The Hill News

In Maryland, an elderly mother averts foreclosure despite being swindled by her signature-forging daughter who secretly refinances her mother's home.  A Washington mother and child escape an abusive spouse and a suspected child molester. Texas families get the disaster recovery help they need and the chance to rebuild their lives.

Facing these real-life circumstances, a victim of identity theft, a domestic violence survivor and families left with nothing turned to their local legal aid providers for free advice and representation. These cases are typical, but by no means exclusive of the type of work legal aid programs can offer.  Veterans receive their deserved benefits thanks to legal aid. The elderly are protected from exploitation. The dignity of the disabled is preserved.

The federal government supports local legal aid programs through the Legal Services Corporation. Established by President Richard Nixon, LSC helps to meet the needs of 63 mil! lion qualifying Americans-including 22 million children-who live below or near the poverty line. Those providers helped close nearly one million cases benefiting 2.3 million people last year. While that number is impressive, research has shown-and legal aid advocates will tell you-that about half of applicants are turned away for lack of funding. The need is simply too overwhelming.

Read more...