Veterans

Elderly Disabled Veteran Fights Wrongful Foreclosure | Colorado

admin — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 20:01:12 +0000

Elderly Disabled Veteran Fights Wrongful Foreclosure | Colorado admin Sat, 04/04/2020 - 16:01

Mr. Johnson* is an elderly and disabled veteran.

He turned to Colorado Legal Services (CLS) for help with a judicial foreclosure filed by the veterans' Home Owner's Association (HOA). The HOA had levied numerous fines against Mr. Johnson based on the home use of a small bus needed because of his disabilities.

Mr. Johnson* is an elderly and disabled veteran.

Mr. Johnson had spent several hundred dollars retrofitting the bus to allow him to use a lift to enable him to get in and out with his wheelchair. The HOA labeled the bus as a commercial vehicle in violation of the HOA rules and brought a foreclosure action for unpaid fines. The HOA refused to negotiate any settlement.

The case went to trial, with a CLS attorney representing Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson prevailed at trial; the foreclosure action was dismissed and he was able to keep both the bus and his home.

*Names have been changed

Disability Rights Housing Veterans

Disability Rights Veterans

Colorado

Memorial Day - Honoring our Veterans

admin — Fri, 26 May 2017 15:22:28 +0000

Memorial Day - Honoring our Veterans admin Fri, 05/26/2017 - 11:22

Honoring our Veterans

Increasing Access to Justice, Remarks by Hon Patrick J. Murphy - LSC White House Forum 2016

LSC 2016 Senate Briefing - Serving Those Who Have Served Our Country: How Legal Aid Helps Veterans

States and Territories

District of Columbia

LSC 2015 40th - Q&A with former legal aid client from Maine

Serving Those Who Have Served Our Country - Bryan Noyes, Veteran, former Pine Tree Legal Aid client

Read Real Accounts from Veterans Helped by LSC Grantees

Helping Veterans Access Housing Benefits | Washington

Helping The Elderly Access Healthcare | South Dakota

Marine Corps Veteran Finds Affordable Housing | New Hampshire

Helping Elderly Veterans Maintain Safe Housing | Minnesota

Helping Veterans Access Food and Health Benefits | Michigan

Helping Veterans Access Safe Housing | Louisiana

Legal Aid Helps Veteran Fight Wage Garnishment | Idaho

Helping An Elderly Veteran Access Healthcare Benefits

Helping a Veteran’s Family Stay Financially Secure

Helping Disabled Veterans Maintain Safe Housing | Rhode Island

Helping a Father Reunite with His Children

Protecting Elderly Disabled Veterans

Helping A Veteran Access Disability Benefits | South Carolina

Helping Elderly Veterans Maintain Safe & Adequate Housing | Montana

Legal Aid Helps Veterans Rebuild After Returning From Service

Helping Veterans Access Safe Housing

Learn ��˶�� LSC's Veterans Pro Bono Grant Program

Veterans

Media Veterans

How Legal Aid Helps Veterans

admin — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 20:02:41 +0000

How Legal Aid Helps Veterans admin Thu, 11/10/2016 - 15:02

Facts & Figures

18.2 million

Veterans

nationwide in 2017

1.8 million

Veterans

are eligible for LSC-funded services

292,100

Veteran clients

between 2012-2018

100,000

Veteran households

benefitted from LSC-funded services in 2017

A Message from LSC's Board Chair, John G. Levi

On Veterans Day, we honor those who honored our country with their service and sacrifice. They have earned our enduring respect and gratitude, and, when they need it, they should get help obtaining the benefits and assistance they are entitled to and so richly deserve.

A department of Veterans Affairs survey of homeless vets earlier this year found that four of these 40,000 veterans’ top ten unmet needs were legal-- assistance with child support issues, driver’s license restoration, outstanding warrants and fines, and evictions and foreclosures.

LSC and its 132 grantees in every state across the country assist the nation’s 1.7 million vets eligible for LSC-funded services with these and many other civil legal issues.

Among our initiatives: launching in 2010 StatesideLegal.org, the first national website focused on helping veterans and military families; providing on-site legal help at veterans’ centers; establishing medical-legal partnerships with veterans’ health centers; operating legal hotlines for veterans; taking part in Stand Down events for homeless veterans; organizing pro bono assistance; and other outreach and advocacy programs.

LSC and its grantees stand with our veterans every day, and on this day, join all Americans in saluting their service.

View Veteran's Day Press Release

Forums & Congressional Briefings

Client Success Stories

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Serving Those Who Have Served Our Country

Q&A with veteran Bryan Noyes, a former Pine Tree Legal Aid Client

When Bryan Noyes returned to Maine after military deployment, he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and faced significant barriers to establishing financial stability. While struggling to support himself, Bryan discovered that he was heavily in debt. He turned to Pine Tree Legal Assistance for help.
Read more

Helping Veterans Access Housing Benefits | Washington

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 22:59:11 +0000

Helping Veterans Access Housing Benefits | Washington admin Mon, 01/25/2016 - 17:59

Paul*, a veteran and single father with three teenage children, was deemed ineligible for a project-based voucher waitlist by a local housing authority because of “poor rental history” and “misrepresentation of criminal history.” Paul contacted Northwest Justice Project (NJP) for help in reversing the decision.

