Unity House Law Project receives Roth Award
Troy human services agency chosen out of 100 applicants nationwide
Unity House of Troy’s Law Project is getting the recognition it deserves.
The nonprofit was the only human services agency in the country to receive a Mary Byron Project 2018 Roth Award.
Based in Louisville, Ky., the nonprofit Mary Byron Project cultivates and supports efforts that extend beyond crisis management to address the root cause of intimate partner violence and help build safer and healthier communities.
The organization recognized the Unity House Law Project for its efforts to provide holistic, traumainformed legal services to victims of domestic and dating violence, as well as other underrepresented clients in need of legal help.
“The Law Project started in 2000, when we identified a need in the Domestic Violence Program for clients to access legal services early on,” said Milinda Reed, who directs the Law Project and human resources at Unity House. “Our clients come in with so many needs, often times they are facing dire legal issues and having an attorney right there is a valuable resource.”
In addition to Unity House of Troy, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Charitable Foundation’s Give Back a Smile program and the Battered Women’s Justice Project’s SAFER program received 2018 Celebrating Solutions Awards from the Mary Byron Project.
Unity House was chosen by both local and national experts from a pool of 100 applicants to receive the Roth Award, which includes $10,000 in unrestricted funds.
The annual recognition highlights innovations that demonstrate promise in breaking the cycle of intimate partner violence, and programs chosen serve as a model for other organizations nationwide.
“We are honored that the excellent work being done by our legal team is being recognized on a national level and humbled to be among the select few programs to receive this award,” said Chris Burke, Unity House CEO. “Domestic violence victims need and deserve our help resolving the often complicated legal challenges they face, and this grant will help us continue that important work.”
Unity House Law Project resources are designed to meet the unique safety and legal needs specific to victims of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and stalking by combining supportive services, case management, counseling, safety planning, housing and advocacy.
Three staff attorneys — two dedicated to helping Law Project clients and one that serves others at Unity House — provide free legal consultation and representation to victims of domestic violence, or anyone in need of legal help.
Legal services include assistance in obtaining orders of protection, custody, child support, divorce and other family court and non-family court related matters.
In addition to the Law Project, Unity House provides crisis intervention, advocacy, skills teaching, information, resources and support to meet the otherwise unmet needs of people struggling in Rensselaer County and surrounding communities.
“We recognize that our clients come to us from a variety of backgrounds, some living in poverty and others facing many challenges,” said Reed, who was the first attorney to work at the Law Project. “Wrapping our clients in services helps them to be more successful when they transition out of the place they’re at to a safer situation.”