Every year Lieff Cabraser lawyers participate in a summer associate pro bono project organized through the Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP) of the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Justice & Diversity Center. This year, under the supervision of Lieff Cabraser attorneys Phong Nguyen and Michael Levin-Gesundheit, Lieff Cabraser summer associates Hope Brinn and Nick Lee developed the factual and legal record to help a local man secure the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits that he deserved and had previously been denied.
Hope and Nick gathered information about the client’s background, including his medical records, to make a compelling case for why he had a qualifying disability under the Social Security Act. His previous attempt to apply for SSI benefits in 2017 was aborted because of various disabling medical issues. Thanks to the Lieff Cabraser team’s advocacy, he received notice this week that his SSI benefits application had been granted.
Many thanks to the team for doing this important, life-changing work!
About Justice & Diversity Center (JDC)
The Justice & Diversity Center is one of the largest and most distinguished legal services providers in San Francisco. JDC’s primary purpose is the delivery of free legal services to low-income San Franciscans, as well as the non-profits that serve them. JDC delivers free legal services through its Legal Services Programs division, which consists of the Pro Bono Legal Services Program, Homeless Advocacy Project, and the Immigration Program. JDC provides enrichment programs to diverse youth and young adults through its Diversity Educational Programs.
JDC’s programs serve approximately 9,500 disadvantaged San Franciscans a year, with the overarching goal of assisting the community’s most vulnerable members with accessing the judicial system and strengthening their personal, professional, and economic security.
About the Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP)
Founded in 1988, the Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP) is the Justice & Diversity Center’s (JDC) largest individual project.
HAP provides legal services and supporting social services to individuals and families in San Francisco who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, while prioritizing individuals who have mental health disabilities.
HAP serves over 1500 clients per year through the work of staff attorneys, social workers and advocates, student interns, and volunteer legal and social service professionals. The most common legal issues addressed at HAP are federal disability benefits advocacy, eviction defense in emergency situations, and immigration documentation.
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