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Joining with Low-Income People to Fight for Fairness National Center for Law and Economic Justice 2014 - 2015 Report

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Joining with Low-Income People to Fight for Fairness National Center for Law and Economic Justice 2014 - 2015 Report 2014 - 2015 REPORT JOINING WITH LOW-INCOME PEOPLE TO FIGHT FOR FAIRNESS NATIONAL CENTER FOR LAW AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE 2014 - 2015 REPORT Mission From the CHAIR and Advancing the cause of economic justice for low-income families, individuals, and EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR communities across the country. Values Jennifer M. Marc Selendy Cohan Because NCLEJ’s Board and staff believe that this nation should strive to ensure that no one lives in poverty or is denied basic human rights, we subscribe to the We are pleased to share this report on the significant accomplishments of the National following values: Center for Law and Economic Justice (NCLEJ) in 2014 and 2015. Income Security: Income security is a basic goal and fundamental In 2015, NCLEJ celebrated its 50th anniversary. Honoring that legacy, NCLEJ’s skilled defense against poverty. attorneys continue to work collaboratively with low-income people and their advocates across the country. We have made important progress on a wide range of issues facing Access to Employment: Low-income people should have full opportunity those in need, using a combination of groundbreaking litigation, policy advocacy, and to participate in all forms of education, training, support for community organizing. Key accomplishments have included: and services to help them secure and retain living wage jobs. • fighting in court to protect access to food stamps so that families and individuals across the country do not go hungry; Access to Health Care: All low-income people should receive affordable, • advocating for fair pay, safe working conditions, freedom from discrimination, access to comprehensive, high-quality health care. workers compensation, and prevention of wage theft for low-wage workers; • ensuring that low-income New Yorkers who are blind or visually impaired can get Fair Treatment: Fairness must be the foundation of government information about food stamps and Medicaid in formats they can use; administration. • enforcing Americans with Disabilities Act protections for residents of public housing suffering from asthma, which is exacerbated by unaddressed moisture and mold in Public Accountability: Governmental decision-making and administration their homes; should be open, accessible, and responsive to constituents. • combatting abusive debt collection practices that target low-income people; and • increasing access to needed health care and child care. Access to Justice: Low-income people must have effective access to the justice system to challenge violations of their These efforts reflect NCLEJ’s unyielding commitment to its core mission – increasing hope, rights, secure effective relief, and gain greater public opportunity, and dignity for those at the bottom of the economic ladder. As we look to accountability. the future, NCLEJ staff will continue to use their legal skills with imagination and tenacity, joining with low-income people nationwide to fight for fairness for those in need. Fair and Safe Workplace: All workers should be assured a safe workplace, Thank you to everyone who has made this vital work possible: our generous financial a living wage, and full protection from supporters, an extraordinarily dedicated staff, a committed Board of Directors, law firms discrimination. that have provided invaluable pro bono assistance, our fellow public interest and legal services advocates, and our dinner honorees and sponsors. Many are listed in this report, Community Action: Community action and coalition building should and we thank them all. be encouraged at the local, state, and national level as powerful strategies for social change. With gratitude, Civic Participation: Low-income individuals and their communities should have a voice in shaping the public policies that affect their lives. Jennifer M. Selendy Marc Cohan Chair, Board of Directors Executive Director 1 NATIONAL CENTER FOR LAW AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE 2014 - 2015 REPORT Nationally: Louisiana restored $4.3 National Advocacy Reaches 25 States million in lost food stamps to more than 24,000 low- income adults without dependents effective January 2016. NCLEJ and the New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice had filed suit to challenge VERMONT MAINE Workers’ Rights Advocacy ADA an unlawful new policy Technical that cut food stamps Assistance to this population. The WASHINGTON, D.C. NEW HAMPSHIRE new Governor credited National Advocacy ADA Advocacy Access to Benefits the lawsuit as driving WISCONSIN Technical Assistance ADA NEW YORK the decision to restore (see next page) Technical MASSACHUSETTS assistance. Assistance Race-Based Lawyering Training In Georgia, we challenged NEBRASKA OHIO Leiting-Hall v. Phillips ADA