Sanchez v. Turner
The Brennan Center represented federal and state welfare benefits applicants and the advocacy organization, Make the Road by Walking, in a lawsuit against New York City to allow advocates to set up help desks in the public areas of benefits offices
For low-income people trying to navigate the often complex bureaucracy of public benefits offices, access to advocates who can give them information and advice would be of great help. But for years, New York City has refused to allow advocates to distribute information or give advice in public areas of offices where the City administers public benefits, except when representing an individual client.
In a lawsuit challenging this policy as unconstitutional under the First Amendment, the Brennan Center represented Make the Road by Walking, an advocacy organization.