At The Legal Aid Society our Civil, Criminal Defense, Juvenile Rights, and Pro Bono practices work tirelessly in and out of the courtroom to defend our clients and dismantle the hidden, systemic barriers that can prevent them from thriving in New York City. We seek to be a beacon of hope for those who feel neglected —regardless of who they are, where they come from, or how they identify. Our experienced teams provide comprehensive services, support, and advocacy that protect rights, keep families and communities together, and in many cases, saves lives. We have an intrinsic connection to the daily lives of New Yorkers. Here are a few of the places we made a difference, provided context or added valuable perspective this week:

LAS calls for specifics on Cuomo’s rent relief program changes

Spectrum News: Cuomo Announces Executive Order To Help Needy Renters
The Real Deal: Cuomo to ease requirements for rent relief
Univision: Requisitos para el Programa de Alivio de Renta serán menos estrictos en NY
City Limits: Opinion: Albany MustFix Rent Relief Program To Serve More NY Families In Need
Capitol Pressroom: State lawmakers and Cuomo sit on hands as rent relief program falls short
Documented: Immigrants Left Out of COVID-19 Emergency Rent Relief

Settlement approved in landmark victory for homeless youth

Norwood News: Class Action Settlement Approved in Legal Aid Landmark Homeless Youth Lawsuit
Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Federal judge approves class action settlement in homeless youth lawsuit
Imprint: Settlement Expands Rights of Homeless and Runaway Youth in New York City

LAS sounds the alarm as COVID-19 rises at city jails, state prisons 

The Appeal: Families Urge Cuomo to Release Loved Ones From Prision During COVID-19
Law360: NYLJ: As New York Coronavirus Metrics Worsen, State Prisons See Outbreaks
The Appeal: America’s Biggest City Was Hit Hard by COVID-19. It’s Jails are Filling up Again.

LAS sues City to ensure reliable internet access for homeless students

Pix11: Lawsuit accuses de Blasio, NYC of leaving homeless students behind
Gotham Gazette: In Fits and Starts, De Blasio Moves Toward Internet Goal Set in 2014
Pix 11: Latest coronavirus updates in New York: Wednesday, December 2, 2020

More LAS in the news

The City: State Moves to Ban Face-Down Restraining Hold at Foster Care Facilities
NY Post: Homeless man punched, dragged off train by NYPD has charges dropped
The City: Eviction Moratorium Exception: Nearly 100 Basement Apartments Hit With Vacate Orders
NYDN: NYPD body cameras study finds few ‘statistically significant’ changes in cop behavior
Pix 11: Is NYCHA ready for winter? Some residents already sleeping with coats on
The City: MetroCard Scammer’s Been Arrested 160 Times. Can He Turn His Life Around?
NY Daily News: Legal Aid Society calls for thorough investigation into two NYC jail deaths
The Crime Report: New York Lawmakers Seek Curbs on Collecting—and Storing—Kids’ DNA
Crain’s: Appellate Courts Hal Decision to Move Homeless Men
Chalkbeat: NYC is home to more than 111,000 homeless students, new data shows