Dear MHAS Friend,

In this last newsletter of 2021, I'd like to ask you to make an end-of-year gift that will support Mental Health Advocacy Services (MHAS) and strengthen the programs and services that our team provides.

Your support makes a difference for clients like Daniel and Raquel* who both experienced traumatic experiences in 2021 that impacted their mental health and affected their housing. Both needed a legal advocate to help them navigate the complex legal system and housing programs that could improve their lives, but neither could afford the cost of a private attorney.

By partnering with an MHAS attorney, Daniel and Raquel found the help they needed—without ever paying a single dollar in attorney fees.

Please consider making a donation to help Mental Health Advocacy Services provide free legal advice and representation to even more people in 2022.


Thank you once again for your support and happy holidays to you and your family.

Sincerely,
Jenny Farrell
Executive Director

P.S. If you would like to donate by mail, please print our Donation Form and send it to Mental Health Advocacy Services with your payment.
*Clients' names have been changed to protect their privacy.
ELIMINATING TICKET DEBT FOR DANIEL
After Daniel's mother passed away, he was overwhelmed by grief and medical bills. Daniel's mental and physical health declined and he began to live out of his car after he lost his housing.

Daniel sank further into debt after receiving two tickets for failing to pay his car registration and insurance fees, which he could not afford and therefore let expire. The accumulating late fees took an additional toll on his mental health and he became extremely fearful of driving his car.
Daniel requested a hearing to reduce the fines and called MHAS for legal representation. At the hearing, MHAS demonstrated to the court that Daniel was the victim of tragic circumstances and that the tickets were actively keeping him from maintaining his registration and feeling secure in the car in which he lived.

The judge dismissed both tickets in the interest of justice. Through an MHAS referral, Daniel was also recently approved for disability benefits. Today, Daniel feels one step closer to financial stability and hopes to find permanent housing soon.
IMPROVING RAQUEL'S LIVING CONDITIONS
Raquel befriended a woman who promised to help Raquel escape an abusive relationship by leasing Raquel one of the many apartments she owned. Instead of finding safety and security, Raquel found herself living in a rat and flea-infested apartment that affected her health and that of her emotional support dog. Raquel's friend-turned-landlord neglected to fix the apartment's habitability issues and threatened to use Raquel's mental health history against her if Raquel reported her.
Raquel applied for an emergency housing voucher that would subsidize the cost of a habitable apartment. After experiencing delays with her application, Raquel called MHAS' intake line. An MHAS attorney helped Raquel get in contact with her caseworker and guided Raquel in fixing the errors that were holding up her application.

Last month, Raquel finally received her emergency housing voucher and she is getting ready to move into a new apartment where she can live with dignity.
IN THE NEWS
LA County Health Center Pairs Legal Aid with Medical Care (LA Times)
Last month, Los Angeles Times featured the critical work of the Whole Person Care Medical-Legal Community Partnership (MLCP), a program that embeds free legal services on-site at health care centers across L.A. County.

Through the MLCP, legal aid nonprofits help low-income patients address the legal problems that impact their health

In addition to MHAS, the MLCP partners include Neighborhood Legal Services, Bet Tzedek, and Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (whose legal clinic is highlighted in the article).
This Organization Protects Children with Mental Health Disabilities (CA Live)
NBC California Live recently interviewed MHAS Executive Director Jenny Farrell for a "Social Good" segment.

During the interview, Jenny shared MHAS' mission, history, and recent Super Bowl LVI Legacy Program award.