News and stories about our work advancing civil legal rights for low-income Texans.
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Reginald Smith, a proud veteran, and his wife, Fawn, have been raising their daughter’s two children, Broderick and Jayla, for many years. They never thought twice about providing the love and stability their grandchildren needed. But when Broderick and Jayla reached college age, Reginald hit an unexpected barrier: the VA would not allow him to extend his earned education benefits […]
After Fernando received a notice in the mail, he appeared at the courthouse in the next town over. He showed the judge a notice from LVNV, a debt collection company. LVNV’s letter said he owed over $3,000 on a loan he’d taken out from Cross River Bank more than three years ago. But Fernando hadn’t borrowed money from Cross Bank. […]
When Laura’s husband, Ron, strangled her during an assault, she feared for her life and the safety of her children. Ron was arrested and charged with a third-degree felony: assault by impeding breath or circulation. Laura quickly obtained a Protective Order to shield herself, her two sons, and her sister—but she also knew she needed to take the next step […]
Mr. Wilkins wanted to help his friend. She needed a car, so he co-signed on the loan. The 67-year-old disabled veteran didn’t realize he’d agreed to pay the car note if his friend defaulted. A few months passed and they lost touch. Twelve years later, something happened with the car and Mr. Wilkins had to appear in court. By the […]
For most of his adult life, Mr. Roberts lived with both mental and visual impairments. His challenges grew even more severe after he survived a violent crime in which he was shot in the head, face, and arm. The bullets fragmented so extensively that pieces still remain lodged in his head and face. These injuries, combined with his existing impairments, […]
Ms. Walker turned to Lone Star Legal Aid after receiving a devastating notice from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The agency had stopped her disability benefits and claimed she owed more than $27,000 in overpaid benefits—an amount that later increased to over $33,000. SSA alleged the overpayment was due to wages earned from September 2016 to September 2018, even though […]
When Ms. Thompson moved into her new apartment in Conroe under the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, she believed she had finally found a safe, stable home. Her rent portion had been estimated and approved by the Montgomery County Housing Authority (MCHA), and she paid what she was told was her share. But just weeks later, without warning, her […]
Mr. Palmer, a disabled man living on a fixed income, has rented a space in the same RV park for over four years without issue. But everything changed when new management took over the property. Without warning, Mr. Palmer received an eviction notice—his first ever—accusing him of violating park rules. The experience left him overwhelmed and afraid. Facing the possibility […]
Gerard Smith, a disabled Air Force veteran and devoted single father, had done everything he could to keep his children safe and housed. After falling on hard times, he began renting an Airbnb as a temporary place to stay; since they were renting long-term without any complaints, the landlord offered Gerard’s family a six-month lease. After signing, Gerard found that […]
When Drew, a disabled Army veteran, fell behind on rent, he faced more than just a late payment. He faced the very real threat of homelessness. Living in a rented RV without running water, Drew was already enduring unsafe and unsanitary conditions. When his landlord moved to evict him, it pushed an already desperate situation to the brink. But Drew […]
After the dentist extracted all her teeth, Mary had to wait for her new dentures. She was excited to learn they were ready, but when she arrived at her dentist’s office, the staff said she couldn’t have them. Unless she paid out of pocket. The price was $2,600. Mary was devastated. She’d been dropped by her dental insurance, the office […]
Chris Johnson was raising two children with his wife, Leah, when he found out she was having an affair with someone else. Though Chris was only the biological father of one of the children, he wanted to shield both of his kids from their mother’s intentional neglect. When Leah decided to move to Indiana with her new partner, she willingly […]
When 91-year-old Mr. Fowler, a veteran living in Smith County, reached out to Lone Star Legal Aid for help writing a will, he believed he already had Title to the home he and his late wife shared. But he hadn’t gone through probate after her death, and as he learned from our attorneys, that meant he didn’t legally own the […]
Jack is a 25-year-old man living with anxiety, depression, a sleep disorder, and a learning disability with associated mental limitations. He is also a cancer survivor—diagnosed with leukemia at just four years old, which took years of treatment before he went into remission. Jack has been on disability benefits since 2015 and, with no work experience, depends on these benefits […]
At 66 years old, Ms. Olivares lives a quiet life in a modest apartment, relying solely on her Social Security disability income. She doesn’t own a car and had long put behind her the financial strains of the past—until she was served court papers this January over a student loan debt she thought was resolved nearly a decade ago. Back […]
Lisa James worked at her job for nearly five years before feeling forced to resign due to a hostile work environment. Despite regularly working more than 40 hours per week, she was denied the overtime pay she was legally owed, and her employer claimed that she quit voluntarily. After being denied unemployment benefits by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), Ms. […]
How long does it take to pay off a $400 loan? It depends on the interest rate. James* got a loan for $400. The interest rate was so high, he could never pay it off. Why? Because the fees piled up too fast. He paid $50 every month for three years. That’s more than a thousand dollars; way more than […]
Denise paid more than $2,000 a month to rent her apartment. Her refrigerator broke. Her landlord didn’t fix it correctly. At first it was ok. She told someone in the front office. They gave her $200 for the spoiled food and fixed the refrigerator. But then, the refrigerator failed again. Water leaked everywhere. A month later, the refrigerator stopped working […]
After more than twenty years of marriage, an East Texas woman experienced the sudden loss of her husband. Just a few months later, she faced another devastating loss when her adult daughter also passed away. Jane had been living with her daughter in a home that her daughter had purchased a few years prior. As a result of this loss, […]
Ms. Rayo came to Lone Star Legal Aid following the death of her husband, facing a complex web of legal and financial uncertainty. Her husband had been the sole owner of their home and the only person listed on the mortgage and utility accounts. As an elderly, Spanish-speaking widow, she was navigating grief, paperwork, and the risk of losing access […]