Part 2: NYLAG Attorney Interviewed on Shelter Advocacy and What She’s Learned from Her Clients

December 2, 2022
10:19 am

Wendy Weber and BJ Neal
City Relief

In part 2 of this conversation, Deborah Berkman breaks down the nuance of the public shelter options that people experiencing homelessness face; she shares what everyday people can do to make a difference.

Deborah is a Coordinating Attorney with the New York Legal Assistance Group’s Public Benefits Unit and founded NYLAG’s Shelter Advocacy Initiative, providing representation to people experiencing homelessness.

Deborah advocates for single adults and families to receive habitable emergency shelter and housing subsidies so that they may transition to permanent housing.

Clic k here to listen to the piece

Originally published on Apple Podcasts on Friday, December 2, 2022

Share this post

CityLimits: Back of the Ballot: New York Voters to Weigh In On Equal Protection Amendment This Fall

April 17, 2024 No Comments

With the Equal Protection of Law Amendment on New Yorkers’ ballots in November, Heather Betz, Director of NYLAG’s LGBTQ+ Law Unit, provided context for the amendment to CityLimits as it pertains to the LGBTQ community.

CityLimits: Newly Arrived Immigrant Youth Face Challenges to School Enrollment

March 22, 2024 No Comments

Federal law dictates that youth and young adults under 21 experiencing homelessness should be enrolled in school immediately but CityLimits spoke with various organizations working with recently arrived immigrant youth including NYLAG as they encounter obstacles to the school enrollment they’re entitled to.

CityLimits: City Hall Announces Near-Elimination of Benefits Case Backlog As Challenges Persist

March 5, 2024 No Comments

Recent updates from Adams’ administration on reducing the backlog for SNAP and cash assistance do not tell the full story. Abby Biberman, Associate Director of NYLAG’s Public Benefit Unit, highlighted with CityLimits the struggles faced by those who are being denied benefits.

Gothamist: NYC says food stamps and cash aid backlog is nearly gone after record delays

March 4, 2024 No Comments

Despite the positive news from the Adams administration, Abby Biberman, an Associate Director for NYLAG’s Public Benefits unit, spoke to Gothamist about the ongoing issue of many SNAP and Cash Assistance applicants being denied.

NYLAG Obtains FOIA Response About SSA’s Proposed Payroll Information Exchange with Equifax

February 21, 2024 No Comments

After NYLAG filed a FOIA lawsuit, SSA produced the contract it had entered into with Equifax, pricing tables, an addendum which outlined the specific standards for the Equifax payroll information exchange, and relevant data privacy and security guidelines for the development of such a system. On February 15, 2024, SSA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that sets forth a proposed rule for the use of this data matching process.

USA TODAY: Biden administration extends student loan relief talks after mounting pressure

January 31, 2024 No Comments

The US DOE has added a fourth negotiation session on student loan relief for borrowers with financial hardship, in part thanks to a letter from NYLAG Supervising Attorney Jessica Ranucci and her fellow members of the Department’s loan relief negotiating committee. Jessica spoke to USA TODAY about returning to the negotiating table.