December 8, 2023 by Natalie Cochran
December 10, 2023 is Human Rights Day: Lone Star Legal Aid Advocates for the Civil Legal Rights of Millions of Texans
The 75th anniversary of Human Rights Day will be recognized on December 10, 2023. This day is focused on a year-long initiative that empowers progress and engagement. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a landmark document available in more than 500 languages and cherishes the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status.
This year’s theme is Freedom, Equality and Justice for All which will focus on vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, indigenous people, and migrants. The purpose of Human Rights Day is to recognize the efforts and activism to provide guidelines for pandemics, conflicts, inequalities, racism, climate change, and more.
Lone Star Legal Aid’s mission is to protect and advance the civil legal rights of low-income Texans by providing legal representation and community education that ensures equal access to justice. Our efforts support human rights by providing a reputation for client-centered work and a proud tradition of successful advocacy.
Over the years, the firm has achieved victories that extend beyond individual cases, impacting low-income communities, states, and the nation. Notable achievements include facilitating systemic policy and procedural changes, such as desegregating public housing, helping veterans, seniors, the LGBTQA+ community, people with disabilities, the homeless, and improving access to healthcare for children.
Cases we have seen over the years include the right to life, freedom from inhumane treatment, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the rights to health, education, public benefits, adequate standard of living, and more. LSLA proudly supports Human Rights Day and knows exactly what advocacy looks like when representing Texans and their rights.
In 2022, we closed 27,390 cases assisting 48,742 individuals, supporting, 22,352 children, empowering 18,000 survivors of crime, serving 1,798 veterans, providing aid to 25, 252 disaster survivors, and protecting 14,860 tenants facing eviction. We also partnered with pro bono attorneys to directly help 4, 881 of our clients. Additionally, we helped with 28 community groups, reaching a population of 889,166 people.
Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income and underserved populations by providing free legal education, advice, and representation. LSLA serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines, who live in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties in Southwest Arkansas. LSLA focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety, stability, health, and wellbeing; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those with disabilities, the aging, survivors of crime and disasters, the unemployed and underemployed, the unhoused, those with limited English language skills, and the LGBTQIA+ community. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.LoneStarLegal.org.
Media contact: media@lonestarlegal.org
