News and stories about our work advancing civil legal rights for low-income Texans.
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Staff Attorney Cheranda Robertson works in our Crime Victims Unit within Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA). While handling some business in her private life, she met a woman who used our services 30 years ago, and now donates her time and money to legal aid advocacy. She shared her story with Attorney Robertson. Many years ago, Monica became pregnant as […]
Texas has the 8th highest obesity rate for youth ages 10-17 and the 12th highest adult obesity rate in the U.S and it is only getting worse. Childhood obesity results in extra health care costs. A child with obesity has $12,900 more in medical costs than a child with normal weight. It is vital that we get our kids insured […]
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 […]
Medicaid provides coverage to a vast population, including seniors, the disabled, pregnant women, children, and adults who are not disabled. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, states regularly reviewed benefit recipients’ eligibility based on their income, age, or disability status. To lessen the burdens on parents during the public health emergency, HHSC temporarily waived renewal requirements for Medicaid and SNAP clients. While […]
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 […]
Updated February 15, 2023 Freeport, TX – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties is evaluating the complaint submitted by Lone Star Legal Aid on behalf of residents living in the East End of Freeport, Texas in November 2017. The administrative complaint alleges violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 […]
We have a dedicated team of lawyers and paralegals who can help applicants who qualify for our services apply for Children’s Medicaid or CHIP benefits. We can enroll on your behalf, monitor the progress of your application, and notify you when a decision has been made. We can also help recertify your application when it is time for your renewal. […]
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 […]
Walking on eggshells around your abusive partner can be terrifying, especially when you are constantly threatened and assaulted. Kaitlyn was just a teenager when her boyfriend began violent tendencies. When Peter was 23, he met 19-year-old Kaitlyn. Soon thereafter, she became his girlfriend, and then she became pregnant with his child. Early on in their relationship, she learned that if […]
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) is a month-long campaign dedicated to raising awareness about teen dating abuse in an effort to prevent it before it starts. It is important to speak up about the challenges teens face in relationships, and the reality that dating violence happens to millions of people, including teens. Getting the conversation started about teen dating […]
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 […]
11 year old Abby Jones was denied Children’s Medicaid benefits while her three siblings were approved. Her father had applied for Medicaid benefits for his four children. The reason given for denying her was that the family was determined to be over income. This was obviously an error. Abby’s father contacted the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) multiple […]
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 […]
TEXAS MEDICAID AND CHIP PROGRAMS Texas Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offer parents peace of mind knowing their children can get the routine preventative care they need, when they need it, keeping them healthy. These programs secure medical coverage benefits for more than 45 million children. Despite the number of those covered, there are still many children […]
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 […]
The IRS will officially begin tax season on Monday, January 24th. There have been some changes to tax-filing season this year, and you can get ahead by learning what will be expected of you. In 2021, the IRS was inundated with calls about filing extensions, unemployment, and stimulus checks, so this year they have provided free help options to taxpayers. […]