rebalancing justice ANNUAL REPORT 2016

Transcription

1 rebalancing justice ANNUAL REPORT 2016

2 Throughout 2016, New Legal Assistance Association (LAA) continued to advocate for Greater New s most vulnerable residents: domestic violence victims, disabled children and adults, low-wage workers, tenants at risk of becoming homeless, students wrongfully denied special education services, immigrants facing deportation, and many more. Our clients all live in poverty and without our assistance, they would otherwise go without legal representation and access to the justice system. In January 2016, LAA began a new collaboration with Yale Law School to host two clinical programs for their law students at New Legal Assistance. We began hosting clinics to assist clients with immigration, employment, family, and various other matters. The students get course credit and our clients benefit from the students energetic work on their cases. During our annual Equal Access to Justice reception in May of 2016, we were pleased to recognize Steve Wizner and J.L. Pottenger, Jr., both Professors at Yale Law School. We were delighted to celebrate their tireless advocacy, time, and energy to ensuring greater access to justice for low-income people. Finally, in 2016 we bid farewell to LAA s executive director, Susan Garcia Nofi. Susan served as LAA s executive director for 4 years. We thank Susan for her many years of service to LAA as a staff attorney and as deputy director. LAA is a better place because of Susan s leadership and compassion. As LAA s clients face even more difficult times, we continue to need your support. The challenges plaguing people living in poverty in Connecticut are great. It is imperative that we meet this tremendous need. Thank you for your continued dedication to LAA. Alexis H. Smith Executive Director

3 New Cases Cases opened by type Board of Directors BEVERLY HODGSON, PRESIDENT HIRAM BRETT, VICE PRESIDENT JENNIFER WILLCOX, TREASURER BARBARA BELLUCCI SISTER MARYELLEN BURNS MAGGIE CASTINADO MICHAEL CALDWELL SCOTT CASPER JENNIFER CELENTANO THOMAS J. DEMBINSKI JOHN DOROGHAZI EVETTE HAMILTON JAMES HORWITZ SUNG-HO HWANG SCOTT JONES BARBARA KATZ KIA LEVEY MICHAEL MCCABE CHERIE G. PHOENIX DAVID REIF ANDREW SCHAFFER BEN A. SOLNIT ELIZABETH STEWART J.L. Pottenger, Yale Law School, and Frank Dineen, LAA Senior Counsel. 2. Stephen Wizner, Yale Law School. 3. Stephen Wizner, Yale Law School; Senator Ted Kennedy; and J.L. Pottenger, Yale Law School. 4. Don Philips, Executive Director, Connecticut Bar Foundation; Susan Garcia Nofi, former Excecutive Director, LAA; Monte Frank, President, Connecticut Bar Association. 39% 1 12% 11% 2% 2% 1% Housing Education Family Juvenile Immigration/Individual Rights Benefits Health Consumer Utilities Employment Pardons Other Criminal Cases opened by town Cheshire Friends of New Legal Assistance JENNY CHOU BEVERLY HODGSON CO-CHAIRPERSONS MOLLY ARABOLOS MAUREEN BURNS SCOTT E. CASPER, MD PAMELA CHAMBERS HOWARD FETNER JAMES HORWITZ RICHARD JACOBS ANIKA SINGH LEMAR ELIZABETH MCKENNA FRANK MOTTOLA III MICHAEL NEUBERT DAVID A. REIF STUART WARNER KRISTEN ZAEHRINGER HONORARY APPOINTEES FRED DANFORTH ELISE PARKER ROBERT SCHMALZ CTLawHelp.org is a self-help website that operates out of LAA. It provides free legal information, legal rights education, and support for self-represented parties who have very low income. In 2016, CTLawHelp.org had 2,075,879 visits and 3,166,563 pageviews. CLIENTS IN THEIR OWN WORDS She saved my house. Not just for me, but for my four children. I am very happy with everything. I am very grateful for the help I received. It is wonderful that these free services are available for low income people. Thank you. 58% 9% 8% Oxford Shelton Seymour Beacon Falls Ansonia Derby Milford Woodbridge Orange Bethany West Hamden New North East Wallingford North Branford Branford New West Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Oxford, Derby, Seymour, Shelton Hamden, Cheshire East, North, Wallingford Milford, Orange, Woodbridge, Bethany Branford, Guilford, Madison, North Branford Other Guilford Madison

4 Income & Expenses How our funding is spent 85% Client Services 1 Administration 2% Fundraising INCOME 2015 % 2015 AUDITED UNAUDITED IOLTA/Legislative Appropriation 13.8% 553, % 600,503 Court Filing Fees 50.7% 2,038, % 1,947,675 Community Foundation of Gr. New 1. 50, % 61,666 Contribution - Cash/In-kind 9.2% 370, % 483,260 Federal/State Grants 19.1% 767, ,543 Other Grants 4.2% 167, ,260 Other Income 1.8% 72, % 156,749 TOTALS 100% 4,019, % 4,214,656 EXPENSES Salaries-Cash/In-kind 60.7% 2,425, ,556,367 Benefits 23.1% 922, % 956,941 Contracts & Consulting , % 216,779 Office Expenses 2.5% 98, ,830 Occupancy , % 175,454 Training, Travel, Membership, Professional Fees 1. 52, % 50,544 Research & Litigation 1. 57, ,020 Insurance 0. 22, % 22,653 Fund Raising Expenses 0. 11, ,551 Other Expenses 0.2% 9, % 8,179 Depreciation 0.2% 9, % 2,569 TOTALS 100% 3,998, % 4,160,887 *Based on 2015 audit by Blum, Shapiro & Company, P.C. and unaudited 2016.

5 2017 & 2016 Spring Appeal Annual Report Upcoming Events May 30, 2017 R.J. Julia Booksellers and New Legal Assistance present Scott Turow, Testimony at the Madison Beach Hotel. September 4, th Annual Faxon Law New Road Race LAA is a signature charity! Get a complimentary race entry when you raise $250 or more. Visit for details. August 18 26, 2017 Connecticut Open: Save 25% and help LAA raise funds! Use promo code CO17NHLAA and the CT Open will donate 50% of the ticket price back to LAA. Visit for more information. 426 STATE ST. NEW HAVEN, CT NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 451 NEW HAVEN, CT