News and stories about our work advancing civil legal rights for low-income Texans.
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Healthcare.gov is now open for enrollment, re-enrollment, or changes to your health plan! All enrollments, re-enrollments, and changes must be made by December 15, 2020. Please note this deadline is different for Medicare Part D. The Medicare Part D open enrollment period ends December 7, 2020. The Medicare plan in place December 8, 2020, will be the plan set for […]
A pandemic in a pandemic After COVID-19 was declared a health crisis and a global pandemic, as a result, another silent pandemic was on the rise. As the virus has spread across the world affecting lives economically, socially, mentally, financially, physically, and academically, there are more stressors in place for domestic violence. There are studies that show there is an […]
Part II of Lone Star Legal Aid’s Domestic Violence Blog Series discusses listening to the voices of survivors and believing their stories. It’s important to be advocates for victims of domestic violence, but it is also essential to just listen as well. Sharing stories is a part of the October campaign which encourages the nation to mourn victims, celebrate survivors, […]
Since October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Lone Star Legal Aid will discuss common topics that are relevant to advocating for domestic violence victims. Part I highlights safety planning and prevention for those who are victims living with an abusive partner and may have children and/or pets. It is as equally important to know how to be safe while using […]
National Night Out was rescheduled in Texas to today, October 6, 2020, however, with COVID-19 still persisting and making social activities unsafe, the Houston Police Department (HPD) has officially postponed NNO city-wide and declared it will resume in 2021. Here is a statement from the Houston Police Department. “The Houston Police Department has decided to postpone our celebration of National […]
Every October, the United States takes a stand against intimate partner violence in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Advocates wear purple, survivors tell their stories, neighbors share their resources, and social media arranges an open forum for activists to educate the world. Join Lone Star Legal Aid this October in powering up against domestic violence. Domestic violence was a […]
Join Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) on Facebook for a live discussion tomorrow with the Houston Police Department Victim Services Unit. LSLA’s Crime Victim Unit Staff Attorney Courtney Porter joins HPD Victim Services Lieutenant Pleasant for a live chat discussing the purpose of HPD Victim Services, the process and expectations of getting help, how the Coronavirus has impacted their work, […]
Lone Star Legal Aid’s Individual Safety Unit has created The Safe Space, a virtual outreach series that will premier monthly to provide information and resources about sexual assault to survivors. Sexual violence can have an immediate and devastating effect on the survivor in nearly every aspect of their life, resulting in a need for survivor-centered and trauma-informed legal representation. Since […]
September 11th is National Day of Service and Remembrance, also known as Patriot Day. On this day, Americans across the country are called to pay tribute to the individuals lost and injured in the twin tower attacks. Today we fall silent to the first responders and the many who have signed their lives over in the line of service to […]
Whether Lone Star Legal Aid offers advice to clients or gives them extended services, our team of attorneys, paralegals, social workers, and communicators work with the client to ensure equal access to justice, to provide emotional support and to let their voices be heard. Our stories of justice platform is a full page of real stories told by real clients […]
In Texas, National Night Out is celebrated on the first Tuesday in August, which is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities from all fifty states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide. In 1984, law enforcement agencies, neighborhood watch groups, civic groups, state […]
Purpose Every year in July, organizations and government agencies focus their efforts on working to protect the military consumer. The purpose of this annual campaign is to raise awareness of how military service members and their families are at a heightened risk for fraud scams and identity theft. Learn more about how you can protect active and retired veterans in […]
As millions of Texans continue to struggle with financial hardships brought on by mass layoffs and record job losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston became one of the first major American cities to allow eviction proceedings to resume after the Texas Supreme Court lifted a temporary statewide moratorium on evictions in May. While the federal CARES Act continues to prohibit […]
Family dynamics have been altered due to the current health pandemic which have put children at a higher risk for abuse and neglect. The decline of childcare availability and economic hardship resulting from loss of employment may affect how parents and guardians treat their children. Abusive behaviors include sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. As the world tackles the virus and […]
A Houston program is now providing free animal boarding services to survivors of abuse, in effort to help them flee from their violent homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Houston Dog Ranch is partnering with animal shelter PetSet to launch “Pet Protect,” a service to cover boarding costs, and training or rehabilitation fees for both the dog and owner. Dogs […]
Each year during the month of May, individuals and organizations join the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. By raising awareness, we can fight the stigma, provide support, and educate the public. Effect of crime on mental health Victimization can be a difficult and stressful experience. Getting back to normal after a crime can cause depression, anxiety, and […]
Lone Star Legal Aid announces the launch of its Eviction HELP Project. This project is a self-guided tool that helps Texas renters to fight evictions during the COVID 19 Pandemic. Right now, thousands of renters across Texas are facing evictions. But there are protections for renters. The Eviction HELP Project helps eviction litigants prepare for court by giving renters legal […]
Late Wednesday night, on April 23, a wayward tornado tore through Onalaska, Texas in Polk County, leaving some dead, many injured, and even more destruction in its wake. The aftermath left many residents displaced and in dire need of help. Lone Star Legal Aid’s community partner, Red Cross, rushed to address the immediate needs of those affected by the storm, […]
Have environmental laws changed during COVID-19? Yes, some temporary changes were recently made to both federal and state environmental policies in response to COVID-19. On March 26, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the agency’s exercise of its enforcement discretion for noncompliance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy applies retroactively beginning on March 13, 2020. A seven-page […]
The Texas Supreme Court issued an order April 27, 2020, in effect until July 15, 2020, saying that for determining a person’s right to possession of and access to a child under a court-ordered possession schedule, the existing trial court order controls in all instances. Family Law experts from Lone Star Legal Aid’s Justice for Crime Survivors Project and Legal […]