News and stories about our work advancing civil legal rights for low-income Texans.
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After the 2021 winter freeze, 80-year-old Carolyn Addison Rivera’s life was upended. Like countless Texans, her home suffered damage from frozen pipes. When she turned to a plumber for help, the work performed was substandard and came with an inflated bill. When Carolyn rightfully disputed the charges, the plumber retaliated by slapping a mechanic’s lien on her home. Suddenly, she […]
Free multicultural holiday concert set for December 13; donations support access to justice Houston, TX — Lone Star Legal Aid is honored to be the beneficiary of the 8th annual Holiday Voyage presented by Apollo Chamber Players. This Houston tradition celebrates the season through a blend of global, multicultural music. The free concert takes place Saturday, December 13, 2025, at […]
Michael Manuel is a hardworking Texan living with a vision impairment who was hired at Amazon in September 2023 through Social Security’s Ticket to Work program. He asked for reasonable accommodations so he could do his job safely; instead, the employer failed to provide them and later terminated him for “absenteeism”—a charge Michael believed was retaliation for requesting accommodations. With […]
For five years, Sophia worked tirelessly to care for her four children, two of whom are autistic, while enduring an increasingly abusive marriage to her husband, Ricky. What began as emotional abuse grew into physical violence, neglect, and threats. “He would say things like, ‘It’s my way or the highway. I will punish you,’” Sophia recalled. “My daughter was only […]
At Lone Star Legal Aid, we believe that safety, stability, and justice should never depend on someone’s income. Every day, our attorneys and advocates stand beside Texans facing eviction, domestic violence, denied benefits, unsafe housing, consumer fraud, and other life-altering legal crises. Last year alone, we closed more than 25,000 cases for veterans, survivors, seniors, families, and vulnerable communities across […]
Lone Star Legal Aid will be closed on Thursday, November 27, 2025, and Friday, November 28, 2025. All offices will reopen on Monday, December 1, 2025. Texans can still apply for free legal help online at www.lonestarlegal.org.
For more than 14 years, Carl has called his apartment home. Living with a disability and using a wheelchair, Carl relies on federally subsidized housing to maintain stability and independence. He has consistently paid his rent on time and has long requested accommodations to make his unit more accessible. Despite his efforts, his requests for basic modifications—such as protective strips […]
For years, Mallory endured abuse during her marriage to Nelson, whom she wed in 2007. Behind closed doors, Nelson’s harmful behavior escalated into illegal activity that devastated their family. The trauma became unbearable when Mallory discovered that Nelson had sexually abused their 11-year-old grandchild, whose health deteriorated under the weight of the abuse and stress, even triggering seizures. Determined to […]
HOUSTON, Texas — Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is proud to participate in Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week (TVLAW), a statewide initiative held November 10–16 in honor of Veterans Day. The effort—coordinated by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation—brings together legal aid organizations, local bar associations, law schools, and pro bono attorneys to provide free civil legal services to qualified […]
Lone Star Legal Aid will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. All offices will reopen on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. Texans can still apply for free legal help online at www.lonestarlegal.org.
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 […]
If you’re a federal employee affected by the government shutdown—either furloughed or working without pay—you may qualify for unemployment benefits through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). You Can Apply for Benefits Now If you’ve been furloughed or are working fewer hours because of the shutdown, you can apply for unemployment benefits immediately. Online: Apply for benefits 24/7 at TWC’s website […]
Reginald Smith, a proud veteran, and his wife, Fawn, have been raising their daughter’s two children, Broderick and Jayla, for many years. They never thought twice about providing the love and stability their grandchildren needed. But when Broderick and Jayla reached college age, Reginald hit an unexpected barrier: the VA would not allow him to extend his earned education benefits […]
HOUSTON, TX — October 17, 2025 — Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) will mark the American Bar Association’s National Celebration of Pro Bono with a slate of free trainings for attorneys, a client-facing outreach event, and opportunities to get involved across our Texas and Arkansas service area. Pro Bono Week recognizes volunteer lawyers and legal professionals whose service expands access […]
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. […]
When a lease ends, many tenants expect their security deposit to come back in full. When renters move out, one of the biggest worries is whether they’ll get their security deposit back. Too often, landlords keep part—or even all—of a deposit for reasons that don’t seem fair. For Texas tenants, it helps to know what the law says and what […]
When Laura’s husband, Ron, strangled her during an assault, she feared for her life and the safety of her children. Ron was arrested and charged with a third-degree felony: assault by impeding breath or circulation. Laura quickly obtained a Protective Order to shield herself, her two sons, and her sister—but she also knew she needed to take the next step […]
After the 2021 winter freeze, 80-year-old Carolyn Addison Rivera’s life was upended. Like countless Texans, her home suffered damage from frozen pipes. When she turned to a plumber for help, the work performed was substandard and came with an inflated bill. When Carolyn rightfully disputed the charges, the plumber retaliated by slapping a mechanic’s lien on her home. Suddenly, she […]
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 […]
Lone Star Legal Aid’s Technology Innovation Grant (TIG)-funded AI ChatBot Project continues to evolve as we prepare for internal rollout. Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress in functionality, expert engagement, and national visibility. Expert-Led Content Development We’ve moved into the subject matter expert (SME) phase for NAVI, our client-facing chatbot, with SME input also benefiting our internal […]