| Protecting the Rights of the Most
Vulnerable
Legal Services and Client Advocacy
| |
| |
73%
of all of GMHC's new clients last year needed legal assistance.
|
|
| |
Working both independently and in seamless partnership with each
other, GMHC's Legal Services and Client Advocacy units provide a
continuum of practical and concrete services that are critical to
obtaining and maintaining access to food, housing, medical care,
health insurance, public benefits, and employment. This last fiscal
year, in response to the large influx of new clients, both programs
expanded to become available at eight offsite locations in the Bronx,
Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. Both in the community and here
at the agency, GMHC clients receive professional legal services
tailored to the needs of HIV-infected and impacted individuals.
Immigration
 Since
1985, GMHC has been one of the only places an HIV-positive documented
or undocumented immigrant could receive legal assistance specific
to their needs — primarily with issues around legalization/naturalization,
HIV waivers, political asylum, and public benefits. In addition
to one-on-one services, GMHC's Immigration Legal Team hosts a monthly
Immigration and HIV Forum open to all HIV-positive immigrants, their
families, case workers, caregivers, and all those interested in
learning about the role of HIV and immigration, regardless of their
immigration status. All of our immigrant clients help direct and
inform our services via the Immigration Client Advisory Group, a
grassroots collective made up of immigrant clients who utilize the
services of GMHC.
September 11, 2001
GMHC's Immigration Team continues to be engaged in advocacy to
protect the lives of our clients in the increasingly hostile post-September
11 political and economic environment. In the nine months following
the events of September 11, GMHC's immigrant clients reported enormous
difficulty in navigating basic systems — like health care and other
public benefits — that most people take for granted. For example,
an increase in photo identification requirements has made it nearly
impossible for many of our undocumented immigrant clients to access
health care centers, clinics, and to travel. In response to these
complex needs, GMHC provided extensive training to 30 volunteer
lawyers entitled, "Recent Developments in HIV-positive Immigration
Asylum and Petitioned Cases: Consequences in Light of September
11." We also advised the Justice Department on problematic
issues in the USA PATRIOT Act and provided training for Immigration
and Naturalization Service Asylum Officers to sensitize them to
the particular needs of HIV-positive immigrants. At the request
of the New York Bar Association, we have been mentoring attorneys
assisting families and loved ones of those who died in the World
Trade Center.
Poverty
GMHC's Client Advocacy unit provides critical assistance and counseling
to New York's large number of uninsured HIV-positive people and
advocates on behalf of many of New York City's extremely vulnerable
and impoverished communities to ensure that they have adequate medical
coverage, including public and private health insurance, food stamps,
and home-care.
Enhancing our clients' autonomy is critical to stabilizing lives.
One way GMHC achieves this is by connecting people to vital information
about seeking employment. For example, clients who are interested
in returning to work or developing skills to seek employment opportunities
turn to GMHC for information regarding the health coverage available
to them as well as the complex issues concerning government entitlements
and employment. Client Advocacy holds a number of monthly forums,
including "Return To Work," which address this complex
terrain.
The Judy Peabody Fund for Client Advocacy — created by one of our
most generous donors and long-time volunteers — continues to significantly
improve the lives of hundreds of our clients in very specific and
real ways. Over the past year, approximately 550 clients were provided
with transportation reimbursements, emergency cash grants for utility
payments and air conditioners, and food coupons.
Homelessness
Homelessness, or the threat of homelessness, continues to be a
pervasive dilemma for many of GMHC's clients. Legal Services and
Client Advocacy provide direct representation and legal advice to
clients in New York City regarding landlord-tenant matters. By advocating
with the New York City Human Resources Administration (NYCHRA),
as well as contacting charitable organizations, we assist clients
struggling to pay their rent. In the case of imminent eviction we
advocate on the client's behalf with the New York City Marshal's
Office, the landlord and the landlord's attorney, and the NYCHRA.
In the event of repeated nonpayment of rent, due to a variety of
reasons — dementia, mental illness, and/or substance use — the City
encourages a client to utilize GMHC's Financial Management Program.
A part of the Client Advocacy unit, Financial Management works in
collaboration with the Social Security Administration to help disburse
monthly benefits in an appropriate and prioritized fashion — making
sure rent is paid. For clients ineligible for standard public rental
assistance — because of citizenship status or income level — GMHC
administers the Sustainable Living Fund, providing rental assistance,
broker's fees, and security deposits. This fund is an innovative
partnership that has brought GMHC into contact with over 20 other
community-based HIV/AIDS organizations. By advocating for the rights
of vulnerable tenants with HIV and AIDS, by assisting with the financial
management of clients at high risk of eviction, or by partnering
with other organizations to allocate specialized funds, we continue
to actively prevent the displacement and homelessness of men, women,
and children with HIV and AIDS.
Contents
© 2003 Gay Men's Health Crisis
|
home 
