MATRIMONIAL/ECONOMIC JUSTICE PROJECT
The Many Faces We Serve
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The Matrimonial/Economic Justice Project at Sanctuary for Families assists working poor and indigent domestic violence victims with legal assistance and representation in obtaining economic support, child custody, and other relief to which they are entitled after leaving their abusers.
The Matrimonial Project offers expert representation to battered women in uncontested and complex, contested divorce cases. The Project recruits, trains, and mentors attorneys from the private bar and works to sensitize judges presiding over matrimonial cases to the special needs of battered women and their children. In the wake of abuse, many clients are left without any source of income as a batterer is often the sole or primary earner in the family. The Economic Justice Project advocates on their behalf to obtain child and spousal support, public benefits, child custody, and orders of protection, ensuring that they and their children survive in the short-term and receive equitable distribution of assets in the long term. The Matrimonial/Economic Justice Project has different projects within, such as the Public Benefits Initiative, the Uncontested Divorce Project, the Pro Bono Matrimonial Project, and the Housing Project. |
About the Public Benefits Initiative
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Addressing our clients’ economic needs is a critical component in all services that we offer. No matter what path our clients take in their efforts leaving their abusers, that path is made vastly more difficult if they and their children do not have resources to meet their basic needs, such as food, shelter, medical care, etc. Recognizing this fundamental barrier, the MAT/EJP created the Public Benefits Pro Bono Initiative ("PBI") to train and work with pro bono attorneys in benefits-related pro bono representation and advocacy.
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About the Law Student Uncontested Divorce Project
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The Uncontested Divorce Project ("UDP") at Sanctuary for Families started in 1999 as a vehicle project to ensure survivors of domestic violence can break free and sever the tie with their abusive spouses through a divorce. UDP collaborates with various law schools in New York City, provides training and mentorship to law students, supervises law students working directly with survivors handling their uncontested divorce cases from inception to finalization. We request applications from law students and this unique pro bono opportunity is offered to the accepted students for the Autumn UDP (starting in every September) and the Spring UDP (starting in every January).
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About the
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The Pro Bono Matrimonial Project offers pro bono associates the opportunity to assist domestic violence victims in both contested and uncontested divorces. This Project offers associates an opportunity to interview clients, draft motions and divorce pleadings, and secure a divorce through handling an uncontested case from its inception till conclusion, or through negotiating/litigating a contested matrimonial matter. Sanctuary offers training and mentor-ship. Prior to placing cases with a firm, Sanctuary screens all eligible clients. Each case will be co-counseled by Sanctuary and supervised by Lisa Vara, Director of Sanctuary’s Matrimonial and Economic Justice Project, and/or Francisco Santiago, Deputy Director of Matrimonial and Economic Justice Project.
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About the Housing Project
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Our housing attorneys represent clients in Housing Court and administrative proceedings with the goal of preventing eviction and obtaining much-needed repairs. For our clients, leaving their abusers often means leaving behind stable housing and substantial income. Sanctuary's housing project helps clients find and keep affordable housing in New York's increasingly unaffordable market.
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