2022 Impact Report

TRANSFORMING LIVES.

BUILDING COMMUNITY. EMPOWERING PEOPLE.

2022 IMPACT REPORT

2022 IN REVIEW

As the new Executive Director, I have spent a great deal of time considering both the current and potential impact of the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York on my community these last few months. I grew up poor and was on my own quite young. I experienced legal issues like illegal evictions and medical debt while struggling to get through college. If I had accessed the services LASNNY offers I would have had a much easier time staying housed and obtaining public benefits and would have less student debt today. I know firsthand because of LASNNY, families stay in their homes, children are fed, domestic violence victims are safe, seniors and people with disabilities are protected, students stay in school, justice-involved individuals are reintegrated, and marginalized communities have access to justice.

Today, not only have COVID protections and financial recovery programs ended, but employment has not rebounded, and wages have not kept up with inflation. In reviewing our case numbers for representation and brief advice, I am in awe of how many people are served by our hardworking and passionate staff and volunteers. We receive almost 1,000 calls a day seeking assistance. I am deeply appreciative of my LASNNY colleagues and our pro bono volunteers for the dedication that has helped so many people across our sixteen-county service area access legal services. I am tremendously proud to be part of this organization that is committed to closing the justice gap.

I hope you will also be impressed and moved by our impact when you read our clients’ stories and see how many people we are able to help with your support. Together, we can continue to have an immense impact on families in need.

Thank you for your support,

Nic Rangel, Esq., LASNNY Executive Director

2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JAMES E. HACKER, ESQ. (President)

E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy

VINCENT L. VALENZA, ESQ. (1st Vice President)

Whiteman Osterman & Hanna

BENJAMIN FISHMAN (2nd Vice President)

KARLA W. BUETTNER, ESQ. (Treasurer)

Bartlett, Pontiff, Stewart & Rhodes, P.C.

LISA MILLS, ESQ. (Secretary)

Fitzsimmons & Mills, P.C.

TODD TIDGEWELL, ESQ. (Community Representative)

Nixon Peabody LLP

THOMAS R. ADAMS, ESQ.

JASMINE CENICEROS

SUSAN CHRISTOPHER

DAVID COST, ESQ.

JAMES FLEURY

JULIE GARCIA, ESQ.

LLOYD G. GRANDY II, ESQ.

ROBERT MANFREDO

KATHERINE MASTAITIS, ESQ.

VICTOR MAZZOTTI, ESQ.

RONI MINTER

ROSEMARIE PEREZ-JAQUITH, ESQ.

VICKI J. PRAGER, ESQ.

MORGAN RUTHMAN, ESQ.

MARK SCHNEIDER, ESQ.

HOUSING - 45%

5,128 households assisted who were facing eviction, foreclosure, substandard housing, illegal lockouts, and other housing issues to help prevent homelessness.

FAMILY - 21%

2,353 families striving for stability through protection orders against domestic violence, child custody, divorce, legal name changes, adoption, and guardianships.

INCOME & BENEFITS - 17%

1,932 households in need of income supports such as SNAP, health insurance, veteran benefits, unemployment benefits, Social Security, and disability benefits.

EMPLOYMENT - 5%

588 people provided advice, brief service, and referral on job discrimination, wage claims, unemployment insurance benefits, and other employment matters.

CONSUMER DEBT - 3%

457 households assisted with concerns surrounding debt collection, wage garnishments, IRS & NYS tax concerns, and utility problems.

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS - 1%

158 individuals helped with protecting their rights surrounding immigration or naturalization, mental health, physical disability, criminal record expungement, and civil rights.

OTHER - 7%

Includes, but not limited to cases involving: special education concerns including IEP’s and school discipline, Medicare & Medicaid, Juvenile matters, small business assistance, wills and estates, powers of attorney, torts, and licenses.

