New York City
Throughout the five boroughs, Project Guardianship provides court-appointed guardianship services for older adults and individuals living with disabilities and mental illnesses who need a surrogate decision-maker but have no family or friends able or willing to help. Many of our clients are socially isolated, economically disadvantaged, and face complex health and housing challenges.
We take a multidisciplinary, team-based approach that integrates legal expertise, social services, and financial management to ensure each client receives comprehensive, ethical, and rights-based support. We are frequently appointed in emergency cases involving neglect, financial exploitation, eviction, hospital discharge, and end-of-life care. We act swiftly to stabilize our clients' living conditions, secure urgent medical care, and protect assets from further harm.
Our services include:
Activities of daily living
We meet the daily needs of our clients by coordinating home care services, arranging transportation, stocking refrigerators, facilitating social outings, overseeing accessibility modifications, and so much more.
Financial management
We help our clients achieve financial security by assisting with bill payment, budgeting, the protection of assets, and public benefits enrollment and maintenance.
Housing support
We help our clients live and age in their homes and communities. This includes transitioning clients from hospitals, shelters, and nursing homes to long-term independent or supportive housing.
Advocacy
We help resolve legal issues that our clients face, such as deed theft and eviction, and advocate for adequate home care.
Medical decision-making
We ensure that medical decisions are made in accordance with the law and the values and wishes of our clients, including at the end of life.
New York State
Across New York, judges are often unable to find qualified guardians to appoint. This shortage has been steadily growing over the years as more New Yorkers age alone, live longer with disabilities, and struggle to make ends meet.
When a judge cannot find a family member or friend to serve as guardian, and when the individual in need of support lacks the funds to pay a private guardian, the judge may turn to their local Department of Social Services as the guardian of last resort. However, these agencies are often unable to keep up with the rising demand for guardians or the 24/7 responsibilities that come with the job.
Project Guardianship is working to address the guardianship shortage by building the capacity of nonprofit providers statewide.
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We raise and distribute funds so that nonprofits can serve more people in their communities.
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We convene providers to learn from one another.
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We offer training and hands-on support to strengthen guardianship programs.
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We share tools and best practices.
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We collect data to improve services and inform policy.
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We help nonprofits launch guardianship programs in underserved areas.