NJ Human Services Announces Partnership with Community Health Law Project
NJ Human Services Announces Partnership with Community
Health Law Project to Increase Access to Legal Services for Deaf
and Hard of Hearing Individuals with Lower
Incomes
July 26, 2021
(TRENTON) -
Human Services Acting
Commissioner Sarah Adelman today announced that the Department
has partnered with the Community Health Law Project to increase
access to legal services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals
with lower incomes.
The partnership is a collaboration between Human Services'
Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH) and Division of Mental
Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS).
Through the partnership, eligible deaf and hard of hearing
individuals can receive legal assistance and supports with
matters related to their public assistance, health insurance,
social security benefits, landlord-tenant disputes, foreclosure
defense, family law issues, consumer protection and debt
collection and more. In addition, CHLP is able to meet
communication access needs including ASL interpreting and
captioning.
Since 1976, the Community Health Law Project (CHLP) has provided legal and
advocacy services to New Jersey residents with disabilities. They
serve individuals who have a mental illness, individuals with
various types of disabilities, and individuals living HIV/AIDS.
Each year, CHLP helps nearly 5,000 New Jersey residents with
disabilities through legal brief service and
representation.
The partnership stems from funding investments in the Division of
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing included in the state budget
recently signed by Governor Murphy.
"The Murphy Administration is committed to creating a stronger
and fairer New Jersey, and this partnership helps turn this
commitment into reality for deaf and hard of hearing
individuals," Acting Commissioner Adelman said. "This is about
increasing access to legal services for deaf and hard of hearing
New Jerseyans and ensuring their communication needs are
supported when seeking legal representation and support. I am
very excited for the lasting impact this partnership will have
for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing."
"The Community Health Law Project has been providing legal
services to low income individuals with various disabilities for
the past 45 years," said Community Health Law Project Associate
Executive Director Erika Kerber-Spitz. "We are thrilled to now be
partnering with the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and
the Department of Human Services to provide our services to low
income consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing. We know that
these individuals have historically been underserved and we are
so pleased to be able to offer them the legal assistance they may
need to help them live and thrive in their communities. As with
our other clientele, we will provide these consumers with
assistance in various civil law matters ranging from housing,
public entitlements, family matters, consumer issues,
discrimination and public accommodation issues, as well as other
civil law matters. We are grateful to the Division of the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing and the Department of Human Services for the
opportunity to provide our assistance to this
population."
"This new partnership will improve outcomes for individuals who
are deaf and hard of hearing in need of legal services," Deputy
Commissioner Elisa Neira said. "And we know that not only
includes being able to access an attorney but also being
supported with their specific communication needs which plays a
key role in creating better outcomes for the
individual."
"We are very excited to be taking this step toward ensuring the
important legal needs of deaf and hard of hearing individuals
with lower incomes are being addressed," Division of the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing Executive Director Elizabeth Hill said. "It is
critical that those in need have access to the same services as
their peers that permit them to live full and fair
lives."
"We look forward to this new partnership positively benefiting
deaf and hard of hearing New Jerseyans with lower incomes,"
Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services Assistant
Commissioner Valerie Mielke said. "This is an exciting
opportunity and we look forward to being a part of providing
essential legal services to those who qualify."
Individuals interested in these services can contact their CHLP
local office to check if they are eligible and get help. Please
refer to the list below to determine which office to contact:
Community Health Law Project
Offices:
Administration
South Orange, NJ 07079
185 Valley Street
Phone: (973) 275-1175
Fax: (973) 275-5210
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
650 Bloomfield Avenue, Suite 210
Phone: (973) 680-5599
Fax: (973) 680-1488
TTY: (973) 680-1116
Collingswood, NJ 08108
Station House Office Building
900 Haddon Avenue, Suite 400
Collingswood, NJ 08108
Phone/TTY: (856) 858-9500
Fax: (856) 858-9545
E-mail: Collingswood@chlp.org
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
65 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 402
Phone: (908) 355-8282
Fax: (908) 355-3724
TTY: (908) 355-3369
Galloway, NJ 08205
160 South Pitney Road
Galloway, NJ 08205
Phone: (856) 858-9500
Jersey City, NJ 07306
35 Journal Square, Suite 831
Phone: (201) 630-6201
Fax: (908) 355-3724
Mount Holly, NJ 08060
4 Commerce Place
Phone: (609) 261-3453
Fax: (609) 261-8596
Neptune, NJ 07753
3301 Rt. 66
Bldg. C, Suite 130
Phone: (732) 380-1012
Fax: (732) 380-1015
E-mail: Neptune@chlp.org
Toms River, NJ 08753
250 Washington Street, Suite 5
Phone: (732) 349-6714
Fax: (732) 349-6935
Trenton, NJ 08608
225 East State Street, Suite 5
Phone: (609) 392-5553
Fax/TTY: (609) 392-5369
E-mail: Trenton@chlp.org