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.