Advocacy CONNECTICUT a system-wide failure Systems Failure & Technical Briggs v. Bremby Assistance Systems Failure to process food stamp WEST COLORADO applications and renewals. MISSOURI VIRGINIA Davis v. Birch SNAP Thanks to our class-action SNAP Delays Public Benefits Advocacy CALIFORNIA Modernization KENTUCKY MARYLAND lawsuit, Melanie K. v. Thompson v. Donald ADA Technical Technical Assistance Technical Assistance Assistance Magee v. Kern Horton, nearly 48,000 low- NORTH CAROLINA Application Delays ADA Technical income Georgia families NEW MEXICO TENNESSEE ADA Advocacy Binta B. v. TN Dept of Health Assistance who were wrongly Greigo v. N.M. Workers ARIZONA Medicaid Access ADA Advocacy Compensation deprived of food stamps Commission Farm/Ranch GEORGIA are benefitting from a $22 Worker Issues Melanie K. million settlement. ADA Advocacy v. Horton SNAP Delays TEXAS Support for Syrian Refugees Low-wage workers nationwide face systemic violations of their LOUISIANA most basic rights. We FLORIDA Workers’ are collaborating with Rights worker centers and other Romain v. Sonnier Advocacy HAWAII SNAP Access organizations to combat Booth v. McManaman widespread wage theft, SNAP Delays discrimination, dangerous working conditions, and lack of access to workers’ – Board advocate working in this state compensation. 2 3 NATIONAL CENTER FOR LAW AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE 2014 - 2015 REPORT New York State Advocacy In New York: In Rafferty v. Doar, we secured the right Reaches 22 Counties for food stamp and Medicaid applicants and recipients who are blind or seriously visually impaired to JEFFERSON ADA receive notices, forms, Advocacy and other written communications in alternate formats, such MONROE CAYUGA Workers’ Rights Cordway v. Throop as Braille, large print, NIAGARA Advocacy Child Care and audiotape. McCoy v. Restaino Application Delays In collaboration with the New Economy Project, NCLEJ staff ERIE helped to secure a Martin v. Weiner ONONDAGA $59 million settlement Application Delays Workers’ Emergency Shelter Rights benefitting more Advocacy Advocacy ALBANY (Statewide) than 350,000 people OSTEGO Richard C. v. Proud in Sykes v. Mel S. Food Stamps ADA Technical Harris & Associates, Assistance ADA Advocacy a federal class action challenging COLUMBIA widespread abusive STEUBEN Travis v. Mossman Kari C. v Mullen Application Delays consumer debt Application Delays collection practices in NY State courts. ULSTER Access to NEW YORK CITY LITIGATION: SULLIVAN Benefits New York City Housing Advocacy Baez v. NYCHA – Mold and Moisture Problems in Public Housing ADA SUFFOLK Authority (NYCHA) Carver v. State Department of New York – FLSA Protections for Workfare Workers Advocacy Maryann C. v. DeMarzo tenants with asthma Application Delays (Amicus - Statewide) Torres v. Blass will breathe easier as a Davila v. Eggleston – Failure to Approve Education and Training ORANGE Child Care result of a settlement Doe v. Doar – Underpayment of Assistance to People with HIV/AIDS ADA ADA Technical Assistance Advocacy approved by the court Fishman v. Davies – Medicaid Due Process (Amicus) WESTCHESTER Juan v. Doar – Cash Assistance for Older Adults Simmons v. Astorino in Baez v. NYCHA, Morel v. Giuliani – Failure to Continue Benefits Pending Fair Hearing ROCKLAND Child Care filed by NCLEJ and Piron v. Wing – Fair Hearing Decision and Compliance Delays ADA Technical Galvez v. City of Yonkers Natural Resources Assistance Child Care Rafferty, et al. v. Doar, et al – Accessible Formats for the Blind or Visually Impaired BRONX Defense Council. A Reynolds v. Giuliani – Deterrence of Benefit Applications special master was Sykes v. Mel S. Harris and Associates LLC – Debt Collection Abuses in New York State Courts (Statewide) NEW YORK Williston v. Eggleston – Food Stamp Application Delays appointed to help NASSAU oversee NYCHA’s RICHMOND Dowdell v. Imhof ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF: Application Delays remediation of mold Homeless Individuals and Families People Harmed by Unfair Debt Collection Practices KINGS QUEENS ADA Advocacy and excess moisture in Low-Income People with Disabilities People in Need of Public Benefits its apartments. Low-Wage Workers, including Pregnant Workers Tenants of Public Housing Parents in Need of Child Care 4 5 NATIONAL CENTER FOR LAW AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE 2014 - 2015 REPORT THANKS to our MAJOR DONORS To our DINNER HONOREES $75,000 and up Shearman & Sterling LLP Stecher Family Fund/Esta David O. Brownwood Robert Sterling Clark Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP Stecher Charles River Associates Foundation $10,000 - $14,999 Univision Management Carmen B. Ciparick Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP Company Naomi Cohen 2015 2014 Bressler, Amery & Ross, PC Brian S. Weinstein Ford Foundation Community Service Society of J. Kevin McCarthy Stephen M. Cutler Kirkland & Ellis Foundation Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP Penny Windle Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP Cooley Godward
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