Health Law Project

Atlanta Legal Aid Society -  040040

Abstract Number: 040040

May 2004

Atlanta Legal Aid Society (ALAS) developed a Health Law Project that delivers legal services to low-income people suffering from severe and possibly terminal diseases such as AIDS, Cancer, and ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). The Health Law Project has four attorneys, who deliver brief services and advice, extended representation, and offer community legal education workshops to eligible clients. ALAS originally launched this project in 1989 to respond to the legal needs of low-income people with HIV/AIDS and, in particular, to assist these clients in resolving legal issues pertaining to wills and advance directives, employment and housing discrimination, public benefits, and debt relief stemming from their medical condition. ALAS's staff members also conduct outreach at area hospitals and health fairs. In 1999, ALAS expanded this project to include cancer and ALS patients as ALAS found that patients with cancer and ALS had fewer safety nets and resources available to them than AIDS/HIV patients. While the majority of ALAS's clients continue to be AIDS/HIV patients, ALAS found that their clients with cancer and ALS required legal services similar to clients with AIDS/HIV. ALAS has developed strong relationships with both public and private hospital-based social workers as well as local AIDS clinics that refer clients to ALAS. This project also serves as a statewide resource for other attorneys and service providers in Georgia who serve clients with similar health and legal problems.

The Health Law Project is funded through a number of sources including grants from the federal Ryan White Care Act, HUD's Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS (HOPWA), and a grant from the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund. To learn more about this project, access client education materials from the Health Law Project through the link below.

Contact Information:

John R. Warchol
Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.
151 Spring St., NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 614-3921
Fax: (404) 525-5710
jrwarchol@atlantalegalaid.org

Additional Information:

• "Aids/HIV, Terminal Illness," on Georgia's Statewide Web Site, Visit: http://www.legalaid-ga.org/.
  

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