Community Health Law Project (CHLP)

Community Health Law Project, Inc. (chlp) provides legal and advocacy services for mental Health consumers, developmentally disabled consumers, hiv consumers and the blind and visually impaired consumers. For mental Health consumers, services include: securing social security disability and other benefits, resolving family matters such as custody, visitation and support, protecting housing and private resources. For developmentally disabled consumers, services include: legal counsel and representation, help in financial assistance, Health and human services, protection of civil rights and liberties and other legal concerns. Services to advocates, agencies and families includes: in service training and technical assistance to administrators and staff of the ddd and to consumer, family and advocacy organizations for people with disabilities. Services to the hiv population is similar to other individuals assisted by the organization. However, the issues must relate to their Health condition. Thus, advocating and representing clients in the areas of housing, income benefits, family, wills, substitute decision making, debt and foreclosure, access to Health care and social services, and the protection of rights is the crux of the program. Services for the blind and visually impaired include: securing social security disability and other benefits, resolving family matters, housing issues and consumer affairs. This fiscal year, chlp served 2,154 mental Health consumers, 169 clients with developmental disabilities, 296 clients with hiv, and 174 blind and visually impaired clients.