Newsletter

March 29, 2024

In this issue:

Erica Briant honored with PLAN Excellence Award for Outstanding Attorney Advocate
Harvey Strauss & Catherine Guido remembered
U.S. Supreme Court: Grants Pass v. Johnson April 22
Legal Services Corporation celebrates 50th anniversary
LASP staff announcements & In Memoriam
PAHAF reopens | Property Tax/Rent Rebate
April 4 & April 9 CLEs
Delco Gives May 8-9 | 4-county Softball Tourney: Battle of the 'Burbs May 18 | Legal Aid Golf Classic June 24
LASP scrapbook | Upcoming outreach | Jobs

PLAN Excellence Awards

Erica Briant honored with Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Outstanding Attorney Advocate Award

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network celebrated outstanding advocacy across the Commonwealth at the Excellence Awards March 27 in Harrisburg. Erica N. Briant of LASP was honored with the Outstanding Attorney Advocate Award. (She is pictured at right, center with Mercedez Jackson (left) and Akeem Sims.)

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis observed in the keynote address, "I know that legal aid organizations across the Commonwealth are advancing the rights of low-income individuals on a daily basis. Your work is worthy of more support from the state and we're working every day to ensure that happens. The folks who are being honored tonight are real heroes. They are attorneys, paralegals and other advocates who make a real impact on Pennsylvanians' lives, helping them find employment, access to health care and deal with domestic violence. They provide support and advice for people who are struggling and in crisis. They are nothing less than legal angels. The work -- that all of you do -- gives Pennsylvanians hope. You advocate for your clients, giving a voice to the voiceless, making sure those who are closest to the pain are just a little bit closer to the power." As Lieutenant Governor, Davis chairs the PA Board of Pardons.

Hon. Kim Berkeley Clark, who was the first African-American President Judge of Allegheny County, congratulated all legal aid advocates for their ongoing work across the state. "I just feel grateful, thankful and blessed to be part of what has happened in Pennsylvania with the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Aid Network and all the programs, all the advocates and just privileged to see the people that come into my courtroom every day and that come into courtrooms all over Pennsylvania and know that they are getting representation and we are really trying to make access to justice a true thing for everyone." She closed by sharing the poem, "Grateful, Thankful, Blessed," that she wrote during the pandemic.

Erica Briant is LASP's Director of Community Engagement & Training. She started at LASP in 2014 as an Equal Justice Works fellow and later became Staff Attorney and Community Engagement Unit Supervising Attorney. Her legal work helps clients gain a fresh start through a practice focused on mitigating the collateral consequences of criminal records and helping clients obtain legal name changes.

She and some of the Community Engagement Unit team are actively filing petitions for clients under Clean Slate 3.0 in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties and presenting multiple CLEs to train attorneys and encourage pro bono volunteer participation. (Scroll down for an upcoming Clean Slate CLEs.) The CEU also encompasses disaster legal aid and the Regional Disability Advocacy (DAP) Program.

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis gives the keynote address. He chairs the PA Board of Pardons.

70+ more event photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBj4zA

Front row (from left center): Mariha Morales, Paralegal; Megan Reinprecht, Community Engagement Unit (CEU) Staff Attorney; Kathryn Palladino, Norristown Managing Attorney. Middle row:

Noelle Gambale, CEU Staff Attorney; Carolyn Johnson, Chief Counsel; Erik Hansen, PLAN Legal Director of Grants & Compliance; Erica Briant, Director of Community Engagement & Training; and Shawn Boehringer, Executive Director. Back row: Laurel Anderson, CEU Staff Attorney; Guy Marinari, Staff Attorney; and Charles Burrows, Staff Attorney.

LASP album (70+ photos)

MBA Memorial Service

NORRISTOWN - Harvey Strauss, former LASP Co-Executive Director, and Catherine Guido, longtime LASP Managing Attorney, were honored March 22 at the Montgomery Bar Association's Annual Memorial Service at the Montgomery County Courthouse. The service celebrated the lives of colleagues who passed away in the past year. President Judge Carolyn Carluccio presided.

Memorial Minutes were presented in a standing-room-only Courtroom A for the following: Robert L. Brant, Jr., John M. Demcisak, Catherine Guido, James L. Hollinger, Mary Ann McGrane Martillotti, Richard P. McBride, Daniel W. McCartney, Jr., L. Francis (Frank) Murphy, William Henry Pugh, IV, Michael P. Quinn, Matthew S. Santangelo, Nancy Neff Solnick, Harvey F. Strauss, and Ann Thornburg Weiss.

