News and stories about our work to protect and advance the civil legal rights of low-income Texans.
Mary’s insurance denied her the coverage she needed to keep seeking treatment and surgeries for the genetic illness that she was diagnosed with when she was born. Von Hipple Landau (VHL) is a type of cancer that causes malignant tumors to form in multiple organs of the body which initiated her permanent blindness in 2007. She also experiences numbness, weaknesses […]
The six top holiday scams Charity Scams: If a website wants donations in cash or gift cards, don’t do it! Charity scams pop up around the holidays. Scammers can trick you into paying them by thanking you for a donation you never made. They may also appear legitimate by their name, but always research them first to find out where their […]
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’ […]
Devoted uncle Justin Gillis became involved in a court action with his sister’s children. Their mother and father lost legal and custodial rights in New York City due to several allegations of neglect and abuse. Thus, a New York order placed the children with Mr. Gillis’ mother; the court order allowed the parents visitation rights at the discretion and under […]
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, […]
Lambda Legal, a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV, has won victories in two class action lawsuits on behalf of surviving same-sex partners and spouses across the country. These cases impact anyone denied Social Security Survivor’s Benefits because they were unable to be […]
Of the more than 18 million veterans and active-duty service members in America, Texas has the nation’s second-largest veteran population. For the civil legal issues that may arise for veterans, legal aid organizations make themselves available year-round. In fact, more than 8,000 Texas veterans receive free legal assistance each year from legal aid organizations. The week of November 7 – […]
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 […]
Each year, A Month of Service (AMOS) partners with NRCDC Houston, the City of Houston Department of Neighborhoods, Houston Volunteer Lawyers, Harris County Appraisal District, Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector, The Earl Carl Institute for Legal & Social Policy, Lone Star Legal Aid, and the Houston Bar Association, to provide free information and resources on topics including asset protection, asset building, […]
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 […]
The deadline to sign up to receive monthly advanced Child Tax Credit payments is November 15. As part of the American Rescue Plan, the IRS started sending advanced Child Tax Credit payments in July. These payments represent half of the total Child Tax Credit eligible families would receive after filing their 2021 tax return. Qualifying families are eligible for: $300/month […]
In unprecedented times like these, pro bono work becomes integral to providing assistance for underprivileged clients facing a plethora of legal issues in light of the pandemic. We recognize the hard work of our pro bono volunteers and attorneys, and thank them for their dedication and generosity to their service. During the last week of October, Lone Star Legal Aid […]
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 […]
