Mannion announces $108,300 for legal aid organizations

Senator John W. Mannion recently announced awards totaling $108,300 to support legal aid organizations in Central New York. The funding will help ensure everyone has access to proper legal services regardless of their income level.

The organizations Senator Mannion is assisting provide representation in court, immigration services, help for victims of domestic violence, as well as housing, healthcare, employment and other issues that require legal guidance.

Senator John W. Mannion (SD-50) said, “The ability to access the legal system is foundational to our country. I am proud to have secured these funds to support our outstanding legal aid organizations and am incredibly grateful for their work across Central New York.”

Senator Mannion has made the following awards totaling $108,300:

• Volunteer Lawyers Project of Onondaga County $21,975
• Legal Services of Central NY $27,500
• Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York $21,975
• Hiscock Legal Aid Society $21,975
• HomeHeadquarters Inc $14,875

Executive Director of Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc., Paul Lupia, Esq., said, “The Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc. (LASMNY) is extremely grateful to Senator Mannion for securing an award of $21,975 to help LASMNY with operational expenses in Onondaga and Oswego Counties.  These funds will be used to support our staff in providing legal services affecting the essentials of life:  protection from domestic violence; preventing evictions; preventing foreclosure; and securing Social Security Disability benefits.  These funds come to us at a time when the need for our services is increasing and are greatly appreciated by our Board of Directors, staff and most importantly, the client community that we serve.”

Executive Director, President & CEO of the Frank H. Hiscock Legal Aid Society, Gregory W. Dewan, Esq., said, “I am grateful for the funding that Senator Mannion awarded to our agency, and appreciate the recognition of the positive impact that free legal representation has on our community.  The Senator’s support increases our ability to help stabilize and preserve family relationships and finances, prevent homelessness, and support survivors of domestic violence.”

Chief Executive Officer of Home HeadQuarters, Kerry Quaglia, said,“Home HeadQuarters has served more than 100 households with mortgage delinquencies in the last two years as a result of the pandemic.  The funds provided by Senator Mannion and NYS will be critical as some of these customers move through the court system to resolve their foreclosure crisis. Preventing foreclosures benefits entire neighborhoods by limiting vacant homes that often end up stranded in limbo, dragging down surrounding property values. We thank Senator Mannion for his continued support of our programming.”

Executive Director of Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY, Inc., Sally Curran, Esq., said, “The leadership that Senator Mannion is taking in ensuring that free legal assistance is available to those in need in CNY is so appreciated. With this support of this funding, the Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY, Inc. will be able to expand access to legal assistance to arrivals from Afghanistan and Ukraine, provide defense from eviction to tenants, ensure that LGBT rights are upheld, that veterans have access to legal assistance, that the community has legal barriers to economic justice removed and so much more. VLPCNY is so grateful.”

Executive Director of Legal Services of Central New York, Dennis Kaufman, said, “Legal Services of Central New York is extremely grateful to Senator Mannion for funding that he has provided in support of our mission.  LSCNY provides lawyers to help Central New York residents secure the essentials of life, including housing, employment, health care, and family safety.  The funding which Senator Mannion has secured will help us assist even more people with these critical needs, as our communities start to emerge from COVID.”