Houston, TX – The Legal Aid for Survivors of Sexual Assault (LASSA) Texas Network is pleased to announce the launch of their website, www.lassatexas.org. The statewide network consists of nine programs that collaborate to provide holistic legal services to the most vulnerable and underserved sexual violence survivors in Texas. Since the LASSA Program’s inception in October 2015, the Network has handled thousands of cases involving survivors of sexual assault. Launching a survivor-centered website provides a landing page for survivors throughout the state to find the legal aid provider that can help them, depending on the county in which they reside. This website is one of the ways the LASSA Texas Network reaches survivors to provide trauma-informed, culturally resonant services that meet survivors at any stage of their healing and justice journey.
Site Features
- Emergency Exit: By clicking the ‘EXIT’ button in the upper-right corner, the website will automatically close and be removed from your history.
- English and Spanish Translation: To switch between languages, click the translate button in the upper-right corner, which is labeled “En Español” or “English.” More languages are expected to be available in the future to increase language accessibility.
- Outreach Material Request Form: Nonprofits, government/local agencies, community-based organizations, and other public service groups may request printed outreach materials for distribution. Texas Legal Services Center, a member of the LASSA Texas Network, fulfills outreach orders.
- Statewide Hotline: LASSA offers free and confidential legal advice and services through their statewide hotline, Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. at 844-303-SAFE (7233), Option 1.
Sexual violence can include:
- Sexual harassment;
- Sexual threats and intimidation;
- Child sexual abuse;
- Incest;
- Rape (including marital rape); and
- Human sexual trafficking.
Civil legal services can help survivors access the knowledge, safety, privacy, and public assistance needed to move through trauma. The types of aid available are varied to address the multifaceted issues stemming from sexual violence—like privacy, safety, housing, family law, immigration, medical/mental health benefits, and advocacy in the workplace or educational institution.
If you have survived sexual violence, you may have civil legal needs. Here are some examples of possible legal needs:
- Personal safety at home, work, or school;
- Applying for a protective order;
- Filing for divorce or custody of your children;
- Transferring to a different school;
- Keeping medical, mental health, and education records private;
- Terminating a lease or fighting an eviction;
- Applying for unemployment benefits, food stamps, Medicaid, or Social Security disability;
- Applying for crime victim compensation;
- Fighting payday loans, hospital bills, or other creditors; and/or
- Fighting identity theft.
Survivors deserve avenues to healing and justice. We are here to help.
Important to know:
- You don’t have to report the sexual violence to the police to get our help.
- We provide confidential legal help to sexual violence survivors.
LASSA is funded by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation and is comprised of the following legal aid organizations: Catholic Charities of Dallas, Equal Justice Center, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, Lone Star Legal Aid, St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigration Legal Assistance, Tahirih Justice Center, Texas Advocacy Project, Texas Legal Services Center, and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.
Check out LASSA on social media!
Lone Star Legal Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income and underserved populations. Lone Star Legal Aid serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines that reside in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties of Southwest Arkansas. Lone Star Legal Aid focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety and stability, health and well-being; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those with disabilities, or who are elderly, homeless, or have limited English language skills. Lone Star Legal Aid does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at https://www.lonestarlegal.org.
Media contact: media@lonestarlegal.org
