We are among the first responders in times of crisis.
When disaster strikes, the effects on people experiencing poverty can be even more dire. NYLAG has always been among the first responders, providing legal assistance to victims of 9/11, families affected by Superstorm Sandy, and most recently, people impacted by COVID-19.
Over the last several months, NYLAG has pivoted to meet the evolving needs of our clients. All of our practice areas shifted to a virtual model to ensure our clients retained access to our services. We also implemented two COVID-19 legal hotlines, one for NYC residents and the other for NYC hospital patients, to provide dedicated legal services to frontline workers, individuals who are sick, and those most impacted by the pandemic. We continue to engage in policy advocacy on some of the most urgent issues stemming or exacerbated by COVID-19, including the housing crisis, undocumented immigrants detained in COVID infested detention centers, the uptick in domestic violence cases, and much more.
The devastating effects of COVID-19
For our clients experiencing poverty, things have gotten worse.
The effects of COVID-19 have been devastating for our clients, many of whom are people of color and are living at or below the poverty line. Poverty in New York City is growing at record rates. Unemployment levels are staggering. In the Bronx alone, 41% of workers have filed for unemployment. People are hungry: hunger rates among children have increased by 50% during the pandemic. Food insecurity is a phenomenon now experienced by a whole new group of previously employed New Yorkers.
COVID-19 has exacerbated the racial and wealth gap.
69% of all jobs lost have been lost by workers of color, and 57% of low-wage workers have lost income. By contrast, we know that many in NYC who work in higher-paying jobs have not experienced a loss of income. Experts suggest that NYC’s economy will not recover until 2025, and jobs held by low-wage workers and people of color will take the longest to return.
Recovery will require lawyers.
We know that lawyers will be on the front lines ensuring that people do not go hungry, are safe in their homes, and are free from violence.
Soon, hundreds of thousands of people will need legal services for the first time.
Never in our 30-year history has it been more important to ensure our financial resiliency. As we prepare for what lies ahead, we look to our community of friends and supporters to join us in our commitment to leverage the power of the law to mitigate the impacts of poverty.
To that end, we are embarking on a campaign to ensure NYLAG can weather the storm of COVID-19 and its aftermath. The Resiliency Fund will provide financial stability to ensure NYLAG remains strong at a time when our clients need us most in the following ways:
The economic condition of City, State, and other funders put NYLAG at risk for delays in and/or reductions of funding. The Resiliency Fund will provide a cushion that will allow the work to continue even in the face of delays or until other funding sources can be found.
This includes HR, IT, fundraising, and communications personnel. A strong infrastructure not only allows us to keep our doors open and our services free for those who need them most, but it also allows us to quickly pivot in response to the changing needs of our community.
In the face of continued economic uncertainty, the Resiliency Fund will ensure that an unexpected expense or change in circumstance does not threaten the stability of the organization or our ability to serve our community. Like many nonprofits, NYLAG does not have reserves sufficient to weather an extended storm. Help us build the foundation that will keep us strong.
