Legal services are provided by advisors affiliated with the Center for Elder Law and Justice. Legal advisors may assist with issues such as advance directives, will preparation, elder abuse, scams, Medicare rights, pension benefits, landlord/tenant disputes, and consumer problems.

Provides free legal representation in eight counties of Western New York. The Chautauqua County office offers legal services in the areas of: - Assisted Living - Evictions - Consumer Protection - Elder Abuse Prevention - Foreclosure Prevention - Health Care Advocacy - Housing - Income Maintenance - Substituted Decision Making - Western New York Coalition Pooled Trust Also houses the Elder Advocacy Program, a cross-systems community collaboration to address elder abuse. The Elder Advocacy Program acts as a single point-of-entry for elder abuse survivors, assessing their needs and providing appropriate legal and non-legal services to end abuse and empower survivors.

Eviction Assistance: Provides help to low income who are qualified for subsidized housing and section 8 choice vouchers. For those who may not be qualified for subsidized/section 8, provide older adults, veterans, domestic violence, LGBQT, breast cancer, or individuals diagnosed with AIDS who may be a target for eviction. Landlord/Tenant Dispute Resolution: Aids individuals struggling with their landlord for reasons ranging from eviction, living conditions, recurring problems, etc. Foreclosure Assistance: helps advocate for individuals with mortgage foreclosure with guidance through the legal process and representation, if needed.

Provides advocacy and mediation for tenants and landlords in and out of court to prevent eviction or in the updating of apartments, and will help with grants up to $500 to prevent eviction to eligible individuals. Also conducts workshops to empower people to help themselves.PLEASE NOTE: Currently no direct funding available but referrals are available

Provides free legal counseling and representation for low-income individuals who need assistance in civil cases including government benefits, senior legal services, federal tax issue, unemployment insurance, disability, housing landlord/tenant, family law matters, and consumers issues.

*Offers Mediation Services

• Community Mediation includes:
  • Landlord-Tenant disputes
  • Neighbor disputes, including neighborhood or homeowner groups
  • Small claims and supreme court cases
  • Peer/school disputes
  • Special Education (IEP)/school disputes
  • Coworkers, or supervisors and subordinates
  • Disputes between the community and the police
• Family Mediation includes:
  • Divorce or separation
  • Parenting plans; including custody, visitation and child support
  • Disputes between parents and children
  • Elder care

Provides consultation and representation to older adults on elder abuse, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, consumer scams, public benefits programs, powers of attorney, health care proxies, landlord/tenant problems, and other areas of civil law. Hours available by appointment.

Community Mediation empowers individuals, community/neighborhood groups, and organizations to resolve conflicts without litigation; and to improve community group and personal relationships through neutral third party, fact finding, conciliating, facilitating, mediation and arbitration. Example of Community Conflicts: Animal Complaint Breach of Contract Consumer/Merchant Employer/Employee Eldercare Elder Mediation Family Problem Harassment Interpersonal Dispute Landlord/Tenant Neighbor/Neighbor Noise Petit Larceny Property Dispute Restitution for Damages Small Claims up to $5,000 Theft of Services Violation of Town/City Ordinance

* Provides confidential mediation and conflict resolution services. Divorce mediation and Arbitration Child custody and visitation Community mediation for quality of life issues, e.g. neighbor disputes, small claims, contractor, homeowner, landlord/tenant Restorative justice Special education mediation Vehicle lemon law Commercial arbitration Training - Conflict resolution, employee disputes, peer mediation for schools

Handles Civil Court: jurisdiction limited to damages up to $15,000, Small Claims Court - simplified procedure, damages up to $5,000, Landlord & Tenant Court - housing proceedings and evictions, Town Ordinance offenses and Community Court offenses prosecuted by the Towns.

Eviction Assistance: Provides help to low income who are qualified for subsidized housing and section 8 choice vouchers. For those who may not be qualified for subsidized/section 8, provide older adults, veterans, domestic violence, LGBQT, breast cancer, or individuals diagnosed with AIDS who may be a target for eviction. Landlord/Tenant Dispute Resolution: Aids individuals struggling with their landlord for reasons ranging from eviction, living conditions, recurring problems, etc. Foreclosure Assistance: helps advocate for individuals with mortgage foreclosure with guidance through the legal process and representation, if needed.

Eviction Assistance: Provides help to low income who are qualified for subsidized housing and section 8 choice vouchers. For those who may not be qualified for subsidized/section 8, provide older adults, veterans, domestic violence, LGBQT, breast cancer, or individuals diagnosed with AIDS who may be a target for eviction. Landlord/Tenant Dispute Resolution: Aids individuals struggling with their landlord for reasons ranging from eviction, living conditions, recurring problems, etc. Foreclosure Assistance: helps advocate for individuals with mortgage foreclosure with guidance through the legal process and representation, if needed.

Handles Civil Court: jurisdiction limited to damages up to $15,000, Small Claims Court - simplified procedure, damages up to $5,000, Landlord & Tenant Court - housing proceedings and evictions, Town Ordinance offenses and Community Court offenses prosecuted by the Towns.

Provides assistance in locating affordable housing to individuals dealing with chronic or life-threatening diseases.

Provides assistance in locating affordable housing to individuals dealing with chronic or life-threatening diseases.

Assists in locating housing, linking people to public assistance, rental subsidies and financial assistance, advocating with landlords, and assisting in conflict resolution.

In collaboration with Cornell Law schoolClients with tenancy related legal concerns can contact the housing hotline by filling out this online intake form: https://ithacatenantresources.org/tlh or by calling 607-301-1560.The Tenants Legal Hotline provides free legal advice to residential (non-commercial) tenants. Once Hotline volunteers conduct intake, tenants are connected with a law student who works closely with a licensed attorney to provide the brief advice.

Provides services to prevent homelessness and facilitates the transition from homelessness to permanent housing. Provides direct housing search assistance, advocacy, financial assistance, case management, and job skills training. Offers bus tokens to homeless individuals for transportation to Department of Social Services.

* Provides confidential mediation and conflict resolution services. Divorce mediation and Arbitration Child custody and visitation Community mediation for quality of life issues, e.g. neighbor disputes, small claims, contractor, homeowner, landlord/tenant Restorative justice Special education mediation Vehicle lemon law Commercial arbitration Training - Conflict resolution, employee disputes, peer mediation for schools

Provides referrals and general information regarding housing. Offers counseling regarding home ownership, negotiations between tenants/landlords and housing grievance complaints, eviction prevention, housing publications, assistance in obtaining rental subsidies, and housing court assistance. Rent assistance is available on a limited basis to individuals undergoing financial hardship.

Lawyers provide free civil (non-criminal) advice, counseling, advocacy, and representation to low-income individual clients/groups.

* Provides confidential mediation and conflict resolution services. Divorce mediation and Arbitration Child custody and visitation Community mediation for quality of life issues, e.g. neighbor disputes, small claims, contractor, homeowner, landlord/tenant Restorative justice Special education mediation Vehicle lemon law Commercial arbitration Training - Conflict resolution, employee disputes, peer mediation for schools

Lawyers provide free civil (non-criminal) advice, counseling, advocacy, and representation to low-income individual clients/groups.

Provides assistance to individuals and families facing eviction. Intervention between landlord and tenant and information about both parties' rights and responsibilities is offered.