Michael received a frightening letter from the IRS. It said he owed more than $14,000. “Notice of Intent to Levy and your Collection Due Process Right to a Hearing,” the letter said in large type, next to a caution symbol with an exclamation point. Since Michael and his wife barely make $14,000 a year, the tax bill put them into […]
When attorney Shalette Mitchell first spoke to George, she wasn’t sure she could help him. George is legally blind. He was facing eviction, but that’s what happens when you don’t pay your rent. George hadn’t paid his rent in four months. According to George, however, there was an issue with the electricity in his apartment. He was withholding his rent […]
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. […]
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 […]
Taylor is a 29-year-old veteran in rural East Texas. She lives on a small veterans benefit check in a modest apartment with her young daughter. She called Lone Star Legal Aid because she needed a Durable Power of Attorney, or DPOA. The purpose of a DPOA is to allow you to designate a person to take care of your person […]
Everything gets harder after an eviction. First of all, you’re homeless. Secondly, you have an eviction on your record, which makes it harder to find a landlord who will rent to you. That’s why our attorneys work hard to keep people from getting evicted in the first place. Marcia received an eviction notice because she was late with her rent […]
Soon, the Social Security Administration may start taking back up to 50% of your monthly check if you have an overpayment. If your check is reduced, or if you get any notice of an overpayment, don’t wait. Call Lone Star Legal Aid for help: 1-800-733-8394. Our attorneys can work with the Social Security Administration to modify your repayment plan – […]
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 […]
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 […]
Jessica needed medical treatment. Every time she called the Texas Health and Human Services Department (HHSC), she got the “run-around,” she said. The doctor said her Medicaid plan was inactive. HHSC said it was active. Jessica’s Medicaid plan is called QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary). For people on Disability, QMB covers expensive co-pays for treatments like the one Jessica needed. Since […]
If you’re on the waiting list for a Housing Choice Voucher, the Houston Housing Authority (HHA) says you must re-register in a new system by 5pm on June 2, 2025. Those who do not re-register by the deadline will be removed from the waitlist. There are two waiting lists. The first is for housing choice vouchers. To join the other […]
When Landlords Won’t Accept Rent Renters are legally obligated to pay rent. But what happens when a tenant tries to pay—and the landlord refuses to accept it? Unfortunately, that’s what happened to Mr. Kenneth Murray, a 66-year-old veteran, whose story highlights a disturbing housing trend that can leave vulnerable tenants at risk of losing their homes. Mr. Murray is a […]
After a serious surgery in 2019, Donald qualified for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). But then, five years later, in January 2024, Donald received a letter saying he no longer qualified for SSDI. He called Lone Star Legal Aid for help. SSDI is a payroll tax-funded federal insurance program of the United States federal government. Managed by the Social Security […]
Lauren wasn’t exactly a renter, but she wasn’t a homeowner either. When she received an eviction notice, she called Lone Star Legal Aid. It was 2021, and she was five years into a six-year, rent-to-own contract. In other words, Lauren bought her house directly from the seller. No bank, no mortgage, no middle-man. The owner drew up a contract and […]
Lone Star Legal Aid is proud to receive a grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank Dallas aimed at supporting organizations that address heirs’ property issues. LSLA will provide legal services to low-income individuals and families to establish heirship and clear property titles to help build generational wealth, to obtain tax deferrals/exemptions that help preserve homeownership and avoid foreclosure, to […]
Houston, TX – In every large city in America, a small amount of housing is reserved for the poor, but it’s usually located in poor neighborhoods: with poor access to transportation, groceries, and jobs. Luckily, conditions improve when neighborhoods gentrify, except long-term residents don’t usually benefit from the improvements. Rising rents usually force out them, thereby continuing a cycle of […]