News and stories about our work to protect and advance the civil legal rights of low-income Texans.
Doctors diagnosed Joseph with Progressive Glaucoma, which is an eye condition that causes damage to the optic nerve resulting in permanent vision loss. He was told his eyesight would gradually fade over several years until he was blind, but little did he know he would be involved in an accident that would dramatically change his life sooner than he thought. […]
Doctors diagnosed Joseph with Progressive Glaucoma, which is an eye condition that causes damage to the optic nerve resulting in permanent vision loss. He was told his eyesight would gradually fade over several years until he was blind, but little did he know he would be involved in an accident that would dramatically change his life sooner than he thought. […]
In observance of Independence Day, Lone Star Legal Aid will be closed. All offices will reopen on Tuesday, July 5, 2022. Texans can still apply for free legal help online at www.lonestarlegal.org.
Texas has Refused to Fix Problems in its Air Permitting Program that Affect Environmental Justice and Public Participation FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, June 28, 2022 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 Austin, Texas – Today, the Environmental Integrity Project and twelve other […]
In observance of Juneteenth, Lone Star Legal Aid will be closed. All offices will reopen on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Texans can still apply for free legal help online at www.lonestarlegal.org.
Today the world provides opportunities for communities to promote a better understanding of elder abuse and neglect of older people. Organizations are working with community partners and professional groups around the world to raise awareness about adult abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Our elderly population routinely faces several forms of abuse, like neglect and financial exploitation. Consistently educating the public […]
June is the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s National Homeownership Month, a time to celebrate the benefits that homeownership brings to families, neighborhoods, and communities across America. To learn more about National Homeownership Month, read the Presidential Proclamation. June is also the beginning of the Gulf Hurricane Season. Lone Star Legal Aid joins National Homeownership Month by sharing resources […]
Jerry Thomas initially contacted Lone Star Legal Aid for a family law matter. In the middle of his case, he also found himself at risk of a groundless eviction and asked if LSLA could get involved. Thomas is a blind, disabled veteran living on social security disability as his sole source of income. His landlord requires rent payments be made […]
Jane Fields was a tenant at the same apartment complex for eleven years. Like most Texans, she was unprepared for the obstacles the pandemic created, and often, she felt like she was a paycheck away from homelessness. Remaining hopeful, she eventually obtained assistance from Texas Rent Relief, which sent money for past due rent directly to her landlord. These funds […]
Janelle Grant, a US Air Force Veteran, ended her duty and started working at a medical temp agency shortly thereafter. Ms. Grant had to take a leave of absence due to medical conditions complicating her pregnancy. Her employers knew of her pregnancy and its induced medical conditions. Once she was back at work, she was sent out on a brief […]
Extreme heat conditions have been reported all throughout Texas for the past few summers. Make sure you’re prepared to beat the heat with our tips, resources, and explanation of renters’ rights. Tips for Staying Cool According to KHOU, “If the heat index hits at least 108 for two consecutive days, Houston Health Department will open cooling centers.” If you lose […]
Like most college students, Janet and her friends sought affordable housing near the University of Houston to alleviate the financial and mental stress of being commuters. The four ladies found a house near campus rented by a private landlord and excitedly signed a one-year lease. However, within months of moving in, the maintenance requests had begun to pile up. The […]
Gregory, a Houston father, contracted COVID-19 and then his family’s life took a turn for the worst. Gregory lost his job due to contracting the virus, his landlord illegally locked the entire family of their home for not being able to come up with enough money to pay the rent, and they had no medical coverage. Gregory could not work […]
The rise in recent school shootings Mass school shootings are a traumatic event that can potentially trigger mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in people who were directly impacted by a violent threat such as a school shooting. Studies show that adolescent trauma has more lifelong effects on young people with developing brains. This causes them to […]
Lone Star Legal Aid joins the National PRIDE celebration throughout the month of June. The first Pride March was held in June 1970 to commemorate the Stonewall Riots/Uprising of 1969, and the LGBTQIA+ community has been gathering annually since to march for social justice, equal rights, and celebrate social and self acceptance. A year prior, members of the gay community […]
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has 30 days to act on a client’s SNAP benefits application and 45 days to act on Medicaid cases. Jack was referred to Lone Star Legal Aid by BakerRipley and needed SNAP benefits for a household of four people. Jack submitted an initial SNAP application on February 8, 2022, and after 80 days, […]
Children in Texas can get low-cost or free health coverage through Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Children’s Medicaid. CHIP is a health care program for children without insurance whose families earn too much to receive Children’s Medicaid but cannot afford health care. Children’s Medicaid is a program for low-income families. To get approved for either program, a child must […]
In observance of Memorial Day, Lone Star Legal Aid will be closed. All offices will reopen on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Texans can still apply for free legal help online at www.lonestarlegal.org.
Houston, TX – It has been almost five years since the seniors living at 2100 Memorial, a Houston Housing Authority (“HHA”) property with a view of Downtown Houston, were displaced due to Hurricane Harvey. Now, they are on their way home. The HHA broke ground Tuesday morning on an affordable senior living facility to replace the former building, subject to […]
Port Arthur Community Action Network, Lone Star Legal Aid, and Environmental Integrity Project are hosting a virtual press conference about this decision on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at 10 AM, via Facebook Live at www.Facebook.com/LoneStarLegalAid. Reporters interested in joining the virtual meeting to ask questions directly to the speakers can email cayala@lonestarlegal.org to receive Zoom instructions. Port Arthur, Texas — […]