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New study identifies need for more attorneys to represent people facing housing legal woes

Nate Morabito

May 04, 2021 |

WCNC-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

The Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy uses limited funding to provide lawyers to renters facing eviction. Preventing homelessness is more cost effective than providing services for people experiencing homelessness, and avoiding eviction prevents long-term credit problems. The attorneys provide a level of security to renters by helping them navigate the complex legal system and connecting them to other public services. Some are advocating for a "right to counsel" law, like one recently adopted in Louisville and paid for with federal pandemic funds, which guarantees free lawyers to people facing eviction.

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Laws We Can Actually Understand

Jemille Q. Duncan

April 20, 2021 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India

Law Rewired, run by law students and an advisory board of legal scholars, translates complex laws and landmark court decisions into plain language so people can understand them. Real-world examples, easy to read bullet-points, videos, and a glossary of legal terms make the legal explanations more widely accessible. Summaries also explain why a law was enacted, when it can be applied, and any amendments that were added to it. The materials are available for free online and via social media and the organization answers 10 to 25 questions from readers every month about a variety of legal issues.

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As eviction deadline looms, some cities provide free attorneys to renters

Nate Morabito

March 26, 2021 |

WCNC-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

Right to Counsel laws ensure legal representation for tenants facing eviction in Ohio and New York. Results from various cities show that free legal aid results in lower eviction rates. Eviction rates in North Carolina are on the rise and advocates say the state needs to implement Right to Counsel laws.

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New legal clinic concentrates on cases of women languishing in the system for crimes against alleged abusers

Annie Sweeney

March 16, 2021 |

Chicago Tribune |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Illinois

The Women and Survivors Project provides legal representation to women imprisoned for crimes that stemmed from histories of abuse. Nearly all incarcerated women have suffered violent abuse. Many end up punished for fighting back or when their abuser forces them to participate in his crimes, but their defenses often get overlooked in court. The project so far has helped free five women by getting judges or parole officials to reconsider their cases, including one woman convicted of first-degree murder. It has dozens more cases in the pipeline.

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‘I thought I was gonna die in prison.' How COVID is opening NC prison gates.

Virginia Bridges

March 12, 2021 |

The Charlotte Observer |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, North Carolina

Three incarcerated people and a coalition of social justice groups sued North Carolina over its prison COVID-19 policies, winning a settlement that is accelerating releases from prison that began at the start of the pandemic. The state's prison population is already 17% lower than it was before the pandemic. Under the settlement, 3,500 more people will be granted early releases, which have begun to occur, under new criteria that changed prison rules to recognize the urgency of getting people away from a virus breeding ground.

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The Streets Are My Home: Evictions, Homelessness and COVID

Kolby Webster, Arielle Davis

March 02, 2021 |

KOSU |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Restore Hope Ministries worked to prevent homelessness and evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic by using private donations, foundation grants, and CARES Act funds to provide rental assistance to 1,422 households. Each household received up to several months of rent, totaling $3.5 million in assistance, and targeting populations and neighborhoods most vulnerable to eviction and homelessness. The Tulsa Day Center also pivoted due to the pandemic and sheltered people identified as most vulnerable in place day and night, while working with the city and county to open up and run an overflow shelter.

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Legal Aid Society surges with COVID-19 pandemic

Grant Segall

January 31, 2021 |

Cleveland Jewish News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Cleveland, Ohio

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland has helped economically-disadvantaged clients with legal representation in civil issues. Legal Aid helps clients navigate complicated unemployment benefit systems, fight evictions and foreclosures, and informs the public about legal rights.

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Rentervention connects renters with legal services, virtually

Lauren Leazenby

December 18, 2020 |

The Columbia Chronicle |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

A chatbox is dispensing free legal advice and even writing and sending letters to landlords to help tenants facing eviction. Landlords typically hire lawyers in eviction cases, while the majority of tenants arrive in court without any legal assistance, leaving them at a distinct disadvantage. The chatbox, cleverly named Rentervention, has been especially busy helping tenants avoid eviction since the start of the pandemic.

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Cleveland's historic Legal Aid Society surges with the pandemic

Grant Segall

December 01, 2020 |

The Land |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Cleveland, Ohio

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland is helping low-income people facing legal hardships and civil issues obtain fair representation and access to services and aid. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the organization has struggled to keep pace with the need, but has still been able to provide services to nearly half of those who have requested and connect many of the others with partner organizations.

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Billions in COVID Relief Has Gone to Farmers. Just Not Black or Family-Owned Farms in Appalachia.

Beth Ward

October 19, 2020 |

100 Days in Appalachia |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Kentucky

Several organizations — including the Kentucky Black Farmer Fund, Community Farm Alliance, and Black Soil: Our Better Nature — are working together to provide disaster relief funds during the COVID-19 pandemic to Black farmers. They’ve been able to award 43 small farms with a one-time payment of up to $750, which was used to purchase equipment or personal protective equipment. That amount can only help them so much, but it’s a step in helping Black farmers receive federal aid, which they historically have been left out of.

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