News and stories about our work to protect and advance the civil legal rights of low-income Texans.
The 2020 Open Enrollment Period runs from November 1, 2019, until December 15, 2019. If you don’t act by December 15, 2019, you can’t get coverage unless you fall into the Special Enrollment Period. Special enrollment covers individuals who have certain life-changing events, like losing health coverage through an employer, moving, getting married or divorced, having a baby, or adopting […]
On September 13, the Executive Director (ED) of Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued a formal response to public comments from hundreds of community members who are opposed to a major amendment on Municipal Solid Waste Permit (MSW) #1599B for Greenhouse Road Landfill, a Type IV Landfill located on Houston’s west side near Katy. If approved by TCEQ, the amendment […]
Lone Star Legal Aid is pleased to announce its 2019 Pro Bono Award recipients in celebration of the American Bar Association’s Pro Bono Week – October 20-26, 2019. The National Celebration of Pro Bono is an annual opportunity to shine a spotlight on the amazing work done by pro bono lawyers, paralegals, and law students across the country. LSLA joins […]
Houston, TX – Tropical Storm Imelda survivors can now apply for disaster unemployment assistance if they either lost their jobs or are self-employed and have not been able to work because of damage from the storm. Individuals affected by Tropical Storm Imelda in Chambers, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery and Orange Counties can apply for benefits online through Unemployment Benefit Services […]
Every October, the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) asks us to renew or join the commitment to help “Take A Bite Out Of Crime®.” In 1984, October was designated as Crime Prevention Month through a Presidential proclamation and since then, NCPC has been working with local law enforcement, government agencies, civic groups, schools and businesses, and other organizations to help […]
Six Texas Counties have received a Presidential Disaster Declaration as of Friday, October 5, 2019, resulting from Tropical Storm Imelda. According to the National Weather Service, Imelda was one of the wettest cyclones in U.S. history, leaving over 800 homes damaged. The counties now eligible for FEMA and SBA assistance are Chambers, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, and Orange. What can […]
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month first began in 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a Day of Unity to connect battered women’s advocates across the country. Domestic violence affects millions, both women and men, of every race, religion, culture and status. It’s not just punches and black eyes — it’s yelling, humiliation, stalking, manipulation, coercion, threats and […]
Join Lone Star Legal Aid and CHILDREN AT RISK for an educational bus tour presentation on human trafficking in Houston Tuesday, October 22, 2019, generously sponsored by Locke Lord, LLP. Attorneys will get a first-hand look at both where major trafficking incidents were identified, where this crime may be presently occurring, and will learn to identify the red flags and […]
HOUSTON, TX — The State Bar of Texas and Lone Star Legal Aid remind residents that free legal resources are available to low-income individuals affected by severe storms and flooding spawned by Tropical Storm Imelda. Lone Star Legal Aid operates a toll-free disaster legal hotline — 866-659-0666 — that can help with issues such as replacing lost documents, answering insurance […]
Lone Star Legal Aid recognizes September as National Preparedness Month. The campaign promotes family and community disaster and emergency planning now and throughout the year. This year’s theme is “Prepared, Not scared.” Homeowners, families, and communities can use this opportunity to find ways or help others understand more about preparing for disasters and reducing risks to health and the environment. […]
Houston, TX – Tuesday, August 6, 2019, is National Night Out! NNO is an annual community-building campaign that enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement. There are many events going on nationwide to support the cause and you can find Lone Star Legal Aid participating in the event that will be hosted at the University of Houston Downtown (UHD) […]
Port Arthur, TX – Community group and LSLA client, Port Arthur Community Action Network (PA-CAN), previously announced plans to sue Valero Energy Corporation and its subsidiary, Premcor Refining Group, Inc. (collectively, “Valero”) in federal court for hundreds of violations of the Clean Air Act, totaling over 1.8 million pounds of unauthorized air pollution released by Valero’s Port Arthur refinery since […]
The Federal Trade Commission partners with local, state, and federal agencies every July to promote awareness into the consumer issues faced by service-members. Service-members, like all consumers, are potential targets for fraudsters. Some scams are more likely to target military families because they may relocate frequently. The FTC strives to eliminate such scams through enforcement and education. This year, Lone […]
Houston, Texas – Lone Star Legal Aid is one of nine organizations that serve post 9/11 veterans, service members, and their families chosen by the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) for its spring grants. BWF’s key focus areas are education and employment, quality of life, and rehabilitation and recovery. BWF was particularly interested in how post-disaster challenges tie in with veteran […]
Houston, TX – For more than 14 years, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has been planning the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP), a massive expansion of Interstate 45 that will completely reshape freeway transit around downtown Houston, with major changes to I-45, I-69, I-10 and Hwy 288 over the next decade. The proposed expansion of I-45 north of downtown […]
Houston, TX – Houston’s Own Lawyers Entertaining for Charity, Night Court‘s Law of the Jungle II, tells the tale of George as he tries to win at the mysterious game that sends him from the Law Library to the heart of the jungle. While trying to beat the game, George learns ethics in politics, election law, and a few civics […]
June is National Homeownership Month, a time to celebrate, promote, and reflect on the American Dream – owning your own home. Homeownership provides social and financial stability, builds communities, and helps improve the national economy. While most Americans dream of owning a home, obstacles such as student loans, credit card debt, poor credit, interest rates, and the ever-fluctuating job market […]
HOUSTON, TX – Lone Star Legal Aid’s Crime Victims Unit attorney Zelda Howell and social worker Ashleigh Cormier hosted the Justice for Crime Survivors presentation on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at the downtown Houston Police Department (HPD). The presentation covered specific methods to approach and handle cases dealing with survivors of crime. After victimization, the individual will face many challenges. […]
Port Arthur, TX – Alleging over 1.8 million pounds of unauthorized air pollution were released over the past 5 years by Valero’s Port Arthur Refinery, the community group and Lone Star Legal Aid client, Port Arthur Community Action Network (PA-CAN), announced at a press conference today that it intends to sue Valero Energy Corporation and its parent company, Premcor Refining […]
Fayette County, TX – Lone Star Legal Aid is fighting to save the home of Ms. Sharelle Wright from effectively being foreclosed upon by the same non-profit that helped build it for her. Ms. Wright is a single mother with 6 children whose previous home was badly damaged during Hurricane Harvey when a tree smashed the roof and rained destroyed […]