11,485 CASES HANDLED

4,851 HOUSEHOLDS HELPED WITH CHILDREN UNDER AGE 18

46 AVERAGE AGE OF CLIENTS

1,789

CASES INVOLVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

500 CASES INVOLVED VETERANS

71% OF OUR CLIENTS ARE WOMEN

24,114 PEOPLE BENEFITED

1,461 HOURS OF PRO BONO REPRESENTATION BY 86 VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS

A CELEBRATION OF ACCESS TO JUSTICE: HONORING LILLIAN M. MOY, ESQ - NOVEMBER 9, 2022

On November 9, 2022 over 300 people came together to recognize Lillian M. Moy, Esq. for her over 40 years of service and 27 years as the Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York.

A Celebration of Access to Justice brought in $119,250. Thank you to everyone who attended, members of the honorary committee, and all of our sponsors.

SPONSORS

BRONZE

Charles Touhey & Alice Green

Friends of Lillian Moy I Mutual of American

James Sandman I Law Office of Vicki Prager

Peter Coffey, Esq. I The Moy-Santos/Mostris/Rich Family

JUSTICE FOR ALL ANNUAL CAMPAIGN

Thank you to the Law Firms, Bar Associations and Businesses who stepped up to be leaders in the fight for Justice For All. The Justice For All Campaign provides essential unrestricted funding which allows LASNNY to continue to ensure improved access to justice for individuals and families across Northeastern New York. For more information, or to stand alongside these leaders in the fight for justice, contact Jenifer Whiston, Development & Communications jwhiston@lasnny.org or 518-375-3457

2022 Campaign Co-Chairs: E. Stewart Jones, Jr. and David Cost

PLATINUM

Barclay Damon LLP

Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC

Dreyer Boyajian

E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy, LLP

Harding & Mazzotti, LLP

Jonathan P. Harvey Law Firm PLLC

Law Firm Of Alex Dell, PLLC

Mark A. Schneider Attorney At Law

The West Firm, PLLC

GOLD

Bartlett, Pontiff, Stewart & Rhodes P.C.

Buckley, Mendleson, Criscione And Quinn, P.C.

Couch White, LLP

Girvin & Ferlazzo, PC

LaMarche Safranko Law PLLC

Maynard, O’Connor, Smith & Catalinotto, LLP

Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, LLP

SILVER

Bernhardt Karp, Attorney At Law

Breslin Law Group

Carlisle Law Firm, P.C.

Coffey Law, PLLC

Donnellan Law, PLLC

Gordon, Tepper & DeCoursey, LLP

Heslin Rothenberg Farley Mesiti

Hodgson Russ LLP

Jean Mahserjian Esq. P.C.

Joy M. Smith Attorney At Law PLLC

Lavelle & Finn, LLP

Law Offices Of Stephen Johnston

Lemery Greisler LLC

Melody A. MacKenzie, PLLC

Nixon Peabody LLP

Roemer Wallens Gold & MIneaux LLP

Spada Law Firm

Thorn Gershon Tymann & Bonanni, LLP

Young/Sommer LLC

SUPPORTER

Anderson, Moschetti & Taffany, PLLC

Cabaniss Casey LLP

Caffry & Flower

Law Office of Polly Feigenbaum PLLC

Meyers & Meyers, LLP

Moynihan & Hayner Attorneys At Law

The Shartrand Law Firm

CORPORATE

ABS Solutions

Albany Realty Group

Business For Good

HMA Paving And Contracting Corp.

MK Dignum Insurance Agency, Inc.

Policy Research Associates

Primeau Fahey Studios

Sixth & I

BAR ASSOCIATIONS

Albany County Bar Association

Saratoga County Bar Association

OTHER

AmazonSmile

Facebook Fundraisers

GE Foundation - Matching Grants

SEFA - NYC

SEFA - United Way Of The Greater Capital Region

FINANCIALS 2022

REVENUE

Legal Services Corporation

$ 1,818,420

Judiciary Civil Legal Services

$ 4,970,637

Interest on Lawyers Accounts $ 1,366,274

Other Federal Funding

$ 410,648

Other New York State Funding $ 1,024,944

Local Funding (City & County) $ 819,061

Foundations & Other Grants $ 624,090

Fundraising $ 315,820

Miscellaneous Income $ 168,568

TOTAL REVENUE $ 11,518,462

EXPENSES

Personnel: Lawyers $ 5,451,323

Non-Lawyers $ 2,195,167

Fringe Benefits $ 2,353,428

Operating:

