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Lone Star Legal Aid Celebrates 20 Years

The Houston Legal Aid Clinic, later known as the Houston Legal Foundation, was established by the Houston Bar Association and Texas Southern University, among others. East Texas Legal Services was created due to local interest from multiple parties, including client groups in Nacogdoches and Tyler, members of the Nacogdoches County Bar Association, and to some degree, the Jefferson County Bar […]

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News

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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February 20th is World Day of Social Justice 2022 – Achieving Social Justice Through Formal Employment

World Day of Social Justice is an international day that recognizes the need to promote social justice, which includes efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion, gender inequality, unemployment, human rights, environmental justice, and social protections. The 2022 theme is Achieving Social Justice through Formal Employment. The focus is on the formalization of employment to reduce poverty and inequality. […]

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Trinity / Houston Gardens Files Title VI Civil Rights Complaint Regarding City of Houston

Houston, TX – The City of Houston’s Super Neighborhood 48 (“SN48”), covering an area known as Trinity Gardens and Houston Gardens (“The Gardens”), through its attorneys at Lone Star Legal Aid, has filed a Title VI Civil Rights Administrative Complaint with the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Department of Housing and […]

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January is National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month and National Stalking Awareness Month

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Since 2010, the President has dedicated the month to raising awareness about the different forms of human trafficking, also known as modern slavery, and educating people about this crime and how to spot it. Texas is a hot spot for human trafficking in the United States. Its population is spread over […]

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Disabled Veterans Now Eligible for Homestead Tax Exemption in 2022

As of January 1, 2022, veterans who receive 100% disability compensation are eligible for a new homestead tax exemption. What is a homestead exemption? Homestead exemptions remove part of your home’s value from taxation, so they lower your taxes. For example, your home is appraised at $100,000, and you qualify for a $25,000 exemption (this is the amount mandated for […]

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Lone Star Legal Aid Staff to Present at Legal Services Corporation’s Innovations in Technology Conference 2022

Lone Star Legal Aid Staff will present two sessions at the Legal Services Corporation’s Innovations in Technology Conference 2022 (ITC22). The ITC22 will be a fully virtual event beginning on January 12, 2022. The Innovations in Technology Conference grew out of LSC’s Technology Initiative Grant (TIG) Program, which seeks to expand access to justice by promoting technological innovations in legal services […]

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No Surprises Act – New Federal Law Prohibits Surprise Medical Bills

Houston, TX – The No Surprises Act (NSA) establishes new federal protections against surprise medical bills. If you’ve ever received a surprise bill after a trip to an emergency room, after thinking it would be covered by insurance, it was due to something called balanced billing. Balance billing occurs when an insured patient receives care from a physician, hospital or […]

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January is Poverty in America Awareness Month

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 […]

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Lone Star Legal Aid Attorney Participated In Houston Bar Association’s AIDS Outreach – Adopt-a-Family Project

Conroe, TX – Susan Soto, a staff attorney in our Conroe Branch Office, participated in the Houston Bar Association’s 25th Annual AIDS Outreach Holiday Adopt-a-Family Project last month. 85 law firms, legal departments and individual donors provided holiday gifts for 128 families in need. This includes a record 484 individuals (194 adults and 290 children), making it the HBA’s biggest […]

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Texas Approves Additional Funds for Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT)

Texas families with students who previously qualified for Pandemic Food Benefits (or the P-EBT Card) should check their balance for a recent rollout in funds for the summer of 2021. Eligible families should have already received $375 per child. These benefits act as SNAP benefits.   Who is eligible?  Children who are certified for free or reduced-price meals through the National […]

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Topic
Covid-19,
News

Port Arthur Community Action Network’s John Beard Receives 2021 Environmental Advocacy Honors

Port Arthur, Texas – John Beard, the President of PA-CAN (Port Arthur Community Action Network), a community group client of our Environmental Justice Team, is being recognized for his environmental advocacy with two 2021 Awards, the FracTracker Alliance’s 2021 Community Sentinel Award for Environmental Stewardship and the Climate Law Institute’s 2021 Rose Braz Award for Bold Activism. The Community Sentinel […]

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Public Libraries Are Open at 75% Capacity

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 […]

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3G Network Shutdowns: Preparing Older Adults and Low-income Individuals

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 […]

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