Partners
Service Plan Guidelines 2011-2012
Service Partners |Administrative Partners
Service Partners
Catholic Social Services of Fall River, Inc. (CSS)
1600 Bay Street, Fall River, MA 02724www.cssdioc.org
Catholic Social Services of Fall River, Inc. is a multi-service, multi-sited not-for-profit organization serving Southeastern Massachusetts. It is committed to improving the quality of life for those in need by providing comprehensive social and human services including basic and emergency needs, homelessness, immigration issues, housing and residential services, disabilities, adoption, mental health counseling, elder health services, neighborhood rehabilitation services, foreclosure help, and much more. CSS works with persons of all faiths and cultures to advance human dignity and promote social justice, truth, and solidarity in our community.
Community Legal Aid
405 Main Street, 4th Floor, Worcester, MA 01608www.laccm.org
Western Massachusetts Legal Services and Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts have joined forces to create Community Legal Aid (CLA), the state-funded civil legal aid program serving central and western Massachusetts. The program provides free civil legal assistance to low-income and elderly residents of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester Counties. CLA specializes in elder law, government benefits and unemployment compensation, landlord-tenant law, humanitarian-based immigration law, housing and employment discrimination, and family law matters affecting domestic violence victims.
Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS)
197 Friend Street, Boston, MA 02114 www.gbls.org
GBLS is the principal legal aid agency in Greater Boston.
Priorities include: employment issues of low-wage workers, family law issues (particularly for victims of domestic violence); health (including Medicare) law, and disability (both physical and mental) law; housing for low-income tenants; homelessness-related legal issues; immigration/asylum law; welfare-related law; elder law; and special outreach to Asian populations with limited English proficiencies.
Lutheran Social Services of New England (LSSNE)
51 Union Street, Suite 222, Worcester, MA 01608 www.lssne.org
Lutheran Social Services (LSS) is one of the largest social service organizations in New England. We combine personalized, compassionate care with high standards of clinical sophistication and operational excellence to deliver a broad variety of services to children, youth and families; persons with developmental disabilities, mental illness and Deafness; the economically disadvantaged; refugees and older adults. In keeping with our mission, we serve and care for people in need, regardless of background or belief.
Massachusetts Fair Housing Center (MFHC)
57 Suffolk Street, Holyoke, MA 01040 www.massfairhousing.org
The Massachusetts Fair Housing Center (MFHC) is a private, non-profit fair housing organization working to eliminate illegal housing discrimination in Central and Western Massachusetts. MFHC is the only full service fair housing center serving the 1.5 million residents of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, Berkshire, and Worcester counties. MFHC, formerly the Housing Discrimination Project, has been serving this community since 1989.
Massachusetts Justice Project (MJP)
57 Suffolk Street, Suite 401, Holyoke, MA 01040
405 Main Street, Suite 300, Worcester, MA 01608 www.majp.org
MJP is the primary agency for screening and counseling low-income people in Central and Western Massachusetts.
Priorities include: Housing, elderly law, public benefits, disability, and family law. MJP performs intake for Western Massachusetts Legal Services and Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts, who have joined forces and are now Community Legal Aid.
Offices are located in Holyoke and Worcester.
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI)
99 Chauncy Street Boston, MA 02111 www.mlri.org
MLRI is a nonprofit statewide legal services support center. We advocate for low-income people, minorities, immigrants, elders, and people with disabilities in their struggles for basic human needs; defend against measures that harm people living in poverty; advocate for systemic reforms that achieve social justice; and provide support that will enable others to carry out these objectives.
Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee (MHLAC)
339 Washington Street, 4th Floor Boston, MA 02108 www.mass.gov/mhlac
MHLAC fulfills its statutory mission through legal representation of individuals, families, and associations of people involved in the mental health system; participation in the legislative process to promote and advance their legal rights; and participation in state and federal administrative processes to ensure that rights granted are effectively implemented and that services that individuals are entitled to are actually delivered. MHLAC's advocacy work reaches individuals and families who have experienced such problems as denial of access to community-based care and discrimination on the basis of disability. MHLAC also aids adults and minors in public and private facilities who need legal advice about commitment and discharge and the rights to receive or refuse treatment. The legal staff of MHLAC provides legal referrals, information, and advice to individuals, lawyers, mental health professionals and the general public. MHLAC reviews new developments in mental health, housing, family, and disability civil rights law through its legal journal, the Advisor, and publications such as the Mental Health Law Guide and the Managed Care Packet.
Merrimack Valley -- North Shore Legal Services, Inc. (MVLS)
35 John Street, Lowell, MA 01852 www.mvlegal.org
MVLS is a legal aid program which provides free legal advice and representation in civil legal cases to low-income and elderly residents of parts of Essex and Middlesex counties. Since 1974 MVLS has represented victims of domestic violence, clients from becoming homeless, children with special needs, elderly and disabled people in obtaining disability, welfare, and medical benefits, people making the transition from welfare to work, and those denied unemployment compensation.
