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Clarissa Ayala

Lone Star Legal Aid Honors Paula E. Silva As Outstanding New Volunteer

In commemoration of National Pro Bono Week (October 25th – 29th), Lone Star Legal Aid honors local attorney Paula E. Silva as an Outstanding New Volunteer. Ms. Silva will be formally recognized on Friday, October 29, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at the Brazos County Courthouse, in a recognition event hosted by the Honorable Kyle Hawthorne, 85th District Court, with Award […]

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November 15, 2021 Deadline for Non-Tax Filing Families to Use Child Tax Credit Portal

The deadline to sign up to receive monthly advanced Child Tax Credit payments is November 15.  As part of the American Rescue Plan, the IRS started sending advanced Child Tax Credit payments in July. These payments represent half of the total Child Tax Credit eligible families would receive after filing their 2021 tax return.  Qualifying families are eligible for:  $300/month […]

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Lone Star Legal Aid Honors Bryan Branch Office Pro Bono Heroes

In commemoration of National Pro Bono Week (October 25th – 29th), Lone Star Legal Aid honors the following with 2021 Bryan Branch Office Pro Bono Awards:  Mark R. Maltsberger – Attorney of the Year, Brazos County;  Donald Delgado – Outstanding Commitment to Pro Bono Service;  Paula E. Silva – Outstanding New Volunteer;  Baker and Associates – Outstanding Commitment to Pro […]

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Lone Star Legal Aid Honors Nacogdoches Branch Office Pro Bono Heroes

In commemoration of National Pro Bono Week (October 25th – 29th), Lone Star Legal Aid honors the following with Nacogdoches Branch Office Pro Bono Awards:  W. Albert Weatherly – Attorney of the Year, Nacogdoches County;  Holly Perkins-Meyers – Outstanding Commitment to Pro Bono Service;  Carter A. Meyers – Outstanding Commitment to Pro Bono Service;  Lynda K. Russell – Outstanding Commitment […]

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5th Circuit Rules That Coppertree Village Tenants Can Request Relocation Assistance in Court

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Houston, Texas – Tenants of Coppertree Village Apartment and Lone Star Legal Aid’s Fair Housing Team are celebrating a U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals win. In litigation that spanned over 3 years, Coppertree Tenants shared stories of the deplorable living conditions in the Section 8 Project where they lived. Unable to leave, for fear of losing […]

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EPA Agrees to Investigate Texas for Alleged Civil Rights Violations Caused by Air Pollution from Port Arthur Plant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 18, 2021 Media Contacts: Clarissa Ayala, Communications Director at Lone Star Legal Aid, (713) 652-0077 or cayala@lonestarlegal.org Colin Cox, Environmental Integrity Project (832) 316-0580 or ccox@environmentalintegrity.org Austin, Texas. –  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, on October 15, 2021, agreed to investigate whether Texas violated the civil rights of a mostly African-American community in Port Arthur by allowing dangerous amounts […]

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Legal Services Attorneys Available At Every Eviction Docket in Harris County (Week of October 18-22, 2021)

This week, every eviction docket in Harris County will be staffed with legal services attorneys.  The Eviction Defense Coalition includes Lone Star Legal Aid, Houston Volunteer Lawyers, South Texas College of Law Houston, Thurgood Marshall School of Law’s Earl Car Institute, and the University of Houston Law Center. The Coalition’s mission is to provide an attorney to every tenant facing […]

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Topic
Eviction,
News

Lone Star Legal Aid Honors Tyler Branch Office Pro Bono Heroes

For immediate release – In commemoration of National Pro Bono Week (October 25th – 29th), Lone Star Legal Aid honors the following with 2021 Tyler Branch Office Pro Bono Awards:  Leigh Hunt Goodson – Attorney of the Year, Smith County;  Cheryl Ann Wulf – Most Clients Assisted;  Pete Milne – Most Pro Bono Cases Litigated;  Tab Beall – Outstanding Commitment […]

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Wells Fargo Funds Housing Stability Program for Low-Income Renters in Harris County

Houston, Texas – Lone Star Legal Aid has been awarded a $500,000 grant from Wells Fargo Foundation to support the Housing Stability for Low-Income Renters in Harris County Program. With these funds, we will help renters and their families fight eviction, prevent homelessness, and gain housing stability. With Wells Fargo’s help, we will cover legal issues like nonpayment of rent, […]

