LSHV to receive $6.5 million over five years

WHITE PLAINS, NY -- Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) will partner with Victim Assistance Programs throughout the seven counties of the lower and mid-Hudson Valley to assist crime victims with civil legal matters, such as divorce, custody, immigration and financial issues. LSHV is the only provider of comprehensive civil legal services to those who cannot afford an attorney when their basic human needs are at stake in its service area across the Hudson Valley.

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. While they may seek counseling, shelter, and other emergency services from victim assistance programs, they often require additional help to resolve their legal issues. This funding is an effort to address that gap in services for those who have already been victimized by crime.

This funding is a five-year program funded through the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and administered by the New York State Office of Victim Services (OVS). In its first year, $16 million has been awarded to victim assistance programs throughout the state, who will contract with attorneys and legal services providers to resolve the legal needs of their clients. As a contracted partner with several victims assistance programs, LSHV will receive approximately $1.3 million per year for five years as part of this funding. This will result in the creation of ten new attorney positions and five new paralegal positions across the agency. A description of our partnership in each county is outlined below:

Westchester & Putnam: LSHV will partner with Putnam/Northern Westchester Women's Resource Center to provide services in northern Westchester and Putnam, and with Westchester Community Opportunity Program Inc. to serve clients in Westchester County. This funding will support two attorneys and one paralegal in LSHV’s Peekskill office to represent crime victims in all areas of civil practice in Westchester and Putnam Counties (one attorney to cover each county).

Dutchess: LSHV will co-locate two attorneys and one paralegal to handle crime victims’ cases out of Family Services’ Poughkeepsie office.

Ulster: LSHV will contract with Ulster County’s Probation Department and hire two attorneys and one paralegal to represent crime victims in Ulster County.

Orange & Sullivan: LSHV will work with Orange County Safe Homes Project Inc. to represent crime victims in Orange and Sullivan Counties. This funding will support one supervising attorney, two staff attorneys, and one paralegal based in Orange County at LSHV’s Newburgh and soon-to-be opened Middletown Offices.

Rockland: LSHV will partner with Center for Safety & Change, Inc. to engage one attorney and one paralegal in LSHV’s Spring Valley office to handle crime victims’ cases.

LSHV’s CEO, Barbara Finkelstein, said “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. 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.”

"Crime victims shouldn't be forced to navigate the complex and often-daunting process of civil litigation without representation," Governor Andrew Cuomo said. "Thousands of New Yorkers in every corner of this state arrive in court without a lawyer present because they lack either the financial means to secure one or they are unaware of how to find legal assistance. This funding will allow New York to continue to serve crime victims during their time of need and will connect vulnerable New Yorkers with attorneys who can advise or represent them in civil matters that often arise from victimization."

Safe Homes Executive Director, Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier, with whom LSHV has the largest contract through this funding, said “Domestic Violence against a current or former partner is pervasive throughout the cases entrenched in our civil legal system and requires extraordinary attorneys that understand the complexity of domestic violence, the impact on victims, and the abuser’s ability to leverage these systems as one more tactic of control. Through the Office of Victims Services, Safe Homes was incredibly fortunate to receive funding to expand our program and increase legal support to victims of domestic violence in Orange and Sullivan County. Our long-standing relationship with Legal Services of Hudson Valley allows this partnership to expand and strengthen working together to support victims of domestic violence, teen dating violence, and human trafficking. Every victim of domestic violence would benefit from consultation with an attorney in order to make these most informed decisions and we are so grateful for the ability to support more victims through this grant.”

About the New York State Office of Victim Services: The Office of Victim Services provides a safety net for crime victims and/or their family members, helping eligible individuals with medical and counseling expenses, funeral and burial expenses, lost wages and support, in addition to other assistance, all at no cost to taxpayers. The agency also funds 222 victim assistance programs that provide direct services, including counseling, advocacy and legal services, across the state. For more information, eligibility guidelines and to locate a victim assistance program, visit www.ovs.ny.gov or call 1-800-247-8035.

About LSHV: Founded in 1967, LSHV is the only provider in the Hudson Valley of free, comprehensive, legal services in civil matters (noncriminal) for individuals and families who cannot afford an attorney when their basic human needs are at stake. This includes urgent legal needs such as: domestic violence (orders of protection, child custody, etc.), housing emergencies (eviction and foreclosure prevention), healthcare, children's law and advocacy, disability and benefits, elder law, consumer fraud and more. In pursuit of this mission, LSHV maintains a staff of 136 individuals, including 82 attorneys and 27 paralegals working across nine offices throughout our service area. For more information about Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, to volunteer, or contribute, please visit www.lshv.org or contact Tom Gabriel, Chief Development Officer, at 914-949-1305 ext 160.