Enacted on April 11, 1968, the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination due to disability, race, familial status, national origin, sex, religion, or skin color in the sale, rental, and/or financing of dwellings and in other housing-related transactions. This year, Lone Star Legal Aid participates in the awareness campaign by featuring its Fair Housing Team on its weekly Facebook LIVE Friday […]
On April 12, 2021, FEMA began accepting applications for financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020, for deaths related to coronavirus (COVID-19), to help ease some financial stress and burden caused by the pandemic. We’ve put together answers to common questions from FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Individuals and Households Program Policy. How can I apply for FEMA […]
The CDC order that stops evictions for nonpayment of rent has been extended to the end of June 2021. In order to get this protection from eviction, tenants are required to submit a declaration to their landlord. Below you will find a declaration in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese: DECLARATION (ENGLISH); DECLARATION (SPANISH); AND DECLARATION (VIETNAMESE). Please review the declaration carefully and […]
All Lone Star Legal Aid offices are closed Friday, April 2, 2021, and will reopen on Monday, April 5, 2021. Lone Star Legal Aid accepts applications during normal business hours via phone at 1-800-733-8394 or at any time at www.LoneStarLegal.org.
Did you know that as of January 1, 2021, there have been new Rules of Civil Procedure in Texas? These changes impact all parties in a lawsuit and require information to be shared with the other parties at the beginning of a lawsuit. If the information is not shared by the deadline stated in the new rules, there are consequences. […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Houston, TX – Lone Star Legal Aid is excited to announce it has received a charitable donation from Powered By People on behalf of the Eviction Defense Coalition. Powered By People is a grassroots organization led by former congressman, Beto O’Rourke, that has set forth to mobilize volunteers and raise money to support Texas families. The Covid-19 […]
On February 23, 2021, The Equal Justice Works announced the first ever Disaster Relilience Month set for March. A collaborative of organizations has teamed up to spread awareness about disaster-related challenges and offer resources for disaster preparedness and recovery efforts. Throughout March, Lone Star Legal Aid will join Equal Justice Works, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, the American […]
Jasmine Melian, a physical therapist assistant at a Houston inpatient rehabilitation hospital, was at work last week when her children and 2 month old grandson lost power at the onset of Texas Winter Storm Uri. They immediately sought shelter with a relative and Jasmine joined them after she got off of work, and together they awaited the return of power. […]
The Internal Revenue Service has extended the tax filing season for Texas residents after winter storms wreaked havoc on the state. Instead of April 15, the tax deadline for individuals and businesses in Texas is June 15, the IRS announced Monday in a news release. Taxpayers in other states affected by the winter storms that had disaster declarations issued by […]
JOINT PRESS RELEASE February 23, 2021 AUSTIN—The State Bar of Texas, the American Bar Association, and legal aid providers across the state remind Texans that a toll-free legal assistance hotline is available to low-income individuals and families affected by the Texas winter storm that began February 11. The hotline—800-504-7030—is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese and connects low-income individuals affected […]
If you’ve applied for FEMA and have been denied, you may receive a phone call to advise you of ways to apply for the Small Business Administration (SBA). If referred to the SBA, a loan application must be completed and returned to be considered for a loan. The SBA gives low-interest disaster loans. You don’t have to own a business. […]
Lone Star Legal Aid is hosting a Facebook Live event on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, at 1:00 PM CST to discuss recovery from Texas Severe Winter Storm (DR-4586-TX), now a federally declared disaster. Texans are still feeling the effects of the deep freeze that swept through the state over the last week, leaving many with no power or running water. […]
Thousands of Texas families lost all the food in their fridges after lengthy power outages and while enduring record low temperatures. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has received federal approval to allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (food stamps) recipients to apply for replacement benefits for food lost or destroyed due to the severe winter weather. SNAP […]
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced that federal emergency aid has been made available to the state of Texas to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas affected by a severe winter storm beginning on Feb. 11, 2021 and continuing. Important deadline: You have 60 days from the date of the disaster declaration (2/19/21) to apply […]
Residential homes may have structural issues related to freezing water and many will have leaks which will become even more apparent as the ice thaws due to the winter storm that wreaked havoc in Texas over the last week. If you have homeowners insurance, you may have coverage for this. Find and read your insurance policy as soon as possible, […]
As Texans continue to face the effects of a record-breaking winter storm, they’re faced with new issues, like broken pipes or plumbing problems that have caused flooding and other damage in their homes. Texas renters have a right to ask their landlord for repairs. Identify where you need to submit your request for repairs. Your lease should tell you who […]
Price gouging is illegal, and the Texas Office of the Attorney General and Harris County Attorney haves authority to prosecute any business that engages in price gouging after a disaster has been declared by the governor or president. Texas is currently under a state disaster declaration and federal emergency declaration as its residents endure a record-breaking winter storm, many without […]
Earned Income Credit Awareness Day is an event organized by the IRS and its partners to educate the public about the EITC and requirements to claim the credit. The goal is to raise awareness of EITC to ensure every qualified worker claim and receive their EITC. What is the EITC? The Earned Income Tax Credit, EITC or EIC, is a […]
HOUSTON (Jan. 20, 2021) — Residents of Northeast Houston are calling on the company responsible for decades of creosote contamination in their community to move them out of harm’s way after the state of Texas found high numbers of childhood cancers. The Department of State Health Services’ findings come 13 months after it identified 10 census tracts in Houston’s 5th […]
Houston, TX – Lone Star Legal Aid is excited to announce the launch of the new Texas Crime Victim Legal Assistance Network website (“Network”). The fresh face website features new functions for both partners and survivors, and a more user-friendly interface for the dashboard. In addition to the upgrades being made to the existing features, there is also a new […]