Diane M. Zabowski (above) presents the Memorial Minute honoring Catherine Guido, former longtime LASP Pottstown Managing Attorney, who died March 18, 2023.

Mark C. Schultz (at right) shares a remembrance of the life and impact of Harvey Strauss, LASP founding former Co-Executive Director.

LASP staff and alumni gathered after the Memorial Service. From left: Jean Gauger, Pottstown Office Manager; Donald B. Cheetham 3rd, retired Pottstown Staff Attorney; Susan Rizzardi, Norristown Office Manager; Bill Shimer; retired Staff Attormey; Susan Strong, retired Norristown Staff Attorney; Ann Tydeman-Solomon, Development Director; Ed Danelski, retired Norristown Staff Attorney; and Shawn Boehringer, Executive Director.

LASP album (20 photos)

MBA album (94 photos)

Criminalization of homelessness

April 22: Grants Pass v. Johnson case in the U.S. Supreme Court

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Grants Pass v. Johnson on Monday, April 22. The case relates, in part, to the Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment. The case highlights the issue of unaffordable housing and its consequences, including increased homelessness and encampments in residential areas.

Southeastern Pennsylvania also struggles with housing unaffordability and has seen increased numbers of unhoused people in recent years. This prompted LASP and Community Justice Project advocates to obtain an injunction in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania in Better Days Ahead Outreach Inc. v. Borough of Pottstown, 2023 U.S. Dist., preventing the type of criminalization at issue in Grants Pass.

City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson

U.S. Supreme Court docket: https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/23-175.html
SCOTUSblog: https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/city-of-grants-pass-oregon-v-johnson/

Katrina 'Kaytee' Ihrer named Doylestown Managing Attorney

DOYLESTOWN - Katrina "Kaytee" Ihrer was named LASP's Doylestown Managing Attorney in March. She joined LASP in November 2021 as Staff Attorney in the Doylestown Almshouse Office.

She earned her J.D. from Dickinson School of Law of Pennsylvania State University and Master's in International Affairs at Penn State. She holds a B.A. in International Studies from Texas State University. As a law student, Katrina interned at the Community Law Clinic in Carlisle; the Office of Chief Counsel for the House of Representatives Democratic Caucus; and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape in Harrisburg. In a two-year judicial clerkship in Franklin County, she focused on family, protection from abuse and civil law matters. Katrina also interned in LASP's Norristown Office in summer 2016.

She practices dependency law, representing parents who have involvement with the Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services Agency. She was honored with a LASP Rising Star Award in June 2023. She serves on the Local Dependency Roundtable with county stakeholders in an effort to make systemic changes for LASP clients and the families of Bucks County. In her free time, she enjoys reading and volunteering with Delta Gamma Fraternity.

Kaytee can be reached at kihrer@lasp.org or 267-488-1864.

Welcome, new staff!

Mary Jacob, Regional Housing Unit Staff Attorney

CHESTER City - Mary Jacob joined LASP on March 4 as Regional Housing Unit Staff Attorney based in the Chester City Office. She previously served as Staff Attorney and Housing Navigator from 2021-24 for MidPenn Legal Services based in Reading, where she planned and implemented the Landlord Tenant Resource Program, an MDJ court eviction prevention program based on the Eviction Prevention & Intervention Coalition (EPIC) in Montgomery County. She advised and represented clients in landlord-tenant matters and Protection from Abuse (PFA) petitions.

Mary holds a J.D. from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and B.A. in Sociology, with a research concentration, from Widener University, where she also earned Honors in the Honors Program in General Education. During law school, she volunteered with LASP with criminal records expungements and legal name changes from August 2019-May 2020. She also interned with the Villanova Law Farmworkers Legal Aid Clinic and Defender's Association of Philadelphia. For the Montgomery County Office of the Public Defender, she served as intern and also volunteered for their expungement clinics. She can be reached at 610-320-2964 or mjacob@lasp.org.

Lee Scoratow, Staff Attorney

CHESTER City - Leon "Lee" Scoratow joined LASP on March 4 as Staff Attorney based in the Chester City, Delaware County office. He earned a J.D. from the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law in 2023. He holds a Master's in Political Science/National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California and a B.A. in Social History from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He was an International Fellow at the Israeli National Defense College, and attended Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport, Rhode Island; the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management in Dayton, Ohio; and the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. During law school, he was Research Assistant for Professor Marshall Berger at Catholic University of America and Law Clerk for Patriots Law Group in Newington, Virginia.

