HIV LAW PROJECT:
A LEADER IN THE FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS, DIGNITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS
HIV Law Project was founded in 1989 to meet the legal needs of those who found themselves on the margins of the AIDS epidemic because of their race, ethnicity, gender or economic status. HIV Law Project was the first and, today, remains the only legal agency providing comprehensive le
gal services exclusively to low-income people living with HIV/AIDS in New York City, particularly women and their families; people of color; undocumented and recent immigrants; members of the LGBT community; and the homeless. Since 1989, HIV Law Project has handled more than 23,000 cases and provided over 200,000 hours of free legal assistance to low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS. We prevent unlawful evictions, handle challenging immigration related cases, and help clients secure critical benefits. We fight against discrimination and abuse and handle confidentiality issues. Over the years, HIV Law Project has expanded its legal and advocacy services to include advanced advocacy and leadership trainings for HIV-positive women, community legal education, technical assistance to other service providers, and social support services for clients. The majority of our clients are low-income HIV-positive people living at or below 125% of the poverty line. Over 85% of our clients are people of color; 31% are women; and over 50% are new or recent immigrants. The overwhelming majority of our clients receives public assistance and depends on Medicaid or ADAP to obtain access to HIV primary care. Most come from New York City’s poorest communities and have few educational, familial and community resources at their disposal.
