LSHV/Center for Safety & Change partner to assist crime victims

New City, NY - Today is the first day that Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) staff are conducting on-site intakes at the Center for Safety & Change (CSC). Our long-standing partnership was formalized by new funding from the Office of Victim Services, which has enabled us to hire one attorney and one paralegal in our Spring Valley office to provide free, comprehensive civil legal services to victims of crime in Rockland. CSC and LSHV received funding from the Offices of Victims Services to assist crime victims with civil legal matters, such as divorce, custody, immigration and financial issues.

Crime victims often encounter legal problems yet are unable to secure an attorney to represent them. This could be because they can't afford representation, are unaware of existing services, or fear that they will face consequences for going through the legal system. The funding, which will total more than $2.5 million over five years, will allow the agencies to hire new attorneys and paralegals to work directly with victims of crime in Rockland County.

"LSHV already has a robust Domestic Violence Unit, which handled almost 2,500 cases across our service area in 2017, impacting approximately 6,555 household members," said Legal Services of the Hudson Valley CEO Barbara Finkelstein. "Partnering with victims assistance programs through this new OVS funding will not only expand the Domestic Violence Unit, but will further extend our services to some victims of crimes that were not related to domestic violence and who are also in desperate need of assistance."

"We are excited about strengthening our partnership with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) and expanding civil legal services to victims of all crimes," said Center for Safety & Change Executive Director Elizabeth Santiago. "Through this grant we will be able to assist victims and survivors with civil legal services including name changes, housing, landlord/tenant issues and other legal needs."

Photo (L-R): Back row: LSHV Board Member Paul Adler, Chief Strategy Officer at Rand Commercial; New York State Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski; CSC Deputy Executive Director Amy Siniscalchi; Middle row: Clarkstown Town Councilman Donald Franchino; Clarkstown Town Supervisor George Hoehmann; LSHV Chief Program Officer Rachel Halperin; CSC Legal Advocate/Coordinator of Services to the Latina Community Jenny Guzman; Front row: New York State Senator David Carlucci; CSC Executive Director Elizabeth Santiago; Attorney-in-Charge of LSHV's Spring Valley Office Sheeba Mathai; CSC Director of Legal Services Sena Kim-Reuter; CSC Legal Advocate/Paralegal Arlene Abraham; CSC Immigration Specialist Dilcia Suazo