News and stories about our work to protect and advance the civil legal rights of low-income Texans.
At 12 years old, Mara was diagnosed with a rare disease, Takayasu Arteritis, which left her unable to walk. She was told she would be disabled for the rest of her life. At 20 years-old, the Social Security Administration (SSA) determined her diagnosed conditions were not severe enough to warrant a finding of disability, and Mara was denied Social Security […]
Houston, Texas – Lone Star Legal Aid is one of thirty-four organizations to receive a 2022 Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) Fall Grant. We are proud to accept this contribution towards our work to provide free civil legal services to Veterans, service members, and their families. The BWF grants support programs that: Increase accessibility to high-quality, evidence-based mental healthcare to […]
Galveston, TX – January 11, 2023 – Our Galveston office moved from Market Street to 123 25th Street, Suite 4020, Galveston, TX 77550 on January 1, 2023. Our new office is located in Shearn Moody Plaza, formerly the Old Santa Fe Union Station, home of the Galveston Railroad Museum, and an anchor point at the close of the Historic Downtown […]
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lone Star Legal Aid will be closed. All offices will reopen on Tuesday, January 17th, 2023. Texans can still apply for free legal help online via our website: www.lonestarlegal.org/get-help
Disasters can take lives, homes, cars, and personal belongings. Safety comes first when preparing for a disaster. Through the federal resource ready.gov, we have compiled an exhaustive list of disaster preparedness steps you can take today to help ease any potential burdens in the year ahead. Make a Resolution Make an emergency plan: choose a safe place to meet, learn […]
January 2023 is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Since 2010, the White House has dedicated this month to raising awareness on the different forms of human trafficking, also known as modern slavery, and educating people about this crime and how to spot it. This January also marks the nineteenth National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM), an annual call to […]
Houston, TX – December is the National Season of Giving, and Williams once again brought Christmas joy to Lone Star Legal Aid clients and their families. Williams sponsored a young, single mother of three sons. The family recently escaped an abusive situation and were starting over. Williams provided them new furnishings and gifts to go under their newly donated Christmas […]
In observance of New Year’s, Lone Star Legal Aid will be closed. All offices will reopen on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. Texans can still apply for free legal help online at www.lonestarlegal.org.
Most of Texas is expected to experience a winter freeze from Thursday to Sunday of this week. In addition to taking the necessary precautions for your home, it is important to stay informed on the warming centers nearest to you in case of emergency. You can track the Texas power grid’s conditions in real time to check for power outages. […]
In observance of Christmas, Lone Star Legal Aid will be closed. All offices will reopen on Tuesday, December 27, 2022. Texans can still apply for free legal help online at www.lonestarlegal.org.
The Houston Housing Authority board has voted to reopen the waiting list for 10 public housing developments on January 15, 2023. The waiting list closed in August 2018 due to the high volume of applications. Although there is still a backlog of applicants on the waiting list, some developments have shorter waiting lists than others. The waiting lists will open […]
Sandy is a 74 year-old widow in East Texas who struggled to maintain her household after her husband passed away. Although she was with her common law husband for 29 years, and they had children together, they never formally married. “I was never married before him, and I have never even dated anyone else,” said Sandy. Sandy applied for legal […]
A common question encountered in the world of law is the difference between legal aid and pro bono. The latter is considered a more familiar term among the general public and is often conflated with nonprofit legal aid work. However, there are important differences between these two practices. The term “pro bono” is a Latin term meaning “for the public […]
In honor of Giving Season, we are hosting food drives to support local food banks! Our goal is to increase food stability and raise awareness of our services in all 76 counties we serve. Giving Season takes place between November 1 and December 31. During this time, nonprofit organizations campaign for donations, champion volunteer work, and inspire acts of kindness. […]
In honor of Giving Season, we are hosting food drives to support local food banks! Our goal is to increase food stability and raise awareness of our services in all 76 counties we serve. Giving Season takes place between November 1 and December 31. During this time, nonprofit organizations campaign for donations, champion volunteer work, and inspire acts of kindness. […]
Summer P-EBT (June-August 2022) is for families with children (K-12) who were certified for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) during the 2021-2022 school year or during summer 2022. Children born on or after Aug. 1, 2015, who receive SNAP, are eligible for summer P-EBT. It is a one-time benefit of $391 for each eligible […]
Houston, TX – Lone Star Legal Aid joined Houston Area Texas Access to Justice Funded organizations on Friday, December 9, 2022, for a Summit on Access to Justice. Presentations were given on the organizations’ work in housing stability, family safety, and immigration issues. The presenters included leaders from our firm, and Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA), Beacon Law, […]
Jim Bradson is a Navy veteran who relies solely on his Social Security Retirement (SSR) income. During the pandemic, he became indebted to four companies, including the e-commerce company, PayPal. Bradson was already in settlement repayment with the other three companies when he received notice that PayPal sold his debt to a collections company, which then filed a lawsuit. Bradson […]
There have been reports of SNAP fraud all over the country. Thieves use a method called “card skimming” to steal SNAP benefits. Thieves do so by placing a device on a store’s card-swiping machine to copy EBT card information. Card skimming can happen to anyone who uses a credit, debit or EBT card, including SNAP participants. HHS will never call or […]
Hurricane season officially ends today, but extreme weather can take many forms. As we head into winter, staying warm and safe can be a challenge. Winter storms can bring cold temperatures, power failures, loss of communication services, and icy roads. To keep yourself and your loved ones safe, you should know how to prepare your home and your car before […]