Public Interest Speaker Series

The Mercy Advocacy program (MAP), a law office established in 1997, provides free legal representation to resolve civil legal emergencies for poor people and to promote systemic changes favorable to the poor on Long Island. MAP is a part of Mercy Haven.

Mercy Haven, Inc was founded in 1985 to provides safe, clean and affordable transitional and permanent housing for the mentally ill, homeless and the elderly. The organization also provides supportive services such as daily living skills training, restorative mental health services, case management, and legal services on civil legal emergencies.

Mercy Haven perceived a growing gap between available resources and the need for free legal advice and representation for the poor on civil legal emergencies, such as securing and maintaining government benefits, denial of access to medical care and prevention of homelessness. For example, Mercy Haven found a financial incentive for local government to deny applications for Public Assistance, Medicaid and Food Stamps, and many barriers in the application process. These factors make it difficult for the poor, particularly for disabled persons, to qualify for and/or retain subsistence benefits. Yet, there is a dearth of competent lawyers available to represent clients in these situations.

In response, Mercy Haven created the Mercy Advocacy Program in October 1997 to respond to this ongoing crisis of inaccessible legal services for the poor on Long Island. MAP also empowers the poor by providing training and consultation to agencies, client groups and their families on the civil rights of the poor, especially in the areas of subsistence benefits, access to health care, prevention of homelessness and pursuit of gainful employment.

Since October 1997, MAP has increased the availability of legal services to the poor on Long Island. By June 1999 the law office had provided free legal services on 333 civil legal emergencies. MAP has secured or maintained clients' eligibility for Public Assistance, Social Security Disability and SSI Disability, Medicaid and Medicare and the Food Stamp program. Unscrupulous operators of adult homes, who confiscate the Social Security and Veterans benefits, are being confronted with the illegality of their practices. The law office also encourages the disabled who are on SSI/SSD to return to work through Plans to Achieve Self Support and canceling overpayments.


Join us on Thursday, March 8, 2007, from 12:30 - 1:30, in Room 312, as John Castellano, Executive Director of MAP, talks about opportunities in his office.