News and stories about our work to protect and advance the civil legal rights of low-income Texans.
January is Poverty Awareness Month, a month-long initiative to raise awareness and call attention to the growth of poverty in America. We fight to end poverty by creating equity and opportunity. Throughout the month of January, we’ll be talking about how and why poverty continues to impact so many people. From housing and healthcare, to personal and family safety, we […]
The rise in recent school shootings Mass school shootings are a traumatic event that can potentially trigger mental health disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in people directly impacted by a violent threat, such as a school shooting. Studies show that adolescent trauma has more lifelong effects on young people with developing brains. This causes them to struggle […]
It wasn’t unusual for the police to arrive at Cynthia’s home in the middle of the day, however this time, they expected to find her dead. They always came and checked on her and warned her to never leave her house at night. Cynthia was a victim of domestic violence for two years until she got a divorce from her […]
Houston, TX – Following statewide guidance, public libraries are now open at 75% capacity. Masks are required to enter all government facilities. If you do not have a mask, the library will provide one free of charge. Aside from offering access to physical collections of books and movies to browse and check out, public libraries also offer computer access, printing […]
While 4 and 5G networks are available, many older adults and low-income individuals use older cell phones, life alerts or other devices that still use 3G networks. 3G Wireless Networks are scheduled to shut down in 2022, which will prevent 3G cell phone users from placing and receiving calls, and cutting off their access to data. Each mobile carrier plans […]
Doctors diagnosed Joseph with Progressive Glaucoma, which is an eye condition that causes damage to the optic nerve resulting in permanent vision loss. He was told his eyesight would gradually fade over several years until he was blind, but little did he know he would be involved in an accident that would dramatically change his life sooner than he thought. […]
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 […]