Community Justice Connect empowers community residents to support their neighbors with the legal information they need.
Community Justice Connect (formerly Legal Hand) is a network of neighborhood storefront sites that trains community volunteers to provide free legal information, resources, and referrals to their neighbors. People facing civil legal challenges in areas like housing, public benefits, employment, family law, immigration, can get help before the issues escalate into crises requiring court intervention.
When civil legal problems, like housing, family instability, and government benefits, go unresolved, people may face serious harm: forcing people out of their homes, separating families, and imposing devastating financial burdens. Though New York City offers many public resources, it can be difficult to find available services, and to navigate processes to access them. At Community Justice Connect, visitors are offered varied forms of assistance to answer questions and address issues. Services include navigation of the social services system, completion of online legal forms, facilitated workshops with local community organizations, and connections to public benefits and other services.
Community Justice Connect (formerly Legal Hand) is a network of neighborhood storefront sites that trains community volunteers to provide free legal information, resources, and referrals to their neighbors. People facing civil legal challenges in areas like housing, public benefits, employment, family law, immigration, can get help before the issues escalate into crises requiring court intervention.
Our Bronx Community Justice Center partnered with the NYC Human Resources Administration, the Bronx Defenders, and our Community Justice Connect team to help public housing residents in Mott Haven build knowledge around rent, repairs, lease renewals, and preventing evictions. The session was part of a series of housing workshops we’re hosting across the city for NYCHA tenants to get connected to vital resources and find support with their housing needs.
Housing is a human right and the foundation for strong communities. Access to a safe and affordable home creates economic and community stability. This fact sheet highlights the challenges and how our staff are working to prevent evictions, help landlords address health hazards, and increase tenant financial and legal empowerment. By addressing issues early, we keep people safely housed and avoid legal system involvement that can affect employment, family security, and future access to stable housing.
Our Legal Hand program hosted a resume workshop in the Bronx to help residents craft strong resumes and boost their career skills. Topics included how to structure and format a resume, write compelling bullet points, tailor resumes to job descriptions, and succeed in interviews. The "Elevate Your Resume" workshop was led by Rachelle Brown, who specializes in workshop development, and gave residents the opportunity to ask questions and offer feedback.
