giving Tuesday is today, November 29, 2022,  we are running the campaign through the end of the year.  We will hold our standard Giving Tuesday Campaign along with our new Lawyer Led Campaign*.  We are asking all law firms to have their associates recruit monthly recurring donors from their colleagues in the amount of $30 or more.  A friendly competition within your law firm and among other law firms.  All law firms who participate will be acknowledged and listed on our website. The law firm who has the most colleagues sign up for monthly recurring donations will be acknowledged as our Gold Medal Support, the second highest as our Silver Medal Supporter, and the third highest as our Bronze Medal Supporter. Framed appreciation certificates will be given to each of the associates who participate as well as the firm they are employed with. All monthly recurring donors will receive a beautiful canvas tote.  For more information on how your law firm can participate in the lawyer led campaign, please contact Cathy Lucidi, Director of Community Relations at 631 232-2400 Ext. 3324.  Support Law Services Programs

NASSAU SUFFOLK LAW SERVICES 631 232-2400 | 516 292-8100 | 631 369-1112 www.nslawservices.org Was this email forwarded to you? Stay up to date all year round by signing up for our Legal Lessons.

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