During a contentious discovery process and hearing, NJP established that the housing authority had failed to properly address certain communications to Paul and that the criminal history disclosure sections of the applications were substantially accurate. NJP also discovered that Paul had been struggling to make rental payments because his wages were being garnished by California child support enforcement, even though his children were in his care. NJP negotiated a reasonable repayment plan, reducing his monthly obligations.

The hearings officer reinstated the veteran to the top of the housing list, and Paul’s family was promptly able to move from a crowded one-bedroom apartment to a large three-bedroom apartment.

*Names have been changed.

Housing Veterans

Veterans

Washington

Helping The Elderly Access Healthcare | South Dakota

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 19:48:10 +0000

Helping The Elderly Access Healthcare | South Dakota admin Fri, 01/22/2016 - 14:48

Steve*, a Vietnam War veteran, went to Dakota Plains Legal Services, Inc. (DPLS) for help obtaining guardianship for his Native American mother, who was hospitalized with a broken hip.

After DPLS helped Steve obtain guardianship, he encountered problems getting his mother admitted to a nursing home. Steve’s mother owned a house that was permanently affixed to Indian Trust Land, and the Department of Social Services required that her house be sold in order to become eligible for Medicaid.

DPLS contacted the state attorney general's office on Steve's behalf and obtained a ruling exempting the house because it was on Indian Trust Land. The Department of Social Services approved Steve’s mother’s eligibility for Medicaid, and she was able to receive care at the nursing home.

*Names have been changed.

Elder Law Veterans

Veterans

South Dakota

Marine Corps Veteran Finds Affordable Housing | New Hampshire

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 22:35:49 +0000

Marine Corps Veteran Finds Affordable Housing | New Hampshire admin Thu, 01/21/2016 - 17:35

Bill* is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who lost both legs while serving his country. When the 55-year-old vet called the Legal Advice & Referral Center (LARC) in October 2013, he and his wife were on the verge of losing their rented home in Manchester, NH.

The landlord had obtained an eviction order from the court a week before Bill contacted LARC. With not enough time to legally stop a lockout, the sheriff stood by while Bill’s wife pushed her wheelchair-bound husband out the door of their home. Bill, his wife, and their dog were homeless.

LARC attorneys strategized with the Pro Bono Program of the New Hampshire Bar Association and contacted Easter Seals, a nonprofit that helps children and adults with disabilities and special needs. Easter Seals booked a hotel for the family for two weeks.

During those two weeks, Harbor Homes, a non-profit in Nashua that works with veterans, moved Bill and his family into a long-term affordable unit at their facility. Meanwhile, Bill received a call from U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who informed Bill that she had succeeded in pushing through his long awaited VA Pension.

Bill expressed his gratitude to his new friends in the legal and social services communities, saying, “You guys have been my miracle.”

*Names have been changed

Housing Veterans

Veterans

New Hampshire

Helping Elderly Veterans Maintain Safe Housing | Minnesota

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 16:42:49 +0000

Helping Elderly Veterans Maintain Safe Housing | Minnesota admin Thu, 01/21/2016 - 11:42

Barbara*, a disabled 60-year-old veteran, was facing eviction and the loss of her Section 8 voucher. She was being evicted because her building had a persistent bed bug problem. Her landlord agreed that she was not the source of the bed bugs, however, because of her disability, she had a hard time with housekeeping. Barbara's landlord believed that the clutter in her apartment was a haven for the bugs.

Barbara turned to the Legal Aid Services of Northeastern Minnesota (LASNM) for help. LASNM attorneys negotiated with the landlord, and all agreed to find another solution.

Barbara's attorneys worked with a local veterans program to give her temporary shelter while her unit was cleaned out. The carpets were torn out and replaced, the walls repainted, she was given a new mattress, and the unit was inspected and certified to be free of bed bugs.

LASNM attorneys also worked with social services to arrange for a home care assistant to visit Barbara regularly to help with her housekeeping needs. Because of LASNM's intervention, Barbara kept her Section 8 voucher and her apartment, her landlord was able to keep a quiet tenant who always paid her rent on time, and the case was kept out of the court system, saving limited judicial resources.

*Names have been changed

Housing Veterans

Veterans

Minnesota

Helping Veterans Access Food and Health Benefits | Michigan

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 16:32:43 +0000

Helping Veterans Access Food and Health Benefits | Michigan admin Thu, 01/21/2016 - 11:32

Logan*, a 51-year-old homeless veteran, had zero income and had recently been cut off food stamps and Medicaid. His physical and mental disabilities prevented him from complying with program reporting requirements.

Logan contacted Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM) for help finding affordable and permanent supportive housing. LSSCM staff connected him to a community mental health agency, and also helped him restore his food stamps and his health insurance.

In addition, LSSCM helped Logan collect his medical information, and assisted in filing an expedited request for disability benefits. He was awarded benefits and now has an affordable home, health insurance, and steady income.

*Names have been changed

Veterans

Michigan

Helping Veterans Access Safe Housing | Louisiana

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 22:01:59 +0000

Helping Veterans Access Safe Housing | Louisiana admin Wed, 01/20/2016 - 17:01

His doctor from the Veterans Affairs office recommended he have an emotional support/service animal to assist in living successfully in his new housing. Tony found his dream home in a good neighborhood with a nice yard for his support dog. However, the landlord did not want to allow his emotional support/service dog.

Tony contacted legal aid attorneys at Southeast Louisiana ��˶�� for assistance. With new representation, he was able to negotiate his lease using the Fair Housing Act to accommodate his special needs. After his landlord approval, Tony was housed and off the streets.

*Names have been changed

Housing Veterans

Veterans

Louisiana

Legal Aid Helps Veteran Fight Wage Garnishment | Idaho

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 20:51:53 +0000

Legal Aid Helps Veteran Fight Wage Garnishment | Idaho admin Wed, 01/20/2016 - 15:51

Most of John’s* income came from veterans’ benefits since he was unable to work regularly. John’s only other source of income came from occasionally repairing the local fire department’s engines.

One day John’s* credit union emptied his bank account to pay a debt his wife owed prior to marriage. He turned to Idaho Legal Services (ILS) for help.

ILS attorneys found that the credit union had failed to protect the funds from garnishment. When repeated demands to the bank were ignored, ILS filed a complaint with the National Credit Union Administration.

In response, the bank credited John’s account with the amount garnished plus interest. There have been no further cases arising from the failure of this credit union to protect his funds. John is once again able to feel secure that he can rely on his veterans’ benefits to meet his needs.

*Names have been changed

Veterans

Idaho

Veterans

Elderly Disabled Veteran Fights Wrongful Foreclosure | Colorado

Memorial Day - Honoring our Veterans

Serving Those Who Have Served Our Country - Bryan Noyes, Veteran, former Pine Tree Legal Aid client

Read Real Accounts from Veterans Helped by LSC Grantees

Learn ��˶�� LSC's Veterans Pro Bono Grant Program

How Legal Aid Helps Veterans

Facts & Figures

18.2 million

Veterans

1.8 million

Veterans

292,100

Veteran clients

100,000

Veteran households

A Message from LSC's Board Chair, John G. Levi

LSC Veterans Fact Sheet

Click here to view our fact sheet on how legal aid helps veterans

Forums & Congressional Briefings

Client Success Stories

Serving Those Who Have Served Our Country

Other Client Stories from Veterans Helped by LSC Grantees

Our Grantees In The News

Helping Veterans Access Housing Benefits | Washington

Helping The Elderly Access Healthcare | South Dakota

Marine Corps Veteran Finds Affordable Housing | New Hampshire

Helping Elderly Veterans Maintain Safe Housing | Minnesota

Helping Veterans Access Food and Health Benefits | Michigan

Helping Veterans Access Safe Housing | Louisiana

Tony*, a homeless Vietnam veteran suffering from PTSD and other disabling conditions, was approved for a special housing voucher.

Legal Aid Helps Veteran Fight Wage Garnishment | Idaho

Veterans

Elderly Disabled Veteran Fights Wrongful Foreclosure | Colorado

Memorial Day - Honoring our Veterans

Serving Those Who Have Served Our Country - Bryan Noyes, Veteran, former Pine Tree Legal Aid client

Read Real Accounts from Veterans Helped by LSC Grantees

Learn ���˶��� LSC's Veterans Pro Bono Grant Program

How Legal Aid Helps Veterans

Facts & Figures

18.2 million

Veterans

1.8 million

Veterans

292,100

Veteran clients

100,000

Veteran households

A Message from LSC's Board Chair, John G. Levi

LSC Veterans Fact Sheet

Click here to view our fact sheet on how legal aid helps veterans

Forums & Congressional Briefings

Client Success Stories

Serving Those Who Have Served Our Country

Other Client Stories from Veterans Helped by LSC Grantees

Our Grantees In The News

Helping Veterans Access Housing Benefits | Washington

Helping The Elderly Access Healthcare | South Dakota

Marine Corps Veteran Finds Affordable Housing | New Hampshire

Helping Elderly Veterans Maintain Safe Housing | Minnesota

Helping Veterans Access Food and Health Benefits | Michigan

Helping Veterans Access Safe Housing | Louisiana

Tony*, a homeless Vietnam veteran suffering from PTSD and other disabling conditions, was approved for a special housing voucher.

Legal Aid Helps Veteran Fight Wage Garnishment | Idaho

Learn ��˶�� LSC's Veterans Pro Bono Grant Program