Laura Ariasa, community outreach and engagement manager at Northeast New Jersey Legal Services, told the City Council on Sept. 9 that the nonprofit law firm provides free civil legal services to residents of Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties and described how residents can obtain help.

Why it matters: Legal-aid services can help low- and moderate-income residents retain housing, appeal lost public benefits, address debt and access special protections for seniors, veterans and people with disabilities.

Ariasa said the organization focuses on housing (tenant defense in eviction and habitability cases and some homeowner foreclosure or tax issues), public benefits appeals (SNAP, Medicaid, unemployment, Temporary Assistance), consumer protections (bankruptcy, debt collection and identity-theft matters), family law (domestic-violence protection orders, custody and support), immigration assistance (citizenship, family petitions, U visas and fee waivers), elder-justice work (abuse in nursing homes, wills and powers of attorney), veterans services (VA benefits and discharge upgrades), expungements for New Jersey convictions, education advocacy for students with special needs and federal tax representation.

"We are a nonprofit law firm, and we provide free legal services to Bergen County residents," Ariasa said. She described eligibility rules based on household income: qualifying applicants must fall at or below 300% of the federal poverty line. As examples, Ariasa said the maximum guideline would be about $47,000 a year for one person and about $64,000 for a two-person household (amounts approximate and dependent on household size and funding guidelines).

Practical details: Northeast New Jersey Legal Services maintains an office at 190 Moore Street in Hackensack; walk-ins are accepted but appointments are recommended. The office hours cited at the meeting are Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Ariasa left business cards and brochures and encouraged referrals from community partners.

What changed or was decided: The presentation was informational. Council members and staff said they would note the program as a referral source for residents in need of civil legal assistance.

How to follow up: Residents seeking help were instructed to call the number on the organization's materials, visit the website or email the legal aid office for an appointment.