Law Services in the Community

Cathy Lucidi, Director of Community Relations, attended the Suffolk County Division of Community Mental Hygiene Services’ System of Care Meeting. Lucidi overviewed the services NSLS provides and eligibility criteria to an audience of mental health case managers.

Vivian Storm, Esq., Director of Communications and Community Projects, has continued to participate in the Long Island-Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (LI-VOAD) bi-weekly legal subcommittee meetings. The meetings are an opportunity to share updates on legal issues related to the pandemic and to provide information regarding NSLS operations to local government agencies, court personnel, law school staff, and others active in addressing the legal issues Long Islanders face as a result of the pandemic. Marissa Luchs Kindler, Senior Staff Attorney for the Suffolk County Civil Unit also joined Storm to provide an update on issues related to Housing Choice Vouchers and project-based housing (Section 8) during the pandemic.

Lynn Iacona, Senior Staff Attorney of the Education and Disability Rights Project presented a workshop to Touro Law students on Navigating the Special Education Process in New York- The Committee on Special Education Meeting. The students were able to learn how to assist their clients at Committee on Special Education (CSE) meetings.

Kindler gave local elected officials and their staff a training titled Using the Law to Help Your Constituents on landlord-tenant law during the pandemic. Kindler and Hannah Abrams, Staff Attorney in the Suffolk County Civil Unit, handling landlord-tenant matters on the East End of Long Island, gave a training on the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 for Section 8 Housing Authorities. They gave an overview of the landlord-tenant laws pertinent to the pandemic.

Liz Wolf, Director of Social Work, and Darlene Rosch, Staff Attorney participated in the SPARC/EOC Workshop: Health Care Proxy and Planning Ahead. They provided education and training about future care planning tools. They also presented on family stabilization support services NSLS provides.

Michael Wigutow, Senior Staff Attorney in the Foreclosure Prevention and Nassau County Civil Units attended the inaugural Long Island Housing Symposium, a forum organized by the Uniondale and Hempstead Community Land Trusts. The Symposium included community organizations, housing stakeholders, and local government officials. Wigutow presented on the rapidly changing rules related to foreclosures and evictions during the pandemic as well as financial relief options.

Dan Okrent, Staff Attorney in the Nassau County Senior Citizen Law Project presented on basic Medicaid and advanced directives through Massapequa Public Library’s virtual adult programs. Okrent also met with residents at the Mitchel Houses in East Meadow. He presented on NSLS and the work of the Senior Citizen Law Project. If you missed the presentation, visit our webpage for a recording.

Agnes Bonavoglia, who recently moved from our ICAN (Independent Consumer Advocacy Network) to our Nassau County Senior Citizen Law Project, presented on Medicaid Long-term Managed Care through the Copiague Public Library virtual adult programs.

Sharon Campo, Staff Attorney in the Consumer Debt Legal Assistance Project, provided training for advocates on Consumer Debt Collections Basics. If you missed the presentation, visit our website to view a recording.