Fair Forums

Government benefits offices, public housing residences, and immigration detention centers; these are settings in which people interact with the government officials who make decisions that dramatically affect their lives. Many would welcome assistance—from an attorney or other advocates—as they negotiate their way through various pubic procedures. In many government facilities, however, existing rules prohibit lawyers and advocates from providing on-site information and advice.

The Brennan Center works to increase attorneys and advocates’ access to government facilities and to roll back rules that require people to go it alone, without the help they seek. Currently, we provide technical assistance to non-profit advocates who are working to establish help desks in government benefits offices in New York City through the Ready Access to Assistance Act. We have also sought to stop the New York City Housing Authority from urging unrepresented public housing residents to sign stipulations forfeiting their legal rights.