Legal
About This Service
We have a staff of experienced attorneys, accredited immigration advocates, and volunteers who provide free legal services to people living with HIV/AIDS in NYC. We assist clients with immigration matters, eviction prevention, employment discrimination, debt collection, bankruptcy, public benefits, wills, living wills, health care proxies, and confidentiality complaints. We provide direct legal advocacy, representation, pro se advice, and appropriate referrals.
Types of Legal Matters
We do not provide assistance or advice in criminal cases.
To access legal services as a client, you must be a registered GMHC client living in New York City. To find out how to become a GMHC client, please call 212-367-1500.
For Immigration matters, please call (212) 367-1308. Para asuntos de inmigración (en espanol), llame al (212) 367-1328.
For civil legal services, please call 212-367-1144.
Discrimination
We assist clients who have been discriminated against in employment or public accommodations. We also assist clients with reasonable accommodations issues. For more information, please contact legal@gmhc.org or call 212-367-1144.
Employment
We advise and represent clients who are unable to continue working due to their HIV illness or may need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
We assist clients interested in applying for disability benefits.
We advise clients whose health conditions have improved and are considering returning to work, or accessing work for the first time. For more information, please contact legal@gmhc.org or call 212-367-1144.
Government Benefits
We advise clients regarding government benefits, including HRA/HASA, and SSD/I. We also assist with employer and private long- and short-term disability policies as well as life insurance matters. For more information, please contact legal@gmhc.org.
We assist clients in need of wills, health care proxies, living wills, powers of attorney, and appointments of agent to control disposition of remains. For more information, please contact legal@gmhc.org or call 212-367-1144.
Landlord/Tenant
We assist clients facing eviction due to non-payment or holdover petitions.
Upsolve is a national nonprofit that helps low-income individuals file bankruptcy for free. To see if you’re eligible, visit Upsolve’s bankruptcy website.
Immigration Legal Services
We assist clients to obtain “green cards,” work authorizations, asylum, citizenship, family based petition, benefits and other immigration issues. Immigration matters are handled by appointment only. This service is free to anyone, regardless of HIV status. To make an appointment, please contact legalimmigration@gmhc.org or call 212-367-1328 or 212-367-1308.
Free Assistance with DACA & Naturalization Applications & Immigration Legal Consultations.
GMHC is now working with the Office for New Americans to offer free assistance with:
• Immigration consultations
• Deferred Action Applications for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
• Citizenship Applications
GMHC is pursuing this project with seven community-based organizations operating in Queens and Brooklyn. To see if you qualify for our assistance, please call 212-367-1308 or email vishalt@gmhc.org.
Legal
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, most of our services are designed to serve the needs of people who have tested positive for HIV.
You can complete the secure and confidential form on this page or call (212) 367-1057. Due to COVID-19, staff are providing remote intake services by phone for people who wish to become a GMHC client and access services. Staff will assess your needs and make referrals to programs and services provided by GMHC and/or our partners throughout New York City.
Yes, our services have different eligibility requirements. An intake specialist can help you understand requirements for our different services.
Contacts
Immigration matters: Vishal Trivedi, director, Legal Center, at immigrationlegal@gmhc.org or Ph. 212-367-1308.
Non-immigration related civil legal services: Jonathan Russo, director, Legal Center, at legal@gmhc.org or Ph. 212-367-1144
Para asuntos de Inmigración (en español), llame al (212) 367-1328.
