I am grateful for individuals like each of you . . . who are dedicated to the ideals of providing legal assistance to the most vulnerable of our citizens in order to fulfill the promise of equal justice for all Americans.
--Hillary Rodham Clinton

MENTAL HEALTH LAW PROJECT

MFY’s leadership in the federal class action case Fountain House et al v. MTA et al resulted in a settlement that extends eligibility for half-fare MetroCards to mental health consumers who receive SSI. This represents an enormous savings for disabled New Yorkers, most of whom subsist on less than $8,000 per year.

MFY’s experienced attorneys and paralegals represent clients in housing, SSI/SSD, public assistance, Medicaid, and other legal matters through training, advocacy, and litigation. Our work has resulted in striking successes—we have prevented the eviction of thousands of mental health consumers and obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in disability benefits.

We extend our impact further by providing expert training to social service workers on housing and government benefit issues. MFY also trains staff at 11 New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation psychiatric units to determine if a patient’s housing or benefits might become endangered as a result of their hospital stay. If a problem exists, hospital discharge planners contact MFY immediately so that steps can be taken to prevent a patient’s loss of housing and income. This pro-active approach prevents hundreds of psychiatric patients from losing their housing and becoming homeless.

Most importantly, we work to address the underlying problems of the mental health system through expert testimony, policy advocacy, and impact litigation.

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