* Helps needy men, women and children through the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. This program consists of cash assistance to eligible needy families that include a minor child living with a parent (including families where both parents are in the household) or a caretaker relative. * Offers quality housing unit/repair.* Provides information and referral for DHS clients experiencing difficulties with landlords through the Landlord hotline.* Offers the employment unit that assists in job seeking services.* Provides assistance safety planning, obtaining legal documents, and securing safe shelter to TANF clients who are victims of domestic violence.

Assistance to low-income individuals with civil legal issues in areas of: Public benefits (including Public Assistance, Food Stamps, HEAP, and Medicaid) Unemployment insurance (denials and terminations) Housing issues (including landlord/tenant relations, evictions, homelessness prevention, public housing and subsidized housing (Section 8) Social Security Disability (SSD) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) denials, terminations, overpayments and underpayments Foreclosure services, including: representation at settlement conferences foreclosure defenses help getting loan modifications (before or after a foreclosure action has been filed) negotiating with lenders and loan servicers help with short sales help to tenants living in foreclosed properties facing eviction Employment Rights and Rights of Persons with Criminal Records (Tompkins, Tioga, Chemung and Schuyler Counties) Employment Discrimination Employment Clearance for Background Checks by Public Agencies Certificates of Relief from Disability/ Certificates of Good Conduct Public Benefits denials based on Criminal Record ("Fleeing Felon" and UIB Misconduct) Employment Discrimination based on Criminal Record (Re-entry issues) Legal education and advice to community groups; and other non-criminal cases Uncontested divorces may be handled by pro bono (volunteer) attorneys or through pro se (do it yourself) clinics. Call for availability. DOES NOT HANDLE: criminal cases traffic violations DUIs security deposit returns small claims court cases Family Court issues divorce Provides services via referral from these organizations: Tompkins and Tioga County Offices for the Aging: counsel and advice or brief service without regard to income for senior citizens Advocacy Center: limited legal services to adult victims of sexual assault A New Hope Center: limited legal services to adult victims of sexual assault

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

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.

Provides family, community, commercial, and special mediation (custody/visitation, family issues, landlord/tenant, consumer/merchant, and special education). Provides arbitration and small claims court mediation. Offers educational services to schools and groups/organizations/businesses on conflict resolution, and peer mediation.

Provides civil legal services regarding housing issues, consumer problems, income security/benefits, and language access.

Provides civil legal services regarding housing issues, consumer problems, income security/benefits, and language access.

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.

Provides mediation programs to help people solve their problems, no matter the situation or setting. Mediation can: - Help couples looking to get divorced and or separated - Help landlords and tenants work out issues - Help parents and schools agree on special education matters - Help employees and employers resolve conflict - Help neighbors restore harmony in the community - Help families handle issues with teens, siblings, and aging adults - Help parents work out custody and visitation arrangements - Help parties with legal issues who are looking for an alternative to court Services are offered virtually, over the phone, and in person. In addition to mediation programs, the Center collaborates with local civil legal services providers to offer holistic legal services for victims of crime in Erie, Niagara, and Genesee counties. Center staff will work with victims to identify legal issues and to discuss pathways to achieving justice. The Center also offers Education and Training workshops that provide skills-based trainings, consultation, and coaching services.

Provides civil legal services in the following areas: - Family Law: Assists with domestic violence cases, as well as with child support and divorce cases on a limited basis. - Housing: * Until further notice, the Housing Unit can only provide assistance with ERAP application issues and illegal lockout emergencies (ex: landlord changed locks, stopped a utility, etc. without going to court); cannot assist with any other housing-related issues at this time.* Typically assists with evictions, housing conditions, Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) issues, public and subsidized housing applications, terminations, illegal lockouts, landlord/tenant matters, and other issues. - Disability: Assists with SSI Appeals, SSI/SSD applications, advocacy for disabled individuals, benefits counseling, and funding of medical equipment. - Public Benefits: Assists with public assistance, food stamps/SNAP, Medicaid, denial of emergency rental and/or utility assistance, and homeless benefits. - Consumer Law: Assists with unfair debt collection practices and wage garnishment. Does not handle criminal cases, traffic tickets, money damage actions, estate work and real estate closings, torts, small claims court cases, worker's compensation cases, or unemployment.

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.

Offers legal counseling, information, and assistance with such concerns as Health Care Proxy, wills, guardianship, power of attorney, living wills and trusts, consumer fraud, contractual disputes, tenant-landlord disputes, home ownership questions, neighbor disputes, Social Security questions, Medicare and Medicaid related problems, SSI application, and eligibility questions.

* Provides a variety of services to ensure that residents, regardless of income, are able to sustain safe and affordable housing. Foreclosure Prevention Services - Homeowners delinquent in their mortgage payments or in jeopardy of foreclosure can receive counseling to examine their budget, explore their options and establish an action plan. Certified Counselors assist with setting up repayment plans, loan modifications, short payoffs and deed in lieu of foreclosure. There is no fee for these services. Online Homebuyer Education Classes - Provides classes online through eHome. Upon completion clients will schedule a short session with an Agency housing counselor to answer any remaining questions and receive their certificate. Rental Counseling - Provides assistance in securing rental housing or negotiating issues with their current landlord. Credit Counseling.

ITU is a union by and for the tenants of Ithaca, to protect tenant rights and advance tenant collective power. It offers help with tenancy issues and has a helpline where volunteer tenants with experience can offer solidarity and limited support. It has an Upstate NY Tenant's Rights Guide (https://www.ithacatu.org/rights) available online. It also advocates for public policy that protects tenants.

Housing navigation assistance for Tompkins County residents. Assistance with the following:Eviction preventionThe process of accessing rental, legal, financial, and other resourcesEviction court attendance and tenant supportNavigating tenant and landlord issuesOutreach to affordable housing developments and other community locations

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.

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

Provides on-site emergency food pantry for residents of specific streets in Niagara Falls (call for details) and information on meal planning and budgeting. Also distributes food donations (separate from pantry services) three days per week; first come, first served. Items and quantities vary each week according to donations received, and are given out until they're gone. Provides back rent, mortgage, and utility payment assistance to low income residents of Niagara Falls when funds are available; funds are currently unavailable. Fair Housing Advocacy Program assists individuals who feel they are victims of discrimination when purchasing or renting a home. Provides information, assessment, and referral to the appropriate federal, state, or local human rights agency or court. Housing location services and landlord/tenant advocacy also provided. Individual advocacy, information and referral, application assistance, case management, asset management, and budget counseling available.

Provides civil legal services for mental health consumers, including assistance related to: - Social Security Disability (SSD): Initial Benefits, Cessations, Overpayments - Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Initial Benefits, Child Benefits, Cessations, Overpayments, PASS - Medicaid/Medicare - Public Assistance: Food Stamps (SNAP), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) - Housing: Landlord/Tenant issues, evictions, Section 8 informal hearings - Consumer Law: Debt collection assistance, student loan discharge, bankruptcy - Family Law: Child support modifications, divorce, custody and visitation

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.

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.

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

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

* Helps needy men, women and children through the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. This program consists of cash assistance to eligible needy families that include a minor child living with a parent (including families where both parents are in the household) or a caretaker relative. * Offers quality housing unit/repair.* Provides information and referral for DHS clients experiencing difficulties with landlords through the Landlord hotline.* Offers the employment unit that assists in job seeking services.* Provides assistance safety planning, obtaining legal documents, and securing safe shelter to TANF clients who are victims of domestic violence.