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Lone Star Legal Aid Celebrates Pride Month 2022

Lone Star Legal Aid joins the National PRIDE celebration throughout the month of June. The first Pride March was held in June 1970 to commemorate the Stonewall Riots/Uprising of 1969, and the LGBTQIA+ community has been gathering annually since to march for social justice, equal rights, and celebrate social and self acceptance. A year prior, members of the gay community […]

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LSLA Submits Appeal after Father Forced to Wait Over Eighty Days for Nutritional Benefits

Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has 30 days to act on a client’s SNAP benefits application and 45 days to act on Medicaid cases. Jack was referred to Lone Star Legal Aid by BakerRipley and needed SNAP benefits for a household of four people. Jack submitted an initial SNAP application on February 8, 2022, and after 80 days, […]

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The Difference Between CHIP and Children’s Medicaid

Children in Texas can get low-cost or free health coverage through Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Children’s Medicaid. CHIP is a health care program for children without insurance whose families earn too much to receive Children’s Medicaid but cannot afford health care. Children’s Medicaid is a program for low-income families. To get approved for either program, a child must […]

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Connecting Texas Kids To Medical Coverage – How COVID-19 has Impacted Family Life

The COVID-19 global health pandemic has caused widespread damage, including damage to the economy, right here in the United States. Families are suffering. They are desperate for money, food, shelter, and now, they need benefits to feed their families and take care of their children. COVID-19 has impacted family life, but thankfully Lone Star Legal Aid can help families obtain public […]

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Mental Health Awareness Month: Why Advocating for Mental Health Matters

In the United States, 1 in 5 adults currently have symptoms of a mental illness. Advocating for Mental Health Awareness Month in May means providing support and resources to those who are living with a mental illness so they can find the right treatment. Lone Star Legal Aid recognizes this awareness month as an opportunity to educate the community on […]

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Legal Services Corporation Releases Research on Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-Income Americans

Lone Star Legal Aid is funded in part by Legal Services Corporation (LSC), the largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans in the nation. By partnering with NORC at the University of Chicago, LSC has measured “the difference between the civil legal needs of low-income Americans and the resources available to meet those needs.” In their 2022 report, […]

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Connecting Texas Kids to Coverage Unit – Lantrip Elementary Outreach

Last Tuesday, the Connecting Texas Kids to Coverage Unit at Lone Star Legal Aid participated in an outreach at Lantrip Elementary School to educate parents on CHIP and Children’s Medicaid. We have a dedicated a team of lawyers and paralegals who can help applicants who qualify for our services apply for Children’s Medicaid or CHIP benefits. We can enroll on […]

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Crime Victims’ Rights Week – Survivor Projects and Resources at Lone Star Legal Aid

Crime Victims’ Rights Week is an annual week-long campaign in April that celebrates the accomplishments of the victim’ rights movement. According to the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), “National Crime Victims’ Rights Week has challenged the nation to confront and remove barriers to achieving justice for all victims of crime.”   This year’s theme is rights, access, equity, for […]

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Domestic Abuse and Stalking – The Advice

Being verbally and physically abused is a difficult affliction to tolerate. Being stalked and not knowing when your stalker just might show up is even worse. It causes fear and takes a mental toll on the survivor. For Cody, it was just that. Cody met Delilah in high school, but their romantic affairs did not take off until they reunited […]

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The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign – Taking Care of Teeth and Keeping Smiles Healthy

The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign is a national outreach and enrollment initiative that aims to connect families with children and teens with Children’s Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This year’s campaign theme is to take care of teeth and keep smiles healthy. The mission is to:   Raise awareness about health coverage available under these programs; […]

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April is Fair Housing Month 2022

Each April, local communities, fair housing advocates, and fair housing organizations across the country commemorate Fair Housing Month by hosting an array of activities that highlight HUD’s fair housing enforcement efforts, enhance Americans’ awareness of their fair housing rights, and emphasize the importance of ending housing discrimination. Our Fair Housing team focuses on the right to stay in decent and […]

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April 7, 2022 is World Health Day – Connecting Texas Kids to Coverage

April 7, 2022 is World Health Day. Lone Star Legal Aid’s Connecting Texas Kids to Medical Coverage Unit provides legal assistance to those who need help accessing health care benefits for their children. 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 […]

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LSLA Wins Appeal for 20-Month-Old Baby Denied Health Benefits Twice

Taylor was caring for her sister’s four children when the youngest, Cameron, just 20-months-old, was denied health benefits while the other three were approved. After submitting documents to prove to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) that she was the caretaker of the child, HHSC denied the application again. Taylor’s sister is a repeated drug abuser, […]

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Child Obesity Crisis in Texas: Getting Children Insured Increases Health Benefits

Texas has the 8th highest obesity rate for youth ages 10-17 and the 12th highest adult obesity rate in the U.S and it is only getting worse. Childhood obesity results in extra health care costs. A child with obesity has $12,900 more in medical costs than a child with normal weight. It is vital that we get our kids insured […]

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Protecting Older Americans from Foreclosure Rescue Scams

The independence and financial security of older adults can be threatened by abusive practices in the consumer world. A growing scam that disproportionately targets older Americans can, and often does, literally cost them the homes they have lived in for years and worked hard to obtain. It is called a foreclosure “rescue” scam, and it is anything but what the […]

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Lone Star Legal Aid Celebrates National Consumer Protection Week 2022

The Federal Trade Commission’s National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is March 6-12, 2022. 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 […]

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The Texas Homeowners Assistance Fund Program (TXHAF) Application Portal is OPEN!

Are you behind on your mortgage or related expenses? The Texas Homeowners Assistance Fund Program (TXHAF) opened its application portal on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.  TXHAF provides financial assistance to qualified Texas homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage and related expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. TXHAF will provide eligible homeowners with grants to pay past due mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, and/or […]

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Preparing Medicaid and SNAP Recipients for the Months Ahead

Medicaid provides coverage to a vast population, including seniors, the disabled, pregnant women, children, and adults who are not disabled. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, states regularly reviewed benefit recipients’ eligibility based on their income, age, or disability status. To lessen the burdens on parents during the public health emergency, HHSC temporarily waived renewal requirements for Medicaid and SNAP clients. While […]

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