Thank God for MFY legal aid. It is absolutely necessary to have a decent society. When you have no
money or power, you really need a place to go for justice.
—MFY Client

Overview of Programs & Projects

MFY's programs reach individuals and families facing crises on basic issues, such as housing, government benefits, employment, health care, consumer debt, and family issues.

Neighborhood Preservation Project helps preserve affordable housing in Manhattan neighborhoods and protects housing stock on which low-income and marginalized populations depend. Our East Side SRO Law Project defends the rights of Single Room Occupancy tenants facing eviction and confronting illegal conversions.

Mental Health Law Project assists over 1,400 mentally disabled individuals living in apartments in their communities and in adult care facilities, providing advocacy services, consultation, advice, direct representation, and trainings. Adult Home Advocacy Project provides advocacy and trainings to adult home residents throughout New York City and pursues individual and affirmative litigation on issues that impact adult home residents.

Workplace Justice Project provides free legal assistance for low-wage workers on wage and hour violations, unpaid wages, unemployment, and other employment-related issues.

Kinship Caregiver Law Project links low-income kinship caregivers seeking legal custody, guardianship or adoption assistance with private pro bono attorneys and trains these attorneys to represent families in court. The Project also provides assists kincare families in securing public benefits to which they are entitled.

Manhattan Seniors Project provides civil legal services to seniors living in Manhattan to help them live independent, healthy and productive lives. The project is operated in partnership with the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation.

Consumer Rights Project provides advice, counsel and representation to low-income New Yorkers on a wide range of consumer issues, including debt, improper judgments, financial scams, identity theft, or other forms of financial exploitation.

Lower Manhattan Justice Project helps preserve and promote economic and cultural diversity in Lower Manhattan by increasing access to justice for low- and moderate-income residents and workers, focusing on neighborhoods that were negatively impacted by 9/11. The project provides free legal advice, counsel and representation on housing, employment, consumer, elderlaw and 9/11 health issues.

Foreclosure Prevention Project provides free legal assistance for New York City homeowners facing foreclosure or who are victims of foreclosure rescue scams or abusive loan servicing practices. The project focuses on helping homeowners in hard-hit areas of Queens and Staten Island.

Illegal Boarding House Project works to improve the conditions of people living in illegal boarding houses (also known as three-quarter houses) and protect their rights as tenants. Through training and advocacy the project also works to end the placement of people with disabilities in settings that are unhealthy and dangerous.