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Lone Star Legal Aid’s Equitable Development Initiative Accepts Texas Housers Award

Austin, TX – Lone Star Legal Aid’s Equitable Development Initiative accepted the Texas Housers Award at its annual luncheon in Austin on Tuesday, November 6, 2019. The award “recognizes Texans who, through their work on behalf of housing and shelter, are dedicated to achieving a just and caring society that ensures all people a decent home in a quality neighborhood.” […]

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November 10-16th is Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week

Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week is a statewide campaign that centers on building awareness of the legal issues facing veterans, surrounding Veterans Day. Across the state, legal aid organizations will host legal clinics, intake, legal informational workshops, seminars, media events, and issuing press releases. With 1,584,844 veterans living here, Texas ranks second in veteran population according to the Department of […]

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Human Trafficking Bus Tour Event

HOUSTON, TX – Lone Star Legal Aid joined CHILDREN AT RISK for an educational bus tour presentation, sponsored by Locke Lord, LLP, on human trafficking in Houston on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, where they were able to get a first-hand look at both where major trafficking incidents have occurred and where this crime may be presently occurring. This informative event […]

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Free Legal Assistance Available for Individuals Affected by North Texas Tornado

Longview, Paris, Texarkana, Tyler, Texas – Free legal assistance is available to low-income individuals in Cass, Lamar, Panola, Rains, Rusk, Van Zandt, and Wood counties affected by the North Texas Tornado that caused severe and widespread property damage and threatened loss of life on October 20, 2019. Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration that provides state resources to local […]

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Free Legal Assistance Available for Tropical Storm Imelda Survivors in 6 Southeast Texas Counties

     AUSTIN, October 11, 2019 — A toll-free legal assistance hotline is available to people affected by Tropical Storm Imelda and flooding that occurred in Chambers, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, and Orange counties September 17 through 23. This service is a partnership among Lone Star Legal Aid, the State Bar of Texas, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division […]

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Healthcare.gov’s Open Enrollment Period is November 1, 2019 – December 15, 2019

The 2020 Open Enrollment Period runs from November 1, 2019, until December 15, 2019. If you don’t act by December 15, 2019, you can’t get coverage unless you fall into the Special Enrollment Period. Special enrollment covers individuals who have certain life-changing events, like losing health coverage through an employer, moving, getting married or divorced, having a baby, or adopting […]

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Residents Continue to Fight Expansion of Greenhouse Road Landfill as TCEQ Director Declares Permit Meets Requirements of Applicable Law

On September 13, the Executive Director (ED) of Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued a formal response to public comments from hundreds of community members who are opposed to a major amendment on Municipal Solid Waste Permit (MSW) #1599B for Greenhouse Road Landfill, a Type IV Landfill located on Houston’s west side near Katy. If approved by TCEQ, the amendment […]

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The Domestic Violence Protections of VAWA, The Violence Against Women Act

The severity of crimes associated with domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking was finally addressed by Congress when VAWA, the Violence Against Women Act, was passed in 1994. Within a decade, the legislature expanded the act including protections and provisions, improving action and enforcing efforts to address violence in America. The bill marked the first comprehensive federal legislative package designed […]

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Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available for Tropical Storm Imelda Survivors

Houston, TX – Tropical Storm Imelda survivors can now apply for disaster unemployment assistance if they either lost their jobs or are self-employed and have not been able to work because of damage from the storm. Individuals affected by Tropical Storm Imelda in Chambers, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery and Orange Counties can apply for benefits online through Unemployment Benefit Services […]

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October is National Crime Prevention Month, National Bullying Prevention Month, and National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Every October, the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) asks us to renew or join the commitment to help “Take A Bite Out Of Crime®.” In 1984, October was designated as Crime Prevention Month through a Presidential proclamation and since then, NCPC has been working with local law enforcement, government agencies, civic groups, schools and businesses, and other organizations to help […]

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Federal Disaster Assistance is Now Available for Tropical Storm Imelda Survivors

Six Texas Counties have received a Presidential Disaster Declaration as of Friday, October 5, 2019, resulting from Tropical Storm Imelda. According to the National Weather Service, Imelda was one of the wettest cyclones in U.S. history, leaving over 800 homes damaged. The counties now eligible for FEMA and SBA assistance are Chambers, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, and Orange. What can […]

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October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month first began in 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a Day of Unity to connect battered women’s advocates across the country. Domestic violence affects millions, both women and men, of every race, religion, culture and status. It’s not just punches and black eyes — it’s yelling, humiliation, stalking, manipulation, coercion, threats and […]

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Prepared, Not scared. Part 4: Warning Signs to Avoid Shady Contractors – What to do if you are the Victim of a Scam

After a natural disaster, scammers are eager and adamant to target homeowners with post-disaster damage. In desperate times, it can be easy to fall victim to shady contractors who overpromise and under deliver. Having to avoid shady contractors in the wake of a natural disaster is a common experience for a homeowner.  Con artists and fraudsters can be sneaky, but […]

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Human Trafficking Bus Tour Event in Houston

Join Lone Star Legal Aid and CHILDREN AT RISK for an educational bus tour presentation on human trafficking in Houston Tuesday, October 22, 2019, generously sponsored by Locke Lord, LLP. Attorneys will get a first-hand look at both where major trafficking incidents were identified, where this crime may be presently occurring, and will learn to identify the red flags and […]

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Prepared, Not scared. Part 3: Checking Your Flood Risk

Bringing over 40 inches of rain to the Upper Texas Coast, many communities are just beginning to assess the damages left behind by Tropical Storm Imelda.  Only two years after Hurricane Harvey’s unprecedented rainfall, Imelda submerged some areas left untouched by Harvey, while also striking hard-hit communities that are still struggling to recover from Harvey’s damage.  During Hurricane Harvey, a […]

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State Bar of Texas and Lone Star Legal Aid promote disaster legal hotline for those affected by Tropical Storm Imelda

HOUSTON, TX — The State Bar of Texas and Lone Star Legal Aid remind residents that free legal resources are available to low-income individuals affected by severe storms and flooding spawned by Tropical Storm Imelda. Lone Star Legal Aid operates a toll-free disaster legal hotline — 866-659-0666 — that can help with issues such as replacing lost documents, answering insurance […]

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Prepared, Not scared. Part 2: Safeguarding Important Documents

You and your family’s personal safety comes first when preparing for a disaster. Disasters can take lives, homes, cars, as well as all of your personal belongings. Having your financial, medical, and identification information and documentation safe is vital to start the recovery process. Taking the time to protect these documents will save you from unnecessary stress following a disaster. […]

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How to Communicate with your Friend Who Might be in an Abusive Relationship

Overview Domestic violence affects each person differently and can happen to anyone regardless of their social, education, or financial status. While red flags are not always proof that someone is in an abusive relationship, they are worth noting, even if your friend does not recognize them themselves. Sometimes it takes another person to point out red flags for the person […]

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