Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to receive $6.5MM over 5 years
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.
For more information, read the full press release on our website.