MetroWest Legal Services, Inc. (MWLS)
63 Fountain Street, Framingham, MA 01702 www.mwlegal.org
MWLS is the primary legal aid agency in Framingham and surrounding areas.
Priorities include: Income maintenance, housing domestic relations (including domestic violence), education, elder law, and health law.
Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS)
37 Friend Street, Lynn, MA 01902
170 Common Street, Suite 300, Lawrence, MA 01840 www.neighborhoodlaw.org
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. provides free civil legal services to low income and elder residents of Essex and Northern Middlesex Counties, Massachusetts.
Priorities include: Family law, public benefits, housing and homelessness, community economic development, health care access, elder law, and employment and tax law.
Rosie's Place
889 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118 www.rosiesplace.org
Since 1974 poor and homeless women have found an oasis of hope and nourishment at Rosie's Place. The mission of Rosie's Place is to help women maintain their dignity, see opportunity and find security in their lives. Rosie's Place has evolved from providing meals and shelter to creating permanent solutions through advocacy, education and affordable housing to women as young as 18 and as old as 80, serving guests from a wide variety of ethnic groups. Some guests are living with HIV/AIDS or have hidden disabilities such as addiction or mental illnesses that prevent them from effectively integrating into society.
Shelter Legal Services (SLS)
885 Centre Street, Newton, MA 02459 www.shelterlegalservices.org
Shelter Legal Services is a non-profit organization offering free legal advice and representation to homeless and low-income individuals in the Boston area. We promote self-sufficiency, stability, and financial security through comprehensive and accessible legal services. We serve homeless and at risk clients at the Cambridge Multi-Service Center, women at Rosie's Place in Boston, and veterans at the New England Center for Homeless Veterans and the Chelsea Soldiers' Home.
South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc. (SCCLS)
Administrative Office: PO Box 2507, 22 Bedford Street, Fall River, MA 02722-2507 www.sccls.org
SCCLS is the principal legal aid agency in Southeastern Massachusetts, including Bristol and Plymouth Counties, and Cape Cod and Islands.
Priorities include: family law (especially domestic violence), housing and homelessness, government benefits (including health and disability benefits), elder law, education, and immigration/asylum.
Law offices are located in Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford, Hyannis and Taunton.
Victim Rights Law Center (VRLC)
115 Broad Street, 3rd Floor Boston, MA 02110 www.victimrights.org
Victim Rights Law Center (VRLC), Boston, is the first nonprofit law center in the nation solely dedicated to serving the needs of rape and sexual assault victims. Through direct legal services, the staff and pro bono attorneys help restore victims' lives after an attack, ensuring that they may stay in school; protecting their privileged and confidential mental health, medical and education records; preserving their employment; maintaining safe housing; securing or maintaining their immigration status; and swiftly accessing victim compensation and other benefits. VRLC is the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women’s primary trainer and technical assistance provider on these matters so that services may be replicated nationally.
Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association (VLP)
99 Chauncy Street, Suite 400, Boston, MA 02111 www.vlpnet.org
The Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents of Greater Boston, primarily through the pro bono services of private attorneys.
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ADMINISTRATIVE PARTNERS
National
Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) www.nationalservice.gov
The Corporation for National and Community Service administers AmeriCorps, and also oversees Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America. Together the programs of the Corporation provide opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and country.
AmeriCorps www.americorps.gov
AmeriCorps engages 50,000 Americans age 17 and older each year in intensive service to meet community needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other areas. Members serve with national nonprofit organizations like Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross, and Teach for America, as well as with hundreds of smaller community organizations, both secular and faith-based. Other members serve with the National Civilian Community Corps, a team-based residential program for adults ages 18 to 24, or in low-income communities with AmeriCorps VISTA. In exchange for a year of service, AmeriCorps members earn an education award that can be used to pay for college or to pay back qualified student loans.
State
Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation www.mlac.org
The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation was established by the state legislature 27 years ago to ensure that low-income people with critical, non-criminal legal problems would have access to legal information, advice and representation. We are the largest funding source for civil legal aid programs in the Commonwealth.
Massachusetts Service Alliance www.mass-service.org
The Massachusetts Service Alliance is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as the state commission on community service. Its mission is to generate an ethic of service throughout the Commonwealth by creating and supporting diverse, high quality service and volunteer opportunities for all age groups, resulting in stronger communities and more active citizens. It is the state presence of the national AmeriCorps program.
Massachusetts Bar Foundation www.massbarfoundation.org
The Massachusetts Bar Foundation represents the commitment of the lawyers and judges of Massachusetts to improve the administration of justice, to promote an understanding of the law, and to ensure equal access to the legal system for all residents of the commonwealth, particularly those who are most vulnerable. The MBF has provided scholarships to MLASSP legal aid partners with difficulty funding an AmeriCorps placement.
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