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For 40 years, MHAS has relied on the generosity of supporters like you to help our clients stay in housing, maintain income supports, obtain necessary mental health care, and overcome barriers to thriving in the community.
Your support has transformed lives
, allowing MHAS to provide free legal services to low-income people with mental health disabilities. We urge you to continue your support in this anniversary year.
JOIN THE 40
FOR
40
CLUB
In recognition of our 40 years of service, we are offering a special opportunity to contribute! Donors who subscribe to our 40 for 40 Club to donate $40 per month will receive a complimentary ticket to our 40th Anniversary Celebration in October.
(Contributions in excess of fair market value of ticket are tax deductible.)
Your support is needed more than ever. Thank you.
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MHAS RESPONDS TO RISE IN HOMELESSNESS
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The latest 2017 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count shows a 23% rise in L.A. County's homeless population. In response, MHAS has joined with Inner City Law Center and homeless services providers to launch a new Benefits Advocacy Program as part of the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative. MHAS will provide training, technical assistance, and quality assurance for advocates in South, Southeast, and West Los Angeles assisting homeless individuals in obtaining SSI and other government benefits. |
MHAS' BeHeLP-Vets CONTINUES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF VETERANS FACING HOMELESSNESS
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Sean*, a young combat veteran with PTSD and traumatic brain injury
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was enrolled in a homelessness prevention program but had lost contact with his case manager due to worsening of his symptoms. He had received an eviction notice from his landlord, and he and his young daughter were at risk of a return to homelessness. Due to his mental health disabilities, Sean neglected to answer the eviction complaint and his landlord obtained a default judgment against him. Skadden Fellow Naomi Sultan represented Sean in court, negotiating a set aside of the default judgment and dismissal of the underlying lawsuit.
Sean and his daughter remain stably housed.
*Name has been changed to protect client privacy.
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EVERY CHILD DESERVES EQUAL TREATMENT UNDER THE LAW
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The lack of mental health parity in health insurance coverage has been a form of discrimination that persons with mental disabilities have long experienced. Federal and state laws now require insurance companies to provide mental health and substance use abuse benefits equal to their physical health benefits. This is especially critical at a time when the need for children's mental health services is so great.
Approximately 1 in 5 children aged 13-18 have or will have a serious mental illness. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in children and young adults aged 10-24.
With the support of the Robert Ellis Simon Foundation, MHAS' Mental Health Parity Project focuses on assuring that parents and caregivers of children with emotional and behavioral challenges, as well as mental health providers, have the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to appeal denials of insurance coverage of mental health and substance use abuse treatment.
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FAIR HOUSING - IT'S THE LAW!
On May 23, MHAS and Friends In Deed co-sponsored a fair housing training for housing providers and social services professionals from around Los Angeles County. A similar training will be offered to consumers on 6/27/2017. Please see Upcoming Events for more information.
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Nearly 90 people gathered at First United Methodist Church of Pasadena, which hosted the event, to learn about how federal and state fair housing laws are designed to protect access to housing for vulnerable populations. Nishanthi Kurukulasuriya, Staff Attorney at MHAS, trained attendees on aspects of fair housing law, including how to ask for reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities, the right to negotiate such accommodations even during the eviction process, emotional support animals, and much more.
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Fair Housing Tip of the Month
Each month, MHAS will email a Fair Housing Tip of the Month with practical information about the fair housing rights of people with disabilities. Topics include: reasonable accommodation; emotional support animals; and threatened evictions.
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Project funded by a grant from the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development Fair Housing Initiatives Program (Grant #FEOI160050-01-01).
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MHAS WELCOMES LAW STUDENTS FOR
OUR
SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Student interns' activities include conducting client intake interviews, drafting SSI appeal briefs, assisting veterans to resolve warrant and ticket issues, and doing research and advocacy in special education and fair housing.
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Students pictured are (left to right) Colleen Smythe (Michigan), Alex Manglinong (USC), Gwen Holst (UCLA), Michael Fried (USC), Madeline Suchard (UCLA), Will Shearer (Pepperdine), April Hua (Harvard), Trent Fujii (Columbia), Tiffany Young (Columbia), and Josh Tate (UCLA).
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Spring Mini-Internships
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We recently concluded our May internship program with five students from law schools around the country. Thank you to our May interns, Jonathan Wan (George Washington), Dale Bellitto (Michigan), Johnny Lok (Kansas), Jennie Zhan (Western State), and Michael Fried (USC).
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Johnny Lok
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Jennie Zhan
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SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG
MHAS attorneys and volunteers have been blogging about their successes and challenges as they advocate for their clients. Go to
MHAS-LA.ORG/BLOG to subscribe to get updates whenever we publish a new post!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY SERVICES | 213-389-2077 | MHAS-LA.ORG
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Mental Health Advocacy Services, Inc. (MHAS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to protect and advance the legal rights of children and adults with mental disabilities. MHAS provides free legal services to approximately 3,000 low-income individuals annually.
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Your support makes our work possible. Please make a donation today. Thank you.
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