Houston, TX – It has been almost five years since the seniors living at 2100 Memorial, a Houston Housing Authority (“HHA”) property with a view of Downtown Houston, were displaced due to Hurricane Harvey. Now, they are on their way home. The HHA broke ground Tuesday morning on an affordable senior living facility to replace the former building, subject to […]
Port Arthur Community Action Network, Lone Star Legal Aid, and Environmental Integrity Project are hosting a virtual press conference about this decision on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at 10 AM, via Facebook Live at www.Facebook.com/LoneStarLegalAid. Reporters interested in joining the virtual meeting to ask questions directly to the speakers can email cayala@lonestarlegal.org to receive Zoom instructions. Port Arthur, Texas — […]
Every May, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) leads the nation’s annual celebration of Older Americans Month (OAM). In 2022, ACL will focus on aging in place – how older adults can plan to stay in their homes and live independently in their communities for as long as possible. By 2040, more than 1 in 5 Texans is projected to […]
The Houston Legal Aid Clinic, later known as the Houston Legal Foundation, was established by the Houston Bar Association and Texas Southern University, among others. East Texas Legal Services was created due to local interest from multiple parties, including client groups in Nacogdoches and Tyler, members of the Nacogdoches County Bar Association, and to some degree, the Jefferson County Bar […]
April is Texas Giving Month, and East Texas Giving Day is April 27th! Now that Texas is opening back up and the pandemic is hopefully winding down, it is a great time to help East Texas Charities recover. “Giving Day is happening at a critical time for the nonprofit community,” said Holly McFarlin, Public Relations Director of East Texas Communities […]
Each April, local communities, fair housing advocates, and fair housing organizations across the country commemorate Fair Housing Month by hosting an array of activities that highlight HUD’s fair housing enforcement efforts, enhance Americans’ awareness of their fair housing rights, and emphasize the importance of ending housing discrimination. Our Fair Housing team focuses on the right to stay in decent and […]
The independence and financial security of older adults can be threatened by abusive practices in the consumer world. A growing scam that disproportionately targets older Americans can, and often does, literally cost them the homes they have lived in for years and worked hard to obtain. It is called a foreclosure “rescue” scam, and it is anything but what the […]
The Federal Trade Commission’s National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is March 6-12, 2022. Looking to protect yourself from fraud, identity theft, and scams? Maybe you’re wondering about the best way to use credit, how to shop for a used car, or even how to prevent foreclosure or bankruptcy. NCPW is a time to help people understand their consumer rights. Texas […]
Are you behind on your mortgage or related expenses? The Texas Homeowners Assistance Fund Program (TXHAF) opened its application portal on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. TXHAF provides financial assistance to qualified Texas homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage and related expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. TXHAF will provide eligible homeowners with grants to pay past due mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, and/or […]
41 year old Kate Chavez is physically disabled and receives Social Security Disability (“SSD”). In many cases, individuals who receive SSD are not required to file an income tax return. The amount they receive determines whether they have to file. The amount of Kate’s SSD fell under the reporting threshold, and it wasn’t necessary for her to file. When she […]
Chester Robey is a 92 year old veteran of both WWII and the Korean War. He is mostly blind, mostly deaf, and has Parkinson’s, which makes it difficult for him to walk and write. His only income is Social Security, and he relies on the assistance of a neighbor to help him get around. Mr. Robey contacted our Military and […]
Cheryl Wilson is a single mother of an eight-year-old disabled daughter. She works 21 hours per week while her daughter is in school. Her daughter receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits because of her disability. To help with the cost of food for her family, Cheryl applied for SNAP benefits. Since she was only working 21 hours, and SNAP applicants […]
Brazoria County, TX – There will be a public meeting held on March 10, 2022, at 7 PM, regarding Gladieux Metals Recycling, LLC’s Permit Application for Air Permit No. 1157c. The existing facility will emit the following contaminants: ammonia, arsenic, carbon monoxide, cobalt, hazardous air pollutants, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen peroxide, nitrogen oxides, nickel, organic compounds, particulate matter including particulate matter […]
The Federal Trade Commission’s Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week was last week. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal or financial information — like your Social Security or financial account number — to commit fraud. Seniors are vulnerable to identity theft scams because they are often more trusting, have more savings and home equity built up, and are less […]
Black History Month is an annual celebration of African Americans’ achievements and a time to recognize their central role in U.S. History. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson, and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. President has officially designated February Black […]
Houston, TX – The City of Houston’s Super Neighborhood 48 (“SN48”), covering an area known as Trinity Gardens and Houston Gardens (“The Gardens”), through its attorneys at Lone Star Legal Aid, has filed a Title VI Civil Rights Administrative Complaint with the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Department of Housing and […]
January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Since 2010, the President has dedicated the month to raising awareness about the different forms of human trafficking, also known as modern slavery, and educating people about this crime and how to spot it. Texas is a hot spot for human trafficking in the United States. Its population is spread over […]
Lone Star Legal Aid Staff will present two sessions at the Legal Services Corporation’s Innovations in Technology Conference 2022 (ITC22). The ITC22 will be a fully virtual event beginning on January 12, 2022. The Innovations in Technology Conference grew out of LSC’s Technology Initiative Grant (TIG) Program, which seeks to expand access to justice by promoting technological innovations in legal services […]
Houston, TX – The No Surprises Act (NSA) establishes new federal protections against surprise medical bills. If you’ve ever received a surprise bill after a trip to an emergency room, after thinking it would be covered by insurance, it was due to something called balanced billing. Balance billing occurs when an insured patient receives care from a physician, hospital or […]
January is Poverty Awareness Month, a month-long initiative to raise awareness and call attention to the growth of poverty in America. We fight to end poverty by creating equity and opportunity. Throughout the month of January, we’ll be talking about how and why poverty continues to impact so many people. From housing and healthcare, to personal and family safety, we […]