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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Mary Fox, Associate Director of Housing Conservation Coordinators
4:45:14
ยท
135 sec
Mary Fox, Associate Director of Housing Conservation Coordinators, testifies on behalf of the Legal Services of the Working Poor coalition, requesting increased funding to provide critical legal services for working poor New Yorkers. The coalition aims to address civil legal needs of those who are slightly above the poverty line but still struggle financially.
- The coalition is requesting a $600,000 allocation for fiscal year 2026, including a full restoration of the $4.55 million allocated in fiscal year 2025.
- Services provided include assistance with immigration, workers' rights, benefits, and economic justice issues.
- The testimony highlights the importance of these services in preventing working poor New Yorkers from spiraling into deeper poverty due to legal issues.
Mary Fox
4:45:14
you, chair Ayala, committee on general welfare, and to the city council for the long standing support for legal service of the work working poor coalition.
4:45:22
My name is Mary Fox, and I'm the associate director of housing conservation coordinators, one of five members of the Legal Services of the Working Poor coalition that also includes CAMBA Legal Services, Mobilization for Justice, Northern Manhattan Improvement Corp, and Take Root Justice.
4:45:37
The coalition was created with the support of counsel nearly twenty years ago to address civil legal needs of working poor whose income is slightly higher than the poorest New Yorkers, thus rendering them ineligible for free legal services from many organizations.
4:45:52
Working poor services are critical in allowing worker New Yorkers to maintain financial independence and preserving economic stability in communities across the city.
4:46:00
In fiscal twenty five, the initiative was funded at $3,450,000 which each of the five coalition members receiving 455,000.
4:46:10
In fiscal year twenty six, legal service of the Working Poor Coalition is respectfully requesting $600,000 allocation which would include a full restoration of the $4.55 allocated in '25.
4:46:21
This support will allow us to provide critical legal services and allow providers to deepen their impact in the practice areas of immigration, workers' rights, benefits, and economic justice.
4:46:33
Additionally, the impacts of cuts and actions on the federal level significantly threatened the social safety net for the working poor.
4:46:41
We continue to see working poor who can barely eat make ends meet, thus have no disposable income to pay for an attorney and they face catastrophic consequences as a result of their civil legal problems.
4:46:54
Common problems include not being paid for their work, freezing of a bank account because of a collection lawsuit they didn't know about, being denied public benefits which they are entitled.
4:47:05
Consequences of these legal issues can lead to other problems including increased risk of eviction.
4:47:11
These working New Yorkers can end up spiraling downward into the ranks of the poor if they do not have access to lawyers to assist them.
4:47:18
We represent New Yorkers in all five boroughs and we respectfully request funding during these critical times.
4:47:28
Thank you.