Legal Services of the Hudson Valley receives grant from
People’s United Community Foundation
WHITE PLAINS, NY — 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, was awarded a $3,500 grant from the People’s United Community Foundation in support of our Solutions to End Homelessness Program (STEHP) in Dutchess County.
The mission of the People’s United Community Foundation is to invest in programs and services that enhance the quality of life for residents, promote the economic development and well-being of neighborhoods and support the educational and developmental needs of children and youth, with special emphasis given to programs and services in low-income areas.
“Obtaining and sustaining affordable housing within our communities is a major issue that greatly effects the lives of children and adults, and through the work of programs such as STEHP, we can have a positive impact on assisting families in need,” said Karen Galbo, Vice President, Executive Director People’s United Community Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Legal Services of Hudson Valley in an effort to improve the quality of life for residents in the communities we serve.”
The need for civil legal services in Dutchess County is clear. 1 in 10 children in Dutchess live in poverty. According to Mid-Hudson Valley Community Profiles (http://www.mhvcommunityprofiles.org/dutchess-county/housing), since 2000: “housing has become less affordable for both homeowners and renters. Between 2005 and 2015, the rate of homelessness increased in Dutchess.”
Through STEHP, LSHV aims to stabilize low-income individuals and families in affordable housing by providing advocacy, legal casework, rental assistance and intensive related supportive services, e.g., referrals to counseling, budgeting or financial literacy training, and/or jobs skills training.
In 2017 LSHV attorneys handled 2,429 cases for residents of Dutchess County, which impacted approximately 5,500 household members. 38% of those cases involved housing matters.
LSHV’s CEO, Barbara Finkelstein, said “We are so grateful to the People’s United Community Foundation for this generous grant, which will enable us to prevent homelessness for Dutchess County children and families.”
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 eight 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.
Pictured here (L-R): LSHV’s CPO Rachel Halperin; Quwan Johnson, People’s United Bank Market Manager; LSHV’s CDO Tom Gabriel; Despina Cifu, People’s United Bank VP NY Metro Customer Experience Manager; and Karen Galbo, People’s United Community Foundation Executive Director
