LSHV and My Sisters’ Place Celebrate 10th Anniversary Collaborating in Mount Vernon

MOUNT VERNON, NY - Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) and My Sisters’ Place (MSP) held an Open House on Wednesday, October 11th at their joint offices at 100 East First Street in Mount Vernon to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of their collaboration in Mount Vernon to assist low-income families and individuals facing life-threatening issues such as domestic violence and homelessness. Since their collaboration began in the city 10 years ago, the organizations have impacted more than 13,000 residents through their efforts.

LSHV is the only nonprofit provider of free comprehensive civil legal services to the seven counties of the lower and mid-Hudson Valley across a wide range of urgent legal issues including: domestic violence, housing emergencies, disability law, elder law, healthcare, consumer fraud and more. In 2016, LSHV handled more than 15,500 cases impacting more than 36,000 household members. In Mount Vernon, the organization handled just under 900 cases impacting just under 2,000 Mount Vernon residents. These individuals represent our neighbors – mothers, veterans, frail seniors, children with disabilities – who after facing one major illness, job loss, or tragedy, found themselves in a desperate situation and in need of a helping hand and an attorney to fight for their rights.

Speaking about the joint partnership and the impact the organizations have made in Mount Vernon, LSHV’s CEO, Barbara Finkelstein said “Legal Services of the Hudson Valley could not have asked for a better partner and collaborator in providing essential civil legal services to those that cannot afford an attorney when their basic human needs are at stake, especially for domestic violence survivors. ”

For 40 years MSP has worked to end violence in intimate relationships and combat the effects of domestic violence and human trafficking on women, men, and children. MSP is Westchester County’s largest holistic domestic violence agency impacting 10,000 lives each year through direct service and education. Since collaborating with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley 10 years ago, MSP has provided 2,000 victims of domestic violence in Mount Vernon with legal support and 1,000 victims with counseling services.

Karen Cheeks-Lomax, CEO of MSP said, “We’re so proud of our successful partnership with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley in Mount Vernon. They have been incredible partners and the impact we’ve made together has been profound.”

Several legislators and public officials were on hand to help the two organizations celebrate this milestone anniversary, including Westchester County Legislator Lyndon Williams, City of Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas, and New York State Senator George Latimer.

Westchester Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett delivered a proclamation on behalf of Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino that acknowledged the work of the two organizations saying, “For all of us who live and work in Westchester County, we hold a special sense of pride in acknowledging those outstanding organizations whose community service is an example and inspiration to us all.”

For more information about LSHV and the work that it does in the lower and mid-Hudson Valley, visit www.lshv.org. For more information about MSP and their efforts to end domestic violence and human trafficking in Westchester, visit http://mspny.org.

Pictured:

11 (L-R) Jennifer C. Friedman, Esq., Managing Director, MSP Center for Legal Services; Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas; Jill Bradshaw-Soto, Attorney in Charge, LSHV Mount Vernon Office

42 (L-R) Barbara Finkelstein, LSHV CEO; Westchester Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett; Westchester County Legislator Lyndon Williams; Karen Cheeks-Lomax, MSP CEO