On January 24, through a remote limited-scope clinic, Willkie provided pro bono legal support to low-income New Yorkers in collaboration with Legal Services NYC and members of Willkie client Bloomberg L.P.’s Legal & Compliance Pro Bono Program. Legal Services NYC first provided training on applying for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) benefits and Cash Assistance through New York City’s Human Resources Administration. The Willkie/Bloomberg teams then met virtually with their clients.

Volunteers assessed client eligibility and helped eligible clients submit online applications for these benefits to the NYC Human Resources Administration. After submitting the applications, volunteers provided clients with information regarding the next steps necessary to complete the process.

SNAP, formerly known as “food stamps,” is a federally funded entitlement program that provides monthly funds to people to purchase food through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (“EBT”) card. Cash Assistance consists of funds transferred twice monthly to an EBT card, and is typically used for shelter and utility assistance.

The attorneys’ work through this clinic significantly impacts the clients they assisted in that it facilitates their ability to provide food and shelter for themselves and their families. One client was grateful for the attorneys helping her to replace a prior EBT card that she was unaware of, which allowed her to access a SNAP account with hundreds of dollars. Another team updated their client’s account after the clinic with an upcoming electricity bill in time for the Cash Assistance program to help cover their February utility payments. All the clients received assistance to ensure they have active SNAP accounts and EBT cards.

The teams consisted of associates Nkem Anene, Maxfield Fey, Brannock Furey, Megan Goss, Andrew Lefkowitz, Steven Mercadante and Matthew Williams; law clerks Matthew Davis, Nicholas DeLollo, Shelby Epstein, Monica Lee, Ocean Lu and Andrew O’Connor; visiting foreign law clerk Laura Moreira Domingues; and Joseph Bonnema, Steven Haber and Shane Mathieu from Bloomberg L.P.’s Legal & Compliance Department.