Mike is a veteran in his 80s who lives on a fixed income. After bearing the expenses of a long term illness, his real estate taxes went into arrears. When he discovered he was about to lose his home to a third-party tax deed buyer, he phoned CARPLS for help. With only a few days to spare, we found Mike a pro-bono attorney who gained him extra time through the courts to make payment arrangements and keep his home.
More than 4,000 seniors like Mike turn to CARPLS for legal help each year. According to the National Council on Aging, more than 25 million people age 60+ are financially insecure and live below 250% of the federal poverty level. One major setback can mean the loss of housing, medical care, food and employment.
Legal aid organizations nation-wide play an instrumental role in protecting the rights of seniors facing urgent issues such as homelessness, elder abuse, and financial exploitation. This year, CARPLS will expand our services for seniors as a new grantee of the City of Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services.
Legal Director Pat Wrona notes,"CARPLS is dedicated to serving seniors in our community. Any legal problem is an important issue when you are elderly, living alone and on a fixed income. CARPLS empowers seniors with critical legal information and we can calm a lot of fears for this vulnerable population."
