Empire Justice Center

THE EMPIRE JUSTICE CENTER IS A STATEWIDE MULTI-ISSUE, MULTI-STRATEGYORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON CHANGING THE SYSTEMS WITHIN WHICH POOR AND LOWINCOME FAMILIES LIVE. EMPIRE JUSTICE PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSEIN NEED, OFFERS TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS,AND WORKS TO IMPROVE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR THOSE IN NEED.

CRIME VICTIMS AND DV: EMPIRE JUSTICE LEADS THE NEW YORK CRIME VICTIMS LEGAL NETWORK, A PARTNERSHIP OF CIVIL LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS AND VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT CONNECTS VICTIMS OF CRIME WITH INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE THROUGH ITS MULTIFACETED ONLINE TOOL (NY CRIME VICTIMS LEGAL HELP). IN 2022, OVER 17,000 PEOPLE USED THIS TOOL TO ACCESS KNOW-YOUR-RIGHTS RESOURCES AND CONNECT WITH AGENCIES WHO COULD HELP THEM. IN ADDITION TO LEADING THE NETWORK, EMPIRE JUSTICE IS ALSO A DIRECT SERVICES PARTNER, PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES TO MORE THAN 200 CRIME VICTIMS IN MONROE COUNTY, THE HUDSON VALLEY AND ON LONG ISLAND. AN EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ATTORNEY PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO LEGAL SERVICES AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES STATEWIDE THROUGH STATE FUNDING, REACHING ALMOST 1,500 ADVOCATES IN 2022.

CFH AND IMMIGRATION: SINCE 2012 EMPIRE JUSTICE HAS MANAGED MORE THAN 60 CONTRACTS WITH LEGAL SERVICES AND HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCIES WORKING IN FORECLOSURE PREVENTION OUTSIDE OF NYC, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING EXTENSIVE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AS PART OF THE NYS OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S HOMEOWNERSHIP PROTECTION PROGRAM (HOPP). IN 2022, EMPIRE JUSTICE'S HOPP TEAM PROVIDED A DOZEN TRAININGS TO ALMOST 500 ADVOCATES. AS A DIRECT SERVICES PROVIDER WORKING IN FORECLOSURE WITH FUNDING THROUGH HOPP, UNITED WAY AND THE CITY OF ROCHESTER, EMPIRE JUSTICE HELPED MORE THAN 130 MONROE COUNTY FAMILIES FACING FORECLOSURE, AVOIDING OR DELAYING LOSS OF THE HOME IN TWO THIRDS OF ALL CASES. WITH STATE AND PRIVATE FOUNDATION FUNDING, HOUSING ADVOCATES IN ROCHESTER WORK UNDER THE TENANT DEFENSE PROJECT TO IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS FOR TENANTS FACING EVICTION WITH TELESCA CENTER FOR JUSTICE PARTNERS, THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF ROCHESTER, LAWNY AND JUSTCAUSE. ON LONG ISLAND, ADVOCATES HELPED MORE THAN 100 UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS FACING EVICTION IN 2022 WITH EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FUNDING THROUGH THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE (OTDA), THROUGH A SUBCONTRACT WITH NASSAU SUFFOLK LAW SERVCIES, PROVIDING A CRUCIAL SERVICE THAT THEY AND OTHER LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION FUNDED AGENCIES CANNOT DUE TO FUNDER RESTRICTIONS. EMPIRE JUSTICE IS ALSO CONTRACTED BY THE COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY TO BRING THE EDUCATION DEBT CONSUMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EDCAP) TO THE CAPITAL REGION, ENGAGING IN EXTENSIVE OUTREACH AND PROVIDING TAILORED ASSISTANCE TO 51 CLIENTS ON THEIR STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT OPTIONS IN 2022. WITH STATE FUNDING, AN ATTORNEY IN WESTCHESTER REPRESENTS IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SEEKING REPRESENTATION IN FAMILY MATTERS.

PUBLIC BENEFITS AND DAP: EMPIRE JUSTICE CONTRACTS WITH NEW YORK STATE TO PROVIDE TRAINING, SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO DISABILITY ADVOCACY PROGRAM (DAP) GRANTEES, DELIVERING 40 TRAININGS AND EDUCATING MORE THAN 2,000 STATEWIDE DAP ADVOCATES IN 2022. AS A DAP GRANTEE, EMPIRE JUSTICE PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE IN WESTERN NEW YORK WHO HAVE BEEN INAPPROPRIATELY DENIED OR TERMINATED FROM FEDERAL DISABILITY AND SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAMS, RETURNING $382K TO THE STATE IN INTERIM ASSISTANCE IN 2022. PUBLIC BENEFITS ADVOCATES HELP NEW YORK FAMILIES ACCESS FOOD STAMPS AND CASH ASSISTANCE, AND NAVIGATE THE FAIR HEARING PROCESS TO CHALLENGE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR BENEFITS. AS A RESULT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR LAW AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE, EMPIRE JUSTICE UPHELD THE RIGHTS OF 22,000 SUFFOLK COUNTY RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR OR RECEIVED PUBLIC BENEFITS. PUBLIC BENEFITS STAFF ARE SUPPORTED BY OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION (OCA) FUNDING.