What’s the Need?
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A 1994 ABA study found that the legal needs of low-income people do not differ substantially from the middle class (people falling into the middle 60 percent of U.S. incomes). Yet the resources available to serve low-income people are paltry compared to what is available to those who can afford private attorneys.
My husband works fulltime, but his employer does not provide benefits. Our son, 12, was swiftly losing his vision and needed to see a retinal specialist. I tried to apply for both Healthy Families coverage and then Medi-Cal, and was denied assistance from each program. I was desperate to save my son's sight. Thanks to SVCLS, an attorney filed an appeal, and then spent months negotiating on our behalf to gain coverage for our four children. I could never have managed this on my own. I am so grateful that today my son receives the proper treatment to save what is left of his eyesight.
-Mrs. S
I fled Vietnam as a refugee with my family in 1985. When my mother became ill, I used all of my savings to travel to Vietnam to help care for her. I planned to stay only a few months, but her health was quickly failing. She passed away, and I returned to United States after a 10-month stay in Vietnam. When I got back, I decided to finally file for United States citizenship. When I was interviewed by an Immigration officer, he questioned me about my recent 10-month visit to Vietnam. I was told that unless I could produce evidence of my mother's illness and death that my citizenship application would be denied. Thanks to SVCLS, an attorney was able to help me obtain my mother's death certificate, medical records, and doctor's statements. They accompanied me to the follow-up interview at the Immigration office. My citizenship application was approved. I'm so excited that I will now be able to vote.
-Mrs. Tran
My daughter, Arienne, was diagnosed with autism when she was 6. She could only talk by shrieking, grunting, and pulling on people. But we were encouraged when a neuropsychiatrist recommended specific educational services to help Arienne learn to communicate. We were devastated when our local school district denied our request for services, saying Arienne was basically too developmentally delayed to benefit from any autism services. But thanks to SVCLS, a lawyer helped convince the district to allow her a comprehensive program of autism-related services. Arienne has made incredible progress. Just this month, she let me know her favorite color is purple.
-Susan
I'm a senior, and have owned my home for 35 years. But relying on Social Security and a part-time job, it seemed I was always short of money. I had heard of reverse mortgages, but ended up with an unscrupulous broker who forged my signature. I was left with a monthly mortgage payment that was twice my income, and a mortgage in default. I was in danger of losing my home until a legal aid attorney helped me work with the bank to cancel the loan and stay in my home. I am so grateful for their help.
-Mr. D.
We were so thrilled to find a house to rent we could afford. But when we turned in our first check and got the keys, the landlord said she was happy to rent to a "nice white couple" and not some "dirty Mexicans." Three days later, when I was at the house supervising repairs, the landlord called and asked if our last name was "Mexican." Yes, I said. Was that a problem? She immediately said there was a problem with the house and we would not be able to rent it. I knew something wasn't right. Thanks to SVCLS, a lawyer filed a complaint in federal court, and our landlord was found guilty of violating the Fair Housing Act. Fortunately, we were able to find another home for our family.
-Rosa
We rented a house that we soon discovered had terrible plumbing. Everything leaked; the ceiling in my children's room was soft with water, and the walls were covered with mold. There were snails growing in our closets! When we complained to the landlord, he tried to evict us. But this house was all we could afford. Thanks to SVCLS, an attorney got the county inspectors to force the landlord to make the repairs. The eviction notice was withdrawn, and we now live in a much drier, more comfortable home.
-Mrs. W
I came to this country, from Somalia, the hard way-via human trafficking. At 17, I was sold into forced labor here. I eventually escaped with the help of a complete stranger. Thanks to SVCLS, a lawyer helped me gain my legal status and start a new life here. I'm now in college, studying to become a nurse.
-Evelyne
I was one of five employees who worked at a grocery store in East Palo Alto. My employer failed to pay overtime, and ignored health and safety complaints. In fact, he fired one of us for bringing safety issues to his attention. Thanks to SVCLS, an attorney helped us by filing a complaint for recovery of unpaid wages and penalties. All of us are so grateful for this help. We were able to keep our jobs and our employer began paying overtime, as required by the law.
-Scott
I've lived here since I was 8 years old. I always thought I was an American citizen. But when I applied for a Social Security card and a college scholarship, I learned my parents had never properly secured my legal status, thinking I was covered if they were. It was crazy! I was looking forward to college and found out the government thought I didn't belong here! Thanks to SVCLS, a legal aid attorney helped me become a naturalized U.S. citizen. I eventually won that college scholarship.
-Etivise
I didn't know much English and was employed as a domestic worker when I discovered someone had stolen my credit card number and charged all sorts of expenses. I had never heard of identity theft, but now I owed a lot of money, and was sued by my creditors. I didn't know what to do until, thanks to SVCLS, an attorney helped me with the lawsuits, and cleared my debts and reestablished my credit.
-Lilia
Shortly after we immigrated to the U.S. to live with my son, my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. My son blamed me for his increasing violence, and kicked me out of his house. I knew no English, and wandered amid hospitals and shelters, eventually landing in a domestic violence shelter, where a social worker told me what programs to apply for. I tried to get disability benefits, but was denied. Thanks to SVCLS, a lawyer appealed my case, and got me out of the shelter. I now have a roof over my head, and food to eat, without waiting in line for a bed or a meal.
-Wan Ying
It took me a while to do it, but I finally called the police on my husband, who was beating me. He stopped supporting us, and I went on welfare to support my three-year-old son and me. But it wasn't enough to make the rent, and we were evicted. I was homeless, and my husband used that to his advantage and gained custody of our son. Thanks to SVCLS, an attorney helped me find temporary housing, and I got into a job-training program. The lawyer helped me regain primary custody of my son. I am employed and my son and I live in our own apartment, thanks to that lawyer.
-Norma
It's hard for me to tell my story, hard for me to believe it happened. I'm elderly, and my live-in caretaker regularly threatened me with a gun, and said he would kill me. I was so trapped, terrified, sleeping every night in a room next to this person. But thanks to SVCLS, a lawyer helped me get a domestic violence restraining order. The sheriff removed him from my home, and I am still here, safe and sound.
-Charlotte
My mother, Katherine, is elderly. A stroke left her with mental and physical limitations. She recently visited an exclusive clothing store in Palo Alto. Although store employees recognized that she was confused, they initiated a number of shopping expenditures. On some occasions they drove her to the store; on other occasions they sent suggested purchases to her home, letting her believe the clothes were gifts. Within four months, store employees had charged $23,000 to my mother's credit card. Thanks to SVCLS, a legal aid lawyer obtained a judgment against the store for fraud and unfair business practices. Our family returned all the clothing and my mother's charge accounts were cleared.
-Katherine's daughter
When I was 65, I was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I had emergency surgery and then chemotherapy. Still recovering, I was shocked when Medi-Cal denied me health care benefits following the surgery, saying I didn't qualify for assistance because of an "absence of a disability." I needed help to pay the bills from my surgery, and to continue my treatment if I hoped to survive. I was upset, depressed, and didn't know where to go. But thanks to SVCLS, an attorney helped me qualify for Medi-Cal, and made sure they paid my surgery and medical bills.