Space & Utilities $ 350,317

Office & Related Expenses $ 321,867

Contract Services to Clients $ 1,063,093

Library $ 100,206

Client Litigation Expenses $ 18,236

Travel & Training $ 196,412

Miscellaneous $ 253,969

Professional fees $ 467,486

TOTAL EXPENSES $ 12,771,505

Based on 2022 Unaudited Financials

LASNNY’s 990s are available on Guidestar or by request

2022 PRIVATE, FOUNDATION, CORPORATE & OTHER FUNDING

• Albany Law School

• Behavioral Health Services North, Inc. (BHSN)

• CAPTAIN Community Human Services

• Catholic Charities Housing Office

• Catholic Charities Of Delaware, Otsego & Schoharie Counties

• Catholic Charties Of Saratoga, Warren & Washington Counties

• Equal Justice Works

• Family Counseling Center Of Fulton County, Inc.

• Hunger Solutions New York

• Interfaith Partnership For The Homeless

• Legal Hand

• Lifespan Of Greater Rochester, Inc.

• Mechanicville Area Community Services Center, Inc.

• Nutrition Consortium

• Race Equity Project

• Ryan White Benefits Counseling Program

• Schenectady Community Action Program (SCAP)

• St. Lawrence Valley Renewal House for Victims of Family Violence, Inc.

• Supportive Services to Veteran Families (SSVF)

• The New York Bar Foundation

• United Way Of The Greater Capital Region

• Unity House Of Troy, Inc

• Wellspring, Inc.

By Sara Anderson

It was back in 2008 that Melessa Anderson bought her home after moving to Schenectady, NY to take a management job with a major local company. This house, to her, holds so much significance, as it is where she brought home her newborn twins in 2012. There, both boys took their first steps, said their first words, learned to ride bikes, and raised their childhood dog. Like the vegetable garden they had planted, Melessa’s family was rooted and growing in their home day by day.

Unfortunately, the company Melessa worked for was forced to downsize a few years later, leaving her desperate to find work and ultimately taking a lesser-paying job. With her salary cut in half and expenses piling up, Melessa filed for bankruptcy; however, the mortgager Wells Fargo still commenced foreclosure proceedings in 2019, on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With nowhere else to turn and her income not quite covering her debts, Melessa reached out to the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York (LASNNY). Through LASNNY’s Foreclosure Prevention Project, Melessa discussed details of her home, its value, and steps to take

MELESSA ANDERSON

PREVENTING FORECLOSURE ON HER FAMILY’S HOME

in order to prevent foreclosure. Attorneys Stuart Thalblum and Marlene Morales, through the Homeowner Prevention Project (HOPP), worked collaboratively with Melessa for three years to ensure that she and her sons would be secure in their home.

After time spent in settlement conferences and on modification applications, the team finally negotiated a trial payment plan that turned into a permanent loan modification for Melessa’s home. With a new lower interest rate and a career more aligned with her experience and desired salary, Melessa rests easily knowing that her family is protected. She is especially grateful given the fact that her sons have special needs and require personalized attention that their district’s school provides. “HOPP helps to save homes for families like mine so that we can provide safe, stable environments for our children to thrive and succeed,” she says.

If you are in need of assistance regarding your home and are at risk of foreclosure, free legal help is availablee. Please reach out to LASNNY at 833-628-0087 to see if you qualify and start your journey towards a life with less financial burden.

L to R: Melessa Anderson, Nic Rangel, Esq. - LASNNY Executive Director, Stuart Kaufman, Esq. - LASNNY Staff Attorney, & Marlene Morales, Esq. - LASNNY Race Equity Director