Late last year Governor Cuomo signed a bill into law that helps NYS health care providers to combine free health related legal services in their facilities to people in need "to resolve legal matters or needs that have an impact on patient health or are created or aggravated by a patient's health."

"Housing Works is very proud to have supported this bill from the beginning, but we hope the legislature provides funding to make this a reality," says Carmelita Cruz, Carmelita Cruz, Director of NYS Advocacy & Organizing for Housing Works.

According to Monica Miller, Senior Legislative Associate for the bill's sponsor Assemblyman Dick Gottfried, the bill was initially written with a funding plan attached. But given the state's budget woes, advocates felt it was easier to pass the bill without funding attached. An advisory committee will be formed that will research best practices and ultimately a plan for implementation.

"Actually it will be a mechanism to strive for excellence and help hospitals and other health facilities establish legal services in their facilities," said Miller. "We hope to be able to show with some efficacy data that this is effective and after the economy improves in a few years, go after some funding."

Many are beginning to realize the importance of supportive services for people to stay healthy. Eighty percent of 1000 doctors recently surveyed said that their patients’ health was tied to social needs. If implemented with proper funding, this bill could provide the support these doctors say they desperately need.

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