New Haven Legal Assistance Association (NHLAA) is a legal aid organization, founded in 1964 in the midst of the Civil Rights movement. We were established on the principle that everyone, regardless of race or income, should have equal access to the justice system. We serve clients living at or below 125% of the federal poverty level in 22 cities and towns in the Greater New Haven and Lower Naugatuck Valley communities. Our client base are primarily people of color in the New Haven area impacted by the legacy of structural racialization, systemic racism, and implicit bias. They are children, low-wage workers, domestic violence survivors, individuals with disabilities, seniors, and immigrants. The needs of our client population right now are unprecedented. We are working with clients who have lost their jobs and do not have any income; clients who are frontline workers and face health risks; children with special needs unable to access distance learning opportunities because of lack of technology or other barriers; clients who are sheltering in place with abusive partners and do not have an immediate form of relief.
