Over the past month, many of our supporters have asked whether we are hosting an annual event this year. After consideration, we decided to postpone our annual celebration until spring. Notwithstanding our decision to wait, our law center continues in operation each day where we strive to bring access to justice and dignity to so many Deaf, Deaf-blind and hard of hearing clients. We seek to champion the rights of clients who are in homeless shelters, respondents in eviction proceedings, defendants in consumer debt actions, and refugees fleeing persecution. We represent single moms; the elderly; children; and other men and women – all of whom have hearing loss.
Over the past month, many of our supporters have asked whether we are hosting an annual event this year. After consideration, we decided to postpone our annual celebration until spring. Notwithstanding our decision to wait, our law center continues in operation each day where we strive to bring access to justice and dignity to so many Deaf, Deaf-blind and hard of hearing clients. We seek to champion the rights of clients who are in homeless shelters, respondents in eviction proceedings, defendants in consumer debt actions, and refugees fleeing persecution. We represent single moms; the elderly; children; and other men and women – all of whom have hearing loss.
Lila, for example, whose photo appears below, is a single mom employed as a warehouse worker-40 hours each week, assembling many food packages for delivery. Over the past year, Lila nearly lost her Bronx lease because she was not provided with an American Sign Language interpreter, as required by law, to interpret conversations with management regarding her lease renewal. Her neighbors, who are hearing, did not confront the same challenge because management effortlessly explained to Lila’s neighbors the simple steps leading to renewal. Over time, the law center succeeded in securing a renewed lease for Lila-avoiding homelessness and a stressful transfer to a homeless shelter, but not preventing the fear and stress accompanying Lila’s anticipation of her potential loss of permanent housing.
Lila’s story is one of hundreds of stories that are narrated by our clients throughout the year. I cannot begin to express adequately the fear, isolation, worry, anxiety and depression that our clients face as they live on the edges of a subsistence life-their emotions weighing down upon them with great heaviness.
To you, our generous supporters, we ask for your support, once again, as this calendar year draws to a close. A substantial portion of our operating revenue is derived from gifts from individual supporters like you, and we are deeply grateful. We thank you in advance for your kind consideration in making a 2023 gift and we look forward to hosting you at our annual event next spring.
Best,
Bruce
The New York Center for Law and Justice works to improve the lives of Deaf,
Deaf-blind, and hard of hearing New Yorkers.
NEW YORK CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE
2095 Broadway, Suite 411
New York, NY 10023