After the 2021 winter freeze, 80-year-old Carolyn Addison Rivera’s life was upended. Like countless Texans, her home suffered damage from frozen pipes. When she turned to a plumber for help, the work performed was substandard and came with an inflated bill. When Carolyn rightfully disputed the charges, the plumber retaliated by slapping a mechanic’s lien on her home. Suddenly, she risked losing the stability she had worked so hard to preserve.
Carolyn came to Lone Star Legal Aid for help. Supervising attorney Amir Befroui represented her, challenging the unfair lien and standing up to the contractor’s predatory tactics. After a prolonged legal battle, LSLA secured a resolution in June 2024, lifting the burden from her shoulders and getting the mechanic’s lien released. With her home protected and her rights defended, Carolyn was deeply grateful for the support she received during one of the most stressful times of her life.
Fast forward to today, and Carolyn’s story is no longer just about surviving a crisis — it’s about leading through one. At 82, Carolyn has become a cornerstone of her Houston community. As recently profiled by The New York Times, she now serves as a “hub house” host with West Street Recovery, a grassroots nonprofit.
Her home has supplies, tools, and solar-powered Generark battery stations to sustain neighbors in the wake of disasters. After the devastating May 2024 derecho, Carolyn’s house became a lifeline. While fallen trees trapped many in their homes and the power grid went dark, neighbors came to her hub house to charge their phones, cook meals on hot plates, and run fans off portable solar batteries.
Carolyn explained in the Times piece: “People who needed things came to my hub house. The main goal is to sustain us until help comes in. Each hub house probably has over 20 batteries, and usually all are checked out.”
Beyond batteries, she makes sure essentials like hammers and tarps are on hand to patch roofs and keep floodwaters out. Her leadership shows not only foresight but also deep care for her neighbors — ensuring no one is left behind when disaster strikes.
What began as a legal fight to protect her home has grown into a legacy of community resilience. Carolyn’s journey reflects the heart of Lone Star Legal Aid’s mission: when clients are empowered with justice, they can in turn empower their communities.
At 82, Carolyn is still out front, making sure her neighbors have light, food, and safety in the darkest of times. Her story reminds us that legal aid doesn’t just solve crises — it helps plant the seeds for stronger, more resilient communities.
Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income populations by providing free legal education, advice, and representation. LSLA serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines, who live in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties in Southwest Arkansas. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.LoneStarLegal.org.
Media contact: media@lonestarlegal.org