Prior to his legal career, Lee served in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer for 23 years, holding leadership roles across different commands and regions. He served as Operations Officer aboard the USS Tripoli based in San Diego, California; served on the international engagement staff of the Secretary of the Navy; and was Executive Officer of USS Nicholas in Norfolk, Virginia, where he oversaw day-to-day operations, maintenance, and training for the ship and its crew of 200 sailors. His tenure also included assignments as Action Officer for Anti-Terrorism and Homeland Defense for the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon and Director of Future Operations for the Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, based at Camp Lemmonier, Djibouti. He served on the USS Chosin and USS Crommelin as Chief Engineer, USS Kitty Hawk as Engineering Division Officer, and the USS Elrod as Communications Officer. He enjoys travel, competition trivia, and watching rugby as a former player, referee and aspiring coach. Lee can be reached at 610-403-9582 or lscoratow@lasp.org.

In Memoriam

Ernestine Hightower. longtime DCLAA & LASP Administrative Assistant

CHESTER City - Ernestine Hightower, longtime LASP Administrative Assistant in Chester City, passed away Feb. 10, 2024. Her tenure with legal aid in Delaware County dates back to the Delaware County Legal Assistance Association, and she rejoined the newly formed Legal Aid of Southeastern PA after it launched in 2001. LASP Executive Director Shawn Boehringer wrote to staff, "She had been with us for over 35 years until her recent retirement. It was always delightful to be greeted by Ernie when I visited the Chester office, and she was adored and respected by staff. We're so sorry to hear of her passing and offer best wishes to her family." A private memorial service was held March 2 at the Willie Mae Leake Center in Chester.

Save the dates!

Join us for Delco Gives, in support of local legal aid: May 8-9

This spring, LASP is participating in Delaware County’s first ever Delco Gives day! Hosted by the Foundation for Delaware County, Delco Gives is a county-wide effort to raise awareness and funds for organizations like LASP that provide important services to Delaware County residents.

Every year LASP provides legal counsel and representation to thousands of Delaware County residents in need. Through your support of LASP’s efforts, we ensure access to justice and due process in our local courts.

Join us on May 8-9, from 7 p.m.-7 p.m., as we highlight and celebrate the importance of local legal aid. Every donation received wins LASP additional prize money!

Participate online: For a 24-hour period you will be able to give online as part of this event. On May 8-9, from 7 p.m.-7 p.m., donate at bit.ly/delco-gives-lasp.

Participate in person: There will be two events attended by LASP staff on May 8 & 9.

May 8: Kickoff at Dining Out Under the Stars on State St. in Media starting at 7 p.m.
May 9: Finale at Rose Tree Park in Media from 4-7 p.m. with live music and fun activities!

Can't wait to give? Starting April 1, you can donate to LASP and have it count for Delco Gives! Visit bit.ly/delco-gives.

Questions? Contact Sarah Stevens, Development & Communications Associate, at sstevens@lasp.org or 484-322-6469.

Donate starting April 1

Delco Gives on LASP website

Players invited! LASP's Inaugural Battle of the 'Burbs softball tourney Saturday, May 18!

JEFFERSONVILLE - Players are invited! The inaugural Battle of the ’Burbs softball tournament will be Saturday, May 18, 2024. We look forward to a friendly competition & presenting a new trophy! (Note: The October 2023 event was rained out.)

The tournament is at Padden Park, 2101 Oakland Drive, Jeffersonville, PA 19403, in West Norriton Township. GPS may say Norristown or Trooper.

It will feature the Young Lawyers Divisions of the Bucks County Bar Association, Chester County Bar Association, Delaware County Bar Association & Montgomery Bar Association. (You do not have to be a young lawyer to play!)

Thank you to LexisNexis and the Bucks County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division for your sponsorship! Learn more, sign up to play, and/or sponsor: lasp.org/softball.

If you have questions, please contact Megan Reinprecht at mreinprecht@lasp.org.

Softball Tournament ~ Battle of the 'Burbs

2024 Legal Aid Golf Classic

Presented by the Montgomery Bar Foundation

Monday, June 24

Registration is open! This year's premier summer golf event and community social will return to Green Valley Country Club in Lafayette Hill, with lunch and registration beginning at 11:30 a.m., and a shotgun start at 1 p.m. A great day of golf and on-course attractions will be followed by a special cocktail reception at 5:15 p.m., featuring golf awards, raffle prizes, and the presentation of the Montgomery Bar Foundation's prestigious community service awards.

