News and stories about our work to protect and advance the civil legal rights of low-income Texans.
A mother applied her two children for Children’s Medicaid six months before reaching out to Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA), but Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) denied her because in their system, the two children had foster care insurance. The mother informed Paralegal Cristina Palacios, that the children have not been in foster care for over a year. She […]
The children were crying, screaming and covering their watery eyes while their mother starved them, neglected them and continually drowned herself in drugs. The children deserved to be loved, looked after and cared for. They didn’t deserve to be abandoned, neglected and left to fend for themselves, especially at the ages of seven and nine. Valerie, the daughter in law […]
The Constitutional rights of several residents were being violated in a low-income housing complex in Center, Texas. They were facing invasion of privacy and unequal protection to the laws rooted by racial discrimination. The Center Housing Authority (CHA) continually violated these residents’ Constitutional rights by breaking multiple federal laws. The landlord’s rules and regulations were so restrictive that the residents’ […]
Kassandra met Lilah in San Diego, California in 2012 when she was just twelve years old, and instantly knew she was in love with her. She expressed to her mother that she was bisexual and did not approve. Her mother thought life would be hard for her, because she would be judged harshly. Kassandra’s father was never in the picture, […]
Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), WIC is a federally funded program to provide nutrition benefits, education, supplemental food, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and social services to at-risk pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding individuals, infants, and children up to the age of five. A new temporary dollar amount increase for fruits and vegetables is now available through […]
Eulise, uncle to Jose, became Jose’s caretaker in February while still receiving Medicaid and SNAP benefits under the parent’s household. The uncle, Eulise, reapplied for Jose’s Medicaid Benefits, disclosing he was the caretaker of the child, and was then denied benefits. At thirteen, Jose lived with his father for a while until he contracted Covid-19 in 2020, and then they […]
Imagine not knowing if you would be alive to see the next day. Imagine having to protect your children from someone who would hit them, push them and drag them out of the house. Sharon Smith was terrified when she was married to James, as he would threaten her and abuse her to where she thought she would never escape […]
Natalie Cochran sat down with Elizabeth Green and Christian Pineda from Lone Star Legal Aid to discuss why healthy children are better prepared to succeed in school and how you can get your children enrolled in CHIP or Medicaid with our free legal services. Listen here on KPFT radio starting at 13:25.
There are 623,000 children without health insurance in Texas. Those who lack insurance coverage typically experience far worse health status than those insured. Uninsured children in Texas may get low-cost health care from the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or no-cost health care from Children’s Medicaid. Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) has a dedicated team of lawyers and paralegals who […]
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is providing almost $294 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits starting in October, as the state continues its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The allotments are expected to help more than 1.4 million Texas households. HHSC received federal approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to […]
The Covid-19 Pandemic has contributed to financial hardship, like job loss, lost wages, unforeseen medical expenses, evictions, and foreclosures, leaving many Americans in need of assistance. With the CDC Eviction Moratorium no longer in effect, protections for those evicted have been lifted, and millions are now facing homelessness. Homelessness is not synonymous with being unsheltered. Many people will move in […]
Lone Star Legal Aid is a strong supporter of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In this blog, you will find common topics relevant to advocating for domestic violence survivors, such as safety planning and prevention for those who are or know anyone living with an abusive partner, knowing how to be safe while using the internet if you are in a […]
Tuesday, October 5, 2021 is National Night Out! NNO is an annual community-building campaign that enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement. There are many events nationwide to support the cause, and you can find Lone Star Legal Aid participating in the event that will be hosted at the Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas from 6 PM to 8 […]
Suicide in the United States is at an alarming rate, so high that it is one of the leading causes of death in our country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says “many factors can increase the risk for suicide or protect against it. Suicide is connected to other forms of injury and violence. For example, people who […]
A month before its intended expiry date, the CDC eviction moratorium was suspended by the Supreme Court, leaving tenants vulnerable to homelessness. Over 11 million renters have had trouble paying rent on time during the pandemic as unemployment blanketed the nation. The temporary halt on evictions did not absolve renters from the responsibility of paying the entirety of their owed […]
Healthy students are better learners. With medical coverage such as CHIP and Medicaid, students are more likely to attend school and earn higher grades. Many children, including the millions uninsured in Texas have difficulty accessing quality health care. The pandemic has established a new reality that education and health care are linked. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention […]
Richard, 64, and his siblings, inherited the father’s home in 2018 along with roughly $9000 in past due property taxes including penalties and interest. After their father’s passing, Richard moved into the home, maintaining the property and paying the bills which included making payments towards the taxes. When the Covid pandemic hit, Richard had trouble keeping up with the payments and with the threat of foreclosure looming, he sought relief in the form of a loan to pay […]
Having high quality, affordable health coverage is beneficial for children and their families. With children heading back to school in August, coverage will help parents can rest easy knowing their children can get the routine preventive care that keeps them healthy and the medical help they need if they get sick or injured. Healthy children are better prepared to succeed in school […]
A bias crime is one that is fully or partially motivated against a person’s ancestry, ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, immigration, citizenship status, race, religion, religious practice, disability, gender, marital status, age or sexual orientation is considered a bias crime, also known as a hate crime. Being prejudice or assuming an opinion about someone based on these factors can lead to fear, trauma, and other mental health issues for […]
This Sunday, August 8, 2021, Lone Star Legal Aid is joining Sisters of Charity Church for an outreach event starting at 10 AM at the Brookdale Villages Apartments. We will be there to help enroll your children for Medicaid and CHIP benefits as well as answer any of your questions. If you are looking to enroll your children on-site, make sure you bring […]
