The National Center for Law and Economic Justice, a nonprofit organization, advances the cause of economic justice for low-income families, individuals, and communities. NCLEJ staff work in partnership with public interest advocates, private law firms, legal services lawyers, and grassroots groups across the country.
Check Out NCLEJ's Spring Newsletter
-posted February 2010
Read more about our recent cases and other exciting NCLEJ news.
Lawsuit Causes FEMA to Disgorge Documents on Accessible Temporary Housing
-posted January 2010
Only after NCLEJ went to court did FEMA release its policies for accessible temporary housing for people with disabilities. Hogan & Hartson represents NCLEJ. Read more
NCLEJ Sues New Hampshire for Failing to Pay Full Medical Costs
-posted January 2010
NCLEJ has sued New Hampshire for its refusal to fully reimburse prescription drug expenses incurred after an application for Medicaid is filed and before eligibility is determined on appeal. Read more
Total Victory Won in Maryland Benefits Delay Case
-posted December 2009
On December 10th, after a four-day trial, low-income Marylanders won a permanent injunction to speed the applications process for food stamps, Medicaid, and cash public assistance. NCLEJ, the Public Justice Center, the Homeless Persons Representation Project, and the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis represented the plaintiffs at trial in Baltimore City Circuit Court. Jennifer Selendy, a partner at Kirkland & Ellis and an NCLEJ Board member, and the K&E team, played a key role in the litigation. Read more
NCLEJ Worked in 21 States and 19 New York Counties in 2009
-posted December 2009
text only version
Steuben County, NY, Agrees to Speed Provision of Food Stamps, Medicaid, and Cash Public Assistance to Those Hard Hit by Recession
-posted November 2009
NCLEJ, the Western New York Law Center, and the Empire Justice Center have achieved a settlement in a federal class action challenging Steuben County’s unlawful practice of delaying food stamp, Medicaid, and cash public assistance applications. Read more
NCLEJ Sues FEMA for Not Disclosing Plans for People with Disabilities
-posted November 2009
NCLEJ has sued FEMA under the Freedom of Information Act demanding access to FEMA's policies concerning temporary housing for people with disabilities and effective communication with such persons. Hogan and Hartson represents NCLEJ. Read more
Indiana Agrees to Court Order Speeding Provision of Food Stamp Benefits
-posted October 2009
Hungry Hoosiers should get their food stamps faster as the state implements an agreed-upon preliminary injunction in this NCLEJ case. The state is required to improve its compliance with federal time frames, provide monitoring data to demonstrate the extent of its compliance, and create a mechanism for certain applicants to have individual problems resolved. Read more
Rhode Island to Speed Food Stamp Processing Under Court-Approved Settlement
-posted October 2009
On October 19th, a U.S. District Court judge signed off on a settlement in which Rhode Island agrees to meet federal deadlines for processing food stamp applications. The case was filed by NCLEJ and the Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union. Read more
Now Available Online: Reorienting and Expanding Our National Advocacy Program
- Posted October 2009
In this article Henry Freedman reviews the exciting progress made by NCLEJ since it lost all federal funding in 1995. Read more (pdf)
Poverty and Welfare in the United States - a Human Rights Violation?
- posted September 2009
NCLEJ is proud to co-sponsor this October 15 New York City Bar program featuring Catherine Albisa, former NCLEJ Board member Martha Davis, and Janet Gornick. Read more (pdf)
New Suit Claims Emergency Assistance Delays Threaten Grave Harm and Increased Homelessness in Suffolk County, New York
- posted September 2009
A victim of domestic violence who needed to move her children to safety faced imminent homelessness when the county welfare agency flouted legal requirements and delayed action on her emergency assistance application. Read more
Lawsuit Challenges Denial of Worker’s Compensation for New Mexico Agricultural Workers
- posted September 2009
Two severely injured New Mexico farmworkers claim that the exclusion of farm and ranch laborers from the state's worker's compensation program violates the state constitution's equal protection clause. Plaintiffs also include two groups that represent farm and ranch laborers. Read more
NCLEJ Mourns the Passing of Senator Edward Kennedy
- posted August 2009
NCLEJ notes with sorrow the death of Senator Edward Kennedy on August 25, 2009. Senator Kennedy was a lifelong public servant and a strong advocate for low-income people. NCLEJ was proud to bestow its James Corman Award for Public Service to Senator Kennedy at its annual awards dinner in 2004. Read more
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Fair Administration
If public benefit programs are to promote the welfare of those in need, they must be administered fairly...
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WHO IS LIVING IN POVERTY
IN THE USA?
More than one out of eight people are living in poverty, and more than one out of twenty are living in deep
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