Advocacy
Here at ERLS we have 3 positions in our Advocacy Department with their own unique focuses and specialties to serve clients. This page breaks down the services each position offers and some frequently asked questions.
Housing Retention Specialist (HRS)
The Housing Retention Specialist (HRS) is a non-legal advocate that assists with small housing situations before they lead to consequential ones. The HRS prevents evictions by assisting landlords and tenants to resolve conflicts before housing is threatened. Some of the services they can provide include assessing client needs, developing safety plans, connecting clients with existing community resources, assisting with housing and emergency rental assistance, and providing education and emotional support, when needed.
Services They Offer
- Preventing evictions by finding solutions to small housing problems
- Helping with communication between the tenant and landlord and other agencies
- Assisting clients overcome barriers that could threaten their housing
- Providing case management
- Offering information about community resources
- Connecting tenants with financial assistance
- Assisting with financial planning
- Helping with employment applications
- Working with clients to complete state benefits applications
- Coordinating counseling or treatment
- Organizing day care enrollment
- Working with DV and victims’ services
- Providing health, social, and emotional support, when needed
- Coordinating long term services
Client Advocate
The Client Advocate is a non-legal advocate that assists clients with their social and emotional needs while they are working with the legal department. They prioritize victims of crime and families with children in the household. Some of the services they can provide include assessing client needs, developing safety plans, connecting clients with existing community resources, assisting with housing and emergency rental assistance, and providing education and emotional support, when needed.
Services They Offer
- Seeking to empower each client to gain and maintain their safety, stability, and well-being
- Providing case management
- Offering information about community resources
- Connecting clients with financial assistance
- Assisting with financial planning
- Helping with employment applications
- Working with clients to complete state benefits applications
- Coordinating counseling or Treatment
- Organizing day care enrollment
- Assisting with parenting services
- Helping clients with safety planning
- Working with DV and victims’ services
- Providing health, social, and emotional support, when needed
- Coordinating long term services
Street Outreach Paralegal
This program is the newest addition to the advocacy department. The Street Outreach Paralegal’s role is to identify any civil and/or social barriers that individuals facing homelessness are experiencing. Criteria to receive services entails being unhoused. This includes being in a homeless shelter, DV shelter, half-way house, transitional housing, “couch surfing”, living out of a vehicle, or being outright homeless. The Street Outreach Paralegal will educate potential clients and partnering agencies about civil legal issues and may assist with pro se forms and applications for public benefits using the SOAR tool, as well as assistance applying for various state benefits. This position works directly with clients and agencies, providing informational sessions, answering questions, getting proper records and documentation, while building positive relationships within the community. The goal of this program is to reduce the number of unhoused people by collaborating with other agencies with the same goals and mind set.
Services They Offer
- Helping with expungements
- Assisting with requests for ID’s and birth certificates
- Offering information about community resources
- Working with clients on divorce and custody
- Helping with bankruptcy/collections
- Working with clients on state and social security benefits
- Assisting with protection orders
- Providing assistance with a name change
- Helping with housing/evictions
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does HRS help clients with Section 8 Vouchers?
A. Yes, clients on Section 8 Vouchers or HUD properties are a priority for the HRS program.
Q. Does the Street Outreach Paralegal help with SSI/SSDI appeals?
A. No, the Street Outreach Paralegal does not help with SSI/SSDI appeals cases, unless they were the person to file the initial application.*
*Appeals will be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on why your application was denied.
Q. Is the HRS an attorney?
A. The HRS is not an attorney and cannot provide any kind of legal advice or services.
Q. How does the HRS find their clients?
A. Referrals come from Community Partners, Social Services Agencies, and Property Managers/Landlords.
Q. What cases does the HRS not handle?
A. Tenants that have a housing issue that is a legal case.
Q. Can I continue to work with the Client Advocate after my legal case is closed?
A. Advocates and attorneys can work independently or collaboratively depending on the client’s needs. You can continue to work with your Client Advocate after your legal case is closed, unless something else is discussed.
Q. Is the Client Advocate an attorney?
A. No, the Client Advocate is not an attorney. Legal questions will be directed to the legal team.
Q. Who can work with the Client Advocate?
A. This program prioritizes clients’ receiving direct services with the ERLS Legal Department.
Q. Will the HRS cases be a priority for the legal department?
A. No, cases working with HRS won’t be prioritized if they need legal assistance. They will need to submit a new application for their legal issue. The Legal Department will not take cases due to lack of payment.
Q. Is the HRS a financial assistance program?
A. The HRS is NOT a financial assistance program. We can help you connect with financial assistance, but you need to be willing to participate in the program (case management services, guidance, etc.).
Q. Does the HRS assist with housing searches?
A. The HRS does not help with the housing searches. However, the HRS provides clients with resources and helps to transition the tenant’s assistance to a new unit.
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