Legal Services of the Hudson Valley receives $2,500 grant from KeyBank

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV), the only provider of comprehensive civil legal services to those that cannot afford it in the seven counties of the lower and mid-Hudson Valley, recently received a generous $2,500 grant from KeyBank Foundation. Representatives from KeyBank, including Joe Markey, Market President, and and John Ulrich, Senior Relationship Manager, presented LSHV’s Chief Development Officer, Tom Gabriel, with a check to support the non-profit’s Housing Stability Program for Families in the Hudson Valley which promotes household and community stabilization by providing legal advice and counsel and brief or extended representation to homeowners in foreclosure and tax proceedings as well as tenants in unwarranted eviction cases. Through this Program, LSHV impacted more than 17,500 family members during more than 6,500 cases last year.

The right to housing is recognized in a number of international human rights instruments including in Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a basic human need and right. Through LSHV’s Housing Stability Program for Families in the Hudson Valley, the organization works to prevent homelessness for children and families so they can retain and build assets and break the cycle of poverty. Speaking about the importance of this Program, Tom Gabriel, LSHV’s Chief Development Officer said, “Homelessness threatens the stability of families at the poverty level and imposes enormous costs on communities in the form of providing shelter, increased social services, and other acute services. Children that are evicted and uprooted typically are set back six months or more in their education, while families that are forced to move often lose important employment opportunities and cannot improve their income or prospects for the future.”

Indeed, the statistics support that assertion. According to a February 2012 report written by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, U.S. Dept. of the Treasury, "Chronic homelessness incurs high costs to communities because individuals experiencing homelessness are frequent users of community services. Consequently, chronic homelessness can be a major strain on local community budgets. Funding programs with a proven track record of success in preventing homelessness saves communities the high cost of providing shelter, increased social services, and acute care - - and it improves the quality of life for all.”

Though “Justice for All” is a promise given to all Americans, it often eludes those who can’t afford an attorney, because there is no right to counsel in civil matters in this country (only in criminal cases). Thus, people who can’t afford legal representation end up going to court alone – and many lose everything. The support of a civil legal services attorney can make all the difference, especially in preventing homelessness as a recent New York City study showed. Clients with an attorney in Housing Court were five times as likely to win and stave off eviction then clients without an attorney.

“KeyBank is dedicated to supporting programs that help our neighbors maintain safe, affordable and stable housing in the communities we serve,” said Joe Markey. We are delighted to partner with our friends at Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to prevent homelessness for children and families across the Hudson Valley.”

In keeping with the company’s philanthropic spirit, KeyBank has been named to Points of Light's "Civic 50," as one of America's 50 most community-minded companies, three times in a row. KeyBank Foundation serves to fulfill KeyBank’s purpose “to help clients and communities thrive,” and its mission is “to support organizations and programs that prepare people for thriving futures.” The Foundation’s mission is advanced through three funding priorities – neighbors, education, and workforce – and through community service. To provide meaningful philanthropy that transforms lives, KeyBank Foundation listens carefully to understand the unique characteristics and needs of its communities and then backs solutions with targeted philanthropic investments. KeyBank Foundation is a nonprofit charitable foundation, funded by KeyCorp.

For more information about LSHV, visit its website www.lshv.org.

Pictured (L – R): Joe Markey, KeyBank Market President, LSHV’s Chief Development Officer, Tom Gabriel, and John Ulrich, Senior Relationship Manager, KeyBank.