New York Legal Services Coalition

30/06/2026

Last week, we joined nonprofit leaders, advocates, and elected officials to celebrate the passage of long-overdue nonprofit contracting reforms and urged Governor Kathy Hochul to sign them into law.
Nonprofits provide housing assistance, legal services, healthcare, workforce development, and other essential supports that millions of New Yorkers rely on every day. Yet too often, organizations are forced to wait months—or even longer—to be paid for services they've already delivered.

The legislation passed by both chambers would create clearer payment timelines, strengthen accountability, and provide advance payments to help nonprofits maintain services without interruption.
Thank you to State Senator Shelley Mayer and Assemblywoman Amy R. Paulin for championing these reforms. Now it's time to get them signed into law.

Click here for photos and video from the press conference.

09/06/2026

Big news for New York nonprofits: The Legislature has passed landmark contracting reform legislation that will help fix the State’s broken payment system for nonprofit providers.

For too long, nonprofits delivering vital services – including civil legal services – have waited years—to be paid for work already completed. These delays force organizations to take on debt, drain reserves, and divert resources away from the communities they serve.

This legislation, sponsored by Senator Shelley Mayer and Assemblymember Amy Paulin, will establish clearer payment timelines, improve accountability and transparency, expand access to bridge financing, and help ensure nonprofits can focus on serving New Yorkers rather than navigating bureaucratic delays.

Thank you to Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Carl Heastie, our bill sponsors and all the legislators who voted for this for recognizing the urgency of this issue and advancing these critical reforms.

The Legislature has acted. Now it's time to finish the job. Governor Kathy Hochul, please sign S.9761/A.10741 into law.




Read more here: https://westfaironline.com/economy/nonprofits-urge-hochul-to-sign-reform-bill-when-it-reaches-her-desk/

03/06/2026

Nonprofits across New York are still waiting on delayed contract payments and facing unpredictable funding processes that make it harder to keep serving communities.

When funding is delayed, essential services are put at risk — from legal aid to housing support to healthcare and education.

Lawmakers can fix this. It only takes a minute to send a message urging legislators to improve nonprofit contracting and ensure organizations get paid on time.

Take action here:

May 2026 Contracting Action Alert

29/05/2026

The FY27 New York State Budget includes major investments in civil legal services that will help providers meet rising demand across the state.

At a time when many New Yorkers face eviction, immigration proceedings, domestic violence, and loss of essential income without guaranteed legal representation, these investments are critical.

The budget:
• Restores full IOLA spending authority ($102.5M)
• Increases OCA civil legal services funding by $25M
• Adds $10M for immigration legal services through ONA

Thank you to Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Judiciary Chair Luis Sepúlveda, Assembly Judiciary Chair Charles Lavine, and Chief Judge Rowan Wilson for recognizing the importance of stable, sustained funding for civil legal services.

We look forward to continuing work on nonprofit contracting reforms before the end of session.

Read our full statement here: https://nylscoalition.org/sfy27-ny-budget

NY Legal Services Coalition Applauds Final Budget Investments in Civil Legal Services, Strengthening Access to Justice Statewide Budget fortifies core funding streams that help low-income New Yorkers access housing, safety, and essential benefits

20/04/2026

So many New Yorkers are struggling to get by right now with an ever-increasing cost of living, a housing crisis, and day-to-day setbacks that put stability just out of reach. Thankfully, Legal Services NYC is here to help see them through another day, but we need Gov. Hochuls' support in fully funding IOLA (interest on lawyers account) in this year's budget to meet New Yorkers' growing demand for our services. Read more about what's at stake in the link: https://qns.com/2026/04/new-yorkers-homes-funding-civil-legal-services/

09/04/2026

For transgender people, a name carries weight. It can determine whether one moves through the world safely — or faces discrimination and danger.

31/03/2026

For every immigrant served by nonprofit legal providers in New York, 10 are turned away. The system is being strained.
A new New York Legal Services Coalition report details how the Trump administration’s devastating immigration crackdown is driving unprecedented demand for legal help—while leaving thousands without representation.

“The stakes in these cases could not be higher: family separation, prolonged detention, and return to life-threatening conditions,” said Sal Curran of Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY, Inc.

The report also spotlights real stories behind the data. Adelso, an asylum applicant detained by ICE earlier this year, was released in just weeks because he had access to an attorney. But others without representation remain detained for months or longer.
Without a lawyer, immigrants are far more likely to face detention or deportation, regardless of the strength of their case.

📰 Read Rebecca Lewis’ coverage in City and State NY:

Immigrant rights advocates want state leaders to approve landmark new funding and legislation to improve access to attorneys for immigrants amid a hostile federal government

19/03/2026

Yesterday, Empire Justice Center was proud to join lawmakers, civil legal service providers, bar leaders, and advocates in Albany to call for full funding of IOLA— a critical funding stream that supports access to justice across New York.

As our President & CEO, Kristin Brown Lilley shared:

“Civil legal services help families facing eviction, survivors of domestic violence, immigrants seeking stability, and older adults protecting their income navigate a complex legal system.

In 2024 alone, IOLA grantees closed nearly 341,000 cases, impacting over 11 million New Yorkers.

IOLA is one of the core sources of funding allowing us to do this work. And importantly, it is not taxpayer money. The funding is generated from interest on attorney escrow accounts and held for the sole statutory purpose of supporting the provision of civil legal services to low-income New Yorkers. However, the funds do need to be appropriated through the budget process, which is why we are here today."

(photo credit: Anat Gerstein, Inc.)