| New Yorkers Rely on VOLS during COVID-19 |
| Dear colleague, During the COVID-19 crisis, New Yorkers are counting on Volunteers of Legal Service for support. VOLS has nimbly responded to the crisis across all our legal projects. We have relaunched our Unemployed Workers Project and created a COVID-19 Frontline & Healthcare Workers Initiative. And I am proud to support a new statewide pro bono recovery taskforce through the New York State Bar Association. Your donation to VOLS makes more than double the impact. Between today and #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5, the first $5,000 in donations to the VOLS’ emergency response effort will be matched by FJC – A Foundation of Philanthropic Funds, with an additional $2,500 match by Brooklyn Community Foundation. Will you support VOLS and help us to access these critical funds? Click here to donate. In this week’s newsletter, read about important updates and resources from VOLS, including: a) The newly re-launched VOLS Unemployed Workers Project, b) New resource guides for New Yorkers during COVID-19, and c) Updates from the VOLS legal team. Thank you for being a VOLS partner and supporter. New Yorkers know how to rally together during our most challenging times. We are proud to do so with you by our side. Best, |
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| Marcia Levy Executive Director Volunteers of Legal Service p.s. Did you complete the 2020 Census? There is still time: click here. |
| VOLS Unemployed Workers Project |
| When “New York on Pause” policies were first enacted, low-wage workers and small businesses were hit hard. VOLS immediately re-launched our Unemployed Workers Project, first created in response to the 2008 financial crisis to advise and assist on unemployment claims and appeals. Our new hotline has proven critical to recently displaced workers, one of whom recently reported to a VOLS staff member: “This is the first time I have spoken to a live person in weeks, after calling many different agencies for support.” The VOLS Unemployed Workers Project is speaking with clients who are in isolation and face unprecedented barriers to navigating the unemployment insurance system. Our role is to provide answers to low-wage workers about unemployment insurance eligibility, the claim filing process and newly enacted laws and regulations. Secondly, we will pair claimants up with a volunteer if and when they may have a hearing. The immediate need is for answers to questions about complex and fast-changing rules and resources. VOLS is part of the New York Unemployment Insurance Coalition and will continue to address new unemployment issues as they emerge. For more information, visit https://volsprobono.org/projects/unemployed-workers/ or call our Unemployed Workers Hotline at (347) 521-5720. |
| Resources During the COVID-19 Crisis |
| VOLS is keeping track of public and private resources so that New Yorkers whose health, social, or economic well-being is affected by the COVID-19 crisis can access legal support. We have published and will continue to update a special resource guide on our website: |
| New Yorkers in legal need can contact VOLS for support through our Microenterprise Project, Elderly Project and Veterans Initiative, Immigration Project, Incarcerated Mothers Law Project, Children’s Project, and our new Unemployed Workers Project: Small businesses/ VOLS Microenterprise Project: (347) 521-5729 Seniors/ VOLS Elderly Project: (347) 521-5704 Older Veterans/ VOLS Veterans Initiative: (347) 521-5725 Immigrant Youth/ VOLS Immigration Project: (347) 521-5722 Unemployed Workers/ VOLS Unemployed Workers Project: (347) 521-5720 And click below to access special VOLS resource guides for small businesses, seniors, older veterans, and immigration clients: VOLS Small Business Financial Assistance Guide during COVID-19 Video: Commercial Lease FAQs for Small Business VOLS Guide to Planning for the Future during the Public Health Crisis VOLS Guide for Immigration Clients during COVID-19 |
| Updates from the VOLS Team |
| VOLS clients are at the forefront of those impacted by COVID-19. Every day we are evaluating how we and our partners – in the legal community and at neighborhood-based groups – can best respond to the public health, social, and economic crisis: In addition to re-launching the Unemployed Workers Project, VOLS is launching a new COVID-19 Frontline & Healthcare Workers Initiative to provide free life planning documents that function to protect the workers’ legal rights, should their own health be jeopardized as a result of their service. Many immigrant youth have lost their employment in restaurants or face workplace hazards at healthcare facilities, and they seek our confidential and trusted advice to engage with public and private institutions. Our Immigration Project recently published a resource guide and update for clients with information on unemployment, DACA renewals, and immigration changes. We also thank our new corporate partner, AIG, for hosting a webinar training for potential volunteer lawyers and paralegals to assist with citizenship applications. Small business owners require urgent advice as they are losing their livelihoods, unable to pay rent or to support their employees. Our Microenterprise Project continues our emergency response to support underserved small business owners in NYC — in particular immigrant-owned businesses — with new tools including a comprehensive COVID-19 financial assistance guide and a video with answers to common questions about handling commercial leases. We recently surveyed 50 of our clients, 85% of whom have four or fewer employees. Only 3 of these 48 businesses reported as “fully operational,” and over half reported as “fully closed.” Nearly all have requested support from VOLS. People incarcerated in jails and prisons are among those most vulnerable to the rapid spread of COVID-19. All in-person visits and programming have been suspended in NYC jails and NYS prisons. Our Incarcerated Mothers Law Project continues to provide incarcerated women with pro bono assistance on family law problems via mail and phone and is expanding its outreach and referral systems. We ask NYS DOCCS to provide free acess to phone calls and emails during this pandemic. For additional information and updates, see Osborne Association’s COVID-19 resource guide and Prison Policy Initiative’s COVID-19 and the Criminal Justice System. Health-vulnerable seniors and older veterans cannot leave their homes, and VOLS must be creative about how to safely and accessibly advise them remotely on issues related to housing and life planning, including wills and powers of attorney. Our Elderly Project & Veterans Initiative are working with community partners to apprise clients about the profound impact of the public health crisis on their legal rights and personal lives. The Project encourages anyone in need of life planning documents time to reach out for assistance. Seniors should call (347) 521-5704, and senior veterans should call (347) 521-5725 to speak with an attorney. They can also view our VOLS life planning guide and informational video. |
| Join the VOLS COVID-19 Emergency Response |
| If you are affiliated with a VOLS partner law firm or company and would like to volunteer, please contact your company’s pro bono counsel. Make a donation to support VOLS’ response to COVID-19 and re-launch of the VOLS Unemployed Workers Project. FJC matching the first $5,000 in donations to VOLS, and Brooklyn Community Foundation will match $2,500: https://www.brooklyngives.org/organizations/vols-volunteers-of-legal-service. Forward this email and ask your friends to sign up for the VOLS e-newsletter at www.volsprobono.org/join. |