There are several ways to support LASP at this event: golf, attend the cocktail awards reception, purchase and/or sell raffle tickets, or become an event sponsor. As always, proceeds will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Montgomery Bar Association and will benefit LASP’s impactful work!

For questions about golf or problems with registration, please contact Megan Ware at megan@montgomerybar.org or 610-994-3666.

For questions about sponsorship, please contact Jim Mathias at 610-994-3660 or 610-213-2669.

For more details, please see the MBA event page: https://bit.ly/golf-6-24-2024.

Legal Aid Golf Classic

Pro bono news & opportunities

Pro bono attorneys provide training to LASP staff on wage & hour violations common to low-income workers

Pete Winebrake (top left) and Michelle Tolodziecki (lower right), both of Winebrake & Santillo, presented a pro bono training to LASP attorneys and staff March 21. The virtual training focused on common wage and hour violations that can impact low-income workers. Michelle and Pete outlined how to spot these issues to help protect clients and preserve their hard-earned wages. They also shared relevant case law.

Winebrake & Santillo received a 2024 Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN) Excellence Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Advocacy.

The training was part of LASP's monthly Thursday Training series open to all staff, coordinated by Erica Briant (top right), LASP Director of Community Engagement & Training. Shawn Boehringer, LASP Executive Director, is also pictured.

Civic Learning Week: PBA & MBA pro bono project

GLENSIDE - Local lawyers and judges helped students at St. Luke's School in Glenside kick off Civic Learning Week on March 11. They presented a read-aloud in grades K-5 of "Noodlephant" by Jacob Kramer, followed by a brief discussion on the civics lesson.

The Montgomery Bar Association donated the books, PBA provided food for staff and volunteers, and the lesson plan was designed by the Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement.

LASP Staff Attorney Reid Kemena reads "Noodlephant" to students at St. Luke's School in Glenside as part of a Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) and Montgomery Bar Association (MBA) pro bono initiative during Civic Education Week March 11-15. Reid is based in LASP's Norristown Office.

From left: Hon. Mark Kearney, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Philip Yoon, General Counsel, Superior Court of Pennsylvania; Reid Kemena, LASP Staff Attorney; Jordan Morgan, Co-Chair, PBA Military and Veterans Affairs Committee; Frank Cervone, Executive Director Emeritus, Support Center for Child Advocates; Hon. Carolyn Carluccio, President Judge, Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas; Lisa Shearman, Montgomery Bar Association President; and Rashida West, Director of Pro Bono and Public Interest Programs at Drexel University Thomas Kline School of Law.

Get involved in 2024!

LASP has multiple volunteer opportunities in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

YOUR pro bono service makes a difference in your community by helping neighbors with limited incomes and resources gain access to justice.

How to find out more. Scroll down, or visit:

LASP Pro Bono news, events & info on ongoing opportunities: lasp.org/pro-bono
Sign up for a specific volunteer opportunity: lasp.org/pro-bono-opportunities
Take a training. To get the password to lasp.org/pro-bono-trainings, contact a member of our pro bono team: ebecker@lasp.org, mreinprecht@lasp.org (Bucks), bdoyle@lasp.org (Chesco), cheiserman@lasp.org (Delco), or mdixon@lasp.org (Montco).
Flyer (1-page PDF), or click image above

April 4 Virtual CLE: 'Preparing Estate Planning Documents,' presented by LASP's Pro Bono Program

Thursday, April 4 from 2-3 p.m.
1 CLE credit, Substantive (CLE credit for attorneys only)
Register through LASP Zoom: bit.ly/virtual-cle-4-4-2024 (Free for LASP Staff & pro bono volunteers who help at a LASP clinic or take a case, or $20 donation: bit.ly/cle-donation)
Flyer (1-page PDF)

LASP's Pro Bono Program presents a training for attorneys, paralegals & LASP staff, "Preparing Estate Planning Documents."

Learn the basics of preparing estate planning documents, including simple wills, healthcare directives & powers of attorney.

The CLE will prepare pro bono volunteers for upcoming LASP Senior Legal Clinics (scroll down for more information on the April and May clinics.)

Presenter

Melina Dixon, LASP Staff Attorney & Montgomery County Pro Bono Coordinator

Bucks County pro bono opportunities

Tuesday, April 9 from 2:15-3:15 p.m.
at Bucks County Bar Association, 135 E. State St., Doylestown, PA 18901
Register: https://bucksