March 6, 2023 by Ashley Norris
Lone Star Legal Aid Celebrates National Consumer Protection Week 2023
The Federal Trade Commission’s National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is March 5-11, 2023. Looking to protect yourself from fraud, identity theft, and scams? Maybe you’re wondering about the best way to use credit, how to shop for a used car, or even how to prevent foreclosure or bankruptcy. NCPW is a time to help people understand their consumer rights.
Texas Consumer News
Rent and Utility Assistance Available through Texas Rent Relief March 14-28, 2023
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs’ Texas Rent Relief (TRR) Program has $96M remaining to help Texans affected by the pandemic. Since the program launched in February 2021, TRR has provided more than $2 billion in rent and utility relief to more than 300,000 households throughout 250 counties in Texas, and prevented evictions for more than 21,000 households.
Having nearly processed all previously submitted applications, TRR will accept new applications for rent and utility assistance from Tuesday, March 14, at 8:00 AM, through Tuesday, March 28, at 11:59 PM. Limited funds are available.
Here’s how to apply.
The Supreme Court of Texas Issues Additional Emergency Order Regarding COVID-19
The Supreme Court of Texas issued an additional Emergency Order, the fourteenth such order related to sealing and making eviction court records confidential. Eviction record sealing is key to improving housing security for millions of individuals and families. Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) has been instrumental in getting these cases sealed.
Learn more here.
The End of Continuous Medicaid Coverage: Terminations and Re-Enrollment Begin April 1, 2023
Based on current COVID-19 trends, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is planning for the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, to expire on May 11, 2023. Earlier this month, there was an announcement ending the additional funding for SNAP recipients due to the PHE ending, and now there is a final decision regarding the continuous coverage program for Medicaid and CHIP recipients. Based on the new federal law, continuous Medicaid eligibility will end on March 31, 2023. To ensure coverage, recipients will need to renew their benefits when it’s time.
Learn more here.
Events
In honor of NCPW, we’ll be featuring our Housing & Consumer Unit on our weekly virtual outreach, Law Talk Friday, on March 10, 2023, at 3 PM on Facebook. Watch at www.facebook.com/LoneStarLegalAid.
Read how we helped a medical professional during a wrongful eviction suit.
Visit www.ftc.gov/ncpw to learn how to get free consumer education materials and read the latest from consumer protection experts.
If you or someone you know needs legal help, you can apply for free assistance by visiting www.lonestarlegal.org or calling 1-800-733-8394.
Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income and underserved populations by providing free legal education, advice, and representation. LSLA serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines, who live in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties in Southwest Arkansas. LSLA focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety, stability, health, and wellbeing; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those with disabilities, the aging, survivors of crime and disasters, the unemployed and underemployed, the unhoused, those with limited English language skills, and the LGBTQIA+ community. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.LoneStarLegal.org.
Media contact: media@lonestarlegal.org
