1021 Broadway Street
5th Floor Buffalo, NY 14212
mhawny.org/program/legal-services/
Main Phone
716-886-1242
Primary Services
Advance Medical Directives, Bankruptcy Assistance, Child Custody/Visitation Assistance, Child Support Assistance/Enforcement, Child Support Wage Assignment Assistance, Consumer Law, Divorce Assistance, Durable Power of Attorney for Asset Management, Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, Durable Power of Attorney for Mental Health Care, Eviction Prevention Assistance, General Benefits and Services Assistance, Landlord/Tenant Dispute Resolution, Public/Subsidized Housing Appeals Assistance, Tenant Rights Information/Counseling, Welfare Rights Assistance
Description
Provides civil legal services for mental health consumers, including assistance related to:
- SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY/SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI): Appeal of benefit denial, Initial SSD/SSI applications, Continuing Disability Review (CDR/Cessations), and Overpayments
- PUBLIC BENEFITS: Appeal of benefit denial, termination or suspension of: Temporary Assistance, Food Stamps (SNAP), and Medicaid (MA)
- HOUSING LAW: Landlord/Tenant Disputes and Tenant’s Rights, Evictions (Advice & Counsel), and Section 8 Informal Hearings
- FAMILY LAW: Uncontested Divorces, Contested Divorces (disputes other than custody or child support) on a case by case basis, Child Support, and Custody/Visitation
- CONSUMER LAW: Bankruptcy advisement (Chapter 7), Formal complaints to Attorney General, Creditor Harassment, and Student Loan Discharge advisement (TPD-based on disability)
- ADVANCE DIRECTIVES: Power of Attorney, Other/related advanced directives (limited basis)
- SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY/SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI): Appeal of benefit denial, Initial SSD/SSI applications, Continuing Disability Review (CDR/Cessations), and Overpayments
- PUBLIC BENEFITS: Appeal of benefit denial, termination or suspension of: Temporary Assistance, Food Stamps (SNAP), and Medicaid (MA)
- HOUSING LAW: Landlord/Tenant Disputes and Tenant’s Rights, Evictions (Advice & Counsel), and Section 8 Informal Hearings
- FAMILY LAW: Uncontested Divorces, Contested Divorces (disputes other than custody or child support) on a case by case basis, Child Support, and Custody/Visitation
- CONSUMER LAW: Bankruptcy advisement (Chapter 7), Formal complaints to Attorney General, Creditor Harassment, and Student Loan Discharge advisement (TPD-based on disability)
- ADVANCE DIRECTIVES: Power of Attorney, Other/related advanced directives (limited basis)
Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm.
Eligibility
Open to anyone with a mental health diagnosis.
Service Area: Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Genesee, Wyoming, Orleans or Cattaraugus counties.
Service Area: Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Genesee, Wyoming, Orleans or Cattaraugus counties.
Intake Process
Call or email.
Program Fees
Free.
Languages
English and Spanish.
Handicap Accessible?
No
Date of Official Change
Jul 17, 2025
Contacts
Nicole Blackwell (Primary)
Administrative Director of Legal Services
nblackwell@mhawny.org
716-886-1242 x330