Economic Justice Project

Recently, EJP was referred a case by the Welfare Rights Initiative in which New York City was attempting to terminate welfare benefits of a Bronx woman with two children for failure to complete a workfare assignment. The assignment was inconsistent with her medical limitations and conflicted with her academic schedule at Bronx Community College where she was working towards an Associate's Degree in Business Administration. The legal intern filed an appeal contesting the proposed termination of benefits and argued successfully at the administrative hearing for the reversal of the city's action and the restoration of benefits.

In the course of handling the welfare issue, the legal intern learned about an eviction action filed against the family in Bronx Housing Court. The intern accompanied the client to Housing Court where the landlord agreed to discontinue the eviction action. The legal intern is now working with the client to locate appropriate medical services and has advised her how to remain in college without risking another termination of welfare benefits. The client is scheduled to graduate college in June.

In addition to the representation of individuals, each intern participates in a project workgroup. These workgroups address some issue of ongoing significance to EJP clients and/or engage in joint advocacy efforts with the WRI. Some examples of project work from last semester include:

• Working with advocates to secure reauthorization of New York State's Workstudy/Internship law which prohibits workfare assignments that unreasonably interfere with a college student's academic schedule and allows workstudy and internship hours to count towards a student's workfare requirement
  
  
• Collaborating with grass-roots public advocacy organizations in education and training efforts that address the right to attend school
  
  
• Training on access to reproductive health choices
  
  
• Training and presentations focusing on access to public benefits for victims of domestic violence, immigrants, and individuals transitioning off public assistance
  
  
• Educating EJP clients about the possible effect of marriage incentives