History of the Community Health Law Project
1976
Community Health Law Project established by the New Jersey State Bar Association and designated by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a legal aid society
1977
First CHLP office opens in East Orange
1978
CHLP office opens in Elizabeth
1978
Successful CHLP suit ensures that community residences for the disabled may operate in residential districts
1979
CHLP offices open in Trenton and Camden
1980
National grant for research on mental health and the court system funded by the National Institute of Mental Health
1981
Statewide legal and advocacy services initiated for the developmentally disabled
1984
NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired funds CHLP services to blind and visually impaired in northern New Jersey; program services are extended statewide in 1992
1984
Volunteer program for frail and isolated elderly, the Friend/Advocate Program, initiated in Essex County; program later extended to Union County
1985
CHLP federal lawsuit opens federally subsidized housing to people with mental health disabilities
1987
Ann Klein Endowment Fund and annual Ann Klein Advocate Awards Dinner established to support CHLP internships for students in schools of law, public administration, and social work
1988
Legal Assistance to Medicare Patients (LAMP) program provides representation and counseling to people denied health care coverage by Medicare
1990
CHLP and Seton Hall University School of Law establish the Disability Law Clinic to provide legal services to the disabled and elderly
1994
CHLP receives U.S. Housing and Urban Development grant for work in removing architectural barriers against the disabled in multifamily residential dwellings
1994
Services extended to people living with HIV/AIDS in Mercer County funded by the Mercer County HIV Consortium and the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Act
1995
Health Advocacy Program funded by Hoffmann-LaRoche, Inc. and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provides representation to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries
1995
Community Advance Directives program initiated with grant from the Grotta Foundation for Senior Care
1995
CHLP and Montclair State University establish the Paralegal Public Interest Law Clinic to provide clinical education programs for paralegal students
1995
Services extended to persons living with HIV/AIDS in Essex, Morris, Warren, and Sussex counties funded by the City of Newark and the Ryan White program
1995
Favorable Appellate Division ruling on CHLP-initiated suit forces NJ casino industry to implement affirmative action programs of employment for people with disabilities
1997
Landmark CHLP federal lawsuit results in invalidation of NJ municipal zoning laws that exclude group homes for the disabled from residential neighborhoods
1998
CHLP launches “To Your Health” program to train and educate consumers about their rights under managed health care
1998
CHLP receives U.S. HUD grant for work in removing architectural barriers in multifamily dwellings
2002
CHLP class action results in an agreement by residential developer to fund accessibility renovations in 266 units in Bergen County
2003
CHLP representation of 230 clients in SSI cases between Fiscal Years 2001 and 2003 results in collection of retroactive awards totaling $2.1 million
2004
In a case of first impression, the Appellate Division rules that a child support obligation cannot be assessed against CHLP client whose sole source of support is SSI
2006
CHLP advocacy leads to NJ Fair Housing Act amendment requiring all new multifamily Mt. Laurel housing to be adaptable fo use by people with mobility impairments
2006
CHLP expands mental health legal and advocacy services to Hudson, Ocean, and Burlington Counties, opening offices in Jersey City, Toms River, and Mt. Holly
2007
CHLP files federal court complaint against Port Authority of New and New Jersey alleging that the Grove Street PATH Station in Jersey City is inaccessible, a violation of federal and state civil rights law
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