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Full-Time Substitute Teacher Loses Home, Even After Paying Her Rent in Full

Houston, TX – Last week, Adorable Pointe Apartments, owned by Grace Business Ventures, LLC, an affiliate of Grace International Church, forced a tenant to vacate an apartment for no reason – she had paid in full. Grace International Church has congregations in Houston, and in the Bronx, NYC. Lone Star Legal Aid’s Eviction Right to Counsel Attorneys met Samayah Winston […]

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Lone Star Legal Aid Attends State Bar of Texas’ Poverty Law Conference

The Poverty Law Conference is hosted annually by the State Bar of Texas to educate poverty law attorneys about the legal issues that affect low-income Texans. This year, the 2022 conference was hybrid, with in-person presentations and award ceremonies in Austin, Texas. Many Lone Star Legal Aid staff were in attendance this year. Presentations by Lone Star Legal Aid Wednesday, […]

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What are the U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines?

The first set of poverty guidelines were developed in the 1960’s to define poverty on a sliding scale that would take family size and cost of living into consideration each year. The U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines determine eligibility for all forms of public benefits and assistance. All clients of Lone Star Legal Aid must meet financial and legal status eligibility […]

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County Indigent Healthcare Program

The County Indigent Health Care Program helps low-income Texas residents who don’t qualify for other state or federal health care programs have access to health care services. An indigent patient is a patient whose health insurance coverage, if any, does not provide full coverage for all their medical expenses and that their medical expenses, in relationship to their income.   Benefits […]

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Lone Star Legal Aid and Texas Legal Services Center Launch Eviction Text Messaging Program

Lone Star Legal Aid, in partnership with Texas Legal Services Center, is happy to announce the launch of its Eviction Text Messaging Program. The program helps to guide our clients through the JP Court Eviction Appeal process with text messaging support. This guided support will provide text message reminders of deadlines, links to helpful information at appropriate times, and answer […]

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Lone Star Legal Aid’s Financial Assistance and Public Benefits Unit Overview

Our financial assistance and public benefits advocates help low-income families access nutritional, financial, and income-support benefits. We can help with  Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the program formerly known as Food Stamps Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Social Security County Indigent Healthcare Unemployment Insurance Medicare/Medicaid Discrimination in government programs for race, national origin, sex, pregnancy, […]

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Protecting Individuals with Disabilities from Victimization  

People with disabilities face widespread discrimination, segregation, and exclusion. But federal disability rights laws can provide protection.  Disability discrimination in the workplace  Employment discrimination is when an employer treats an application or employee less favorably due to a person’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Disability victimization is the most […]

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Crime Victim Unit – Supporting Survivors of Healthcare Workplace Violence

Workplace violence (WPV) is any act or threat of violence, harassment, intimidation, or disruptive behavior that occurs in a workplace. Hospitals and health systems have vigorous protocols to detect violence against their staff. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health care field has seen an increase in workplace violence and studies show rates will not be receding anytime […]

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Which legal aid organization serves my Texas county?

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT), Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA), and Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) are legal aid organizations funded by Legal Services Corporation (LSC) to assist low-income Texans with their civil legal needs. LSLA has 14 offices in 76 counties with staff attorneys and pro bono volunteers ready to help take on your case. See below for […]

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Lone Star Legal Aid’s Military & Veterans Unit to Host Fundraiser at Sawyer Heights MOD Pizza

Houston, TX – Lone Star Legal Aid is proud to announce that pizza sales at the Sawyer Heights MOD Pizza location (1911 Taylor St, Ste. A, Houston, TX 77007) on Sunday, September 11, 2022, will benefit our Military & Veterans Unit. Ways to support this fundraiser Receive 20% off all digital and in-store fundraiser sales on September 11, 2022 by: […]

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How to Remove Discriminatory Language in Real Property Instruments

A Brief History of Discriminatory Language Instruments In the Southern United States from the 1920s to the 1940s, cities had laws requiring People of Color to live in certain areas. Property was also restricted by instruments that created “white only” subdivisions. In 1948, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Shelley v. Kraemer struck down racially restrictive housing covenants. In 1985, […]

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What is legal aid?

In the Southern United States, 22.2 million people live below 125% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funds many legal aid organizations so that low-income individuals and families can receive the help they need. In a 2022 report by LSC, known as The Justice Gap, it was found that 53% of low-income Americans “did not know […]

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Gulf Coast Residents Launch Environmental Campaign

Port Arthur, Texas – A coalition of organizations led by Lone Star Legal Aid Group Client, the Port Arthur Community Action Network (PACAN), launched a Month-of-Action to stop the proposed Blue Marlin Crude Oil Pipeline.  Energy Transfer has proposed building a crude oil pipeline through the middle of Sabine Lake and down to an offshore export terminal off the coast […]

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Lone Star Legal Aid on Crime Survivor Advocacy, Education and Resources: Catch us on KPFT Radio

Lone Star Legal Aid’s mission is to protect and advance the civil legal rights of low-income Texans, and to make legal information accessible for all. Our Crime Victim Unit assists survivors of crime with civil legal issues they are facing because of the crime committed against them. Our Justice for Crime Survivors Project provides services and assistance directly to victims […]

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Night Court Returns To The Stage With Ticket Sales Supporting Local Legal Aid Organizations

UPDATE – This is the final week to purchase tickets. Houston, TX – Night Court, a fundraising event that has raised over $1 million for charitable causes, returns to The Hobby Center from August 17-20, 2022 with Justice by the Dozen.  Proceeds will support local legal aid providers: AVDA Beacon Child Advocates HAWC Children’s Court Services Houston Volunteer Lawyers Lone Star […]

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Violent Domestic Abuse – Woman Forced to Live in a Women’s Shelter Until Seeking Legal Aid

During exactly four years of marriage, Tiffany endured tragic physical, financial, and emotional abuse. It started on their honeymoon cruise when her husband Aaron smashed her head into the sink of their cabin. She encountered another night where Eric beat her up so badly, dragged her by her hair out in the yard, and left her on the street throughout […]

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July is Military Consumer Month 2022

July is Military Consumer Month. Whether someone is a new recruit, a service member PCS’ing (permanent change of stations) with their family, or a soon-to-be veteran, the FTC wants to share some ways to steer clear of rip-offs and scammers. Individuals preparing to leave the service might be looking at ways to make a living while exploring new career options. […]

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EPA Objects to Valero Houston Refinery’s Title V Air Permit Due to TCEQ Compliance Failure, Continues to Rely on Harmful Policy that Endangers Clean Air

EPA Objects to Valero Houston Refinery’s Title V Air Permit Due to TCEQ Compliance Failure, Continues to Rely on Harmful Policy that Endangers Clean Air Media Contacts: Tom Pelton, Environmental Integrity Project, 443-510-2574 or tpelton@environmentalintegrity.org  Alexandria Trimble, Earthjustice, (202) 792-6889, atrimble@earthjustice.org Clarissa Ayala, Lone Star Legal Aid, 832-627-8404, cayala@lonestarlegal.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, July 7, 2022 Austin, Texas – The U.S. Environmental […]

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