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Lone Star Legal Aid is Available to Help Low-income Individuals Affected by Hurricane Nicholas

HOUSTON/GALVESTON—Free legal resources are available to low-income individuals affected by flooding and other conditions created by Hurricane Nicholas. The State Bar of Texas’s toll-free disaster legal services hotline—800-504-7030—puts callers in touch with legal aid providers in their areas who can help with: Replacement of important legal documents lost or destroyed in the disaster; Life, medical, and property insurance claims; Home […]

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Lone Star Legal Aid Launches New Website

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Houston, Texas – Our website has a new look and optimized features, thanks to Roni Lagin & Co. based out of Philadelphia, PA. Much like our Houston office’s renovation, the website has been redesigned to maximize the efficiency of our mission: providing resources and access to free civil legal assistance to low-income Texans. While there are many […]

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Lone Star Legal Aid Celebrates 1 Year of The Safe Space Series

Houston, Texas – We are celebrating our 1-year anniversary of The Safe Space with a video montage of the past 12 episodes. The Safe Space is a live-streaming video outreach series aimed at providing survivors of sexual assault with free legal information and resources.  Sexual violence can have an immediate and devastating effect on the survivor in nearly every aspect […]

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Environmental Groups Demand EPA Investigate Texas Industrial Plant for Pollution-Driven Civil Rights Violations

The 85-Year-Old Oxbow Petroleum Coke Plant in Port Arthur is One of the Largest Sources of Sulfur Dioxide Pollution in the State EMBARGOED for Release: 10 am CST, Wednesday, August 18, 2021 Media Contacts: Clarissa Ayala, Communications Director at Lone Star Legal Aid, (832) 627-8404 or cayala@lonestarlegal.org Ari Phillips, Environmental Integrity Project, (505) 629-6148, aphillips@environmentalintegrity.org Note to TV reporters and […]

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Individuals Recently Separated or Divorced Stripped of Stimulus and Advanced Child Tax Credit Payments

Some people who are separated or have recently been divorced have been facing unique issues accessing Covid-19 recovery aid being provided through the IRS, namely the economic impact/stimulus payments and the soon-to-be deposited advance child tax credit payments. The first two Economic Impact payments were distributed based on information from 2018 to 2019 returns, and the third payment was calculated […]

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Topic
News

Brazoria County, TX Housing Authority Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List OPEN July 12-16, 2021

The Brazoria County Housing Authority (BCHA) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is opening soon. Applications will be accepted from July 12, 2021 at 8:00 am, until July 16, 2021 at 4:00 pm CT. (No exceptions!) To apply during the opening period, complete the online application here. No paper applications will be accepted. In order to get on the […]

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Topic
Covid-19,
News

Los pagos anticipados del crédito tributario por hijos comienzan el 15 de julio de 2021

Normalmente, la desgravación fiscal para el año solo llega el año siguiente cuando declara sus impuestos, sin importar cuánto la necesite ahora. Muchas familias son elegibles para recibir la mitad del Crédito Tributario por Hijos para los impuestos del próximo año como pago mensual a partir de julio. Por cada niño de 6 a 17 años , las familias que […]

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Topic
Covid-19,
News

McLennan County, Texas Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Funding is available for McLennan County residents for rental payments, utility payments, and household internet expenses, where applicable. To participate in the McLennan County Emergency Rental Assistance Program, applicants must meet the following criteria: Must be a resident of McLennan County A member of the household must have a valid government-issued photo ID Must have a financial hardship that was […]

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Topic
Covid-19,
News

Montgomery County, Texas Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Funding is available for Montgomery County residents for rental payments, utility payments, and household internet expenses, where applicable.  To participate in the Montgomery County Emergency Rental Assistance Program, applicants must meet the following criteria: Must be a resident of Montgomery County A member of the household must have a valid government-issued photo ID Must have a financial hardship that was […]

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Topic
Covid-19,
News

Smith County, Texas Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Funding is available for Smith County residents for rental payments, utility payments, and household internet expenses, where applicable.  To participate in the Smith County Emergency Rental Assistance Program, applicants must meet the following criteria: Must be a resident of Smith County A member of the household must have a valid government issued photo ID Must have a financial hardship that […]

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Topic
Covid-19,
News