Cancer Legal Advocacy and Services Project Re-opens

On June 1, Hiscock Legal Aid Society and Legal Services of Central New York reopened the Cancer Legal Advocacy and Services Project (CLASP), a collaborative partnership between the two legal services providers.

Since its inception in 2006, CLASP had been funded by the New York State Department of Health.  In May 2017, the Department of Health abruptly eliminated funding.

With generous support from the Allyn Family Foundation, Saint Agatha Foundation, Hematology-Oncology Associates of Central New York, and Dr. Jeffrey Kirshner, as well as numerous donors from HLAS’s Justice for All fundraising program, LSCNY and HLAS were delighted to officially reopen CLASP  June 1, 2018.

“CLASP empowers cancer patients, ensures their access to medical treatment, and improves their quality of life by offering free civil legal services to individuals and their families who are going through what is often one of the scariest periods of their lives,” said Linda Gehron, President and C.E.O. “We are most grateful to be able to again offer this valuable program with our colleagues at LSCNY, the lead partner in this effort.”

CLASP offers comprehensive legal services, including: lifetime planning (power of attorney, healthcare proxy and living will, last will and testament, future care of minor children); access to healthcare (Medicaid/Medicare, private insurance, medical debt); income maintenance (SNAP, public assistance, disability benefits); family law (guardianship, child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, divorce and separation agreement); employment (unemployment insurance benefits, medical leave, disability accommodations); and housing preservation/eviction prevention.

Low-income individuals and families affected by cancer should contact CLASP at 315-703-6599 to request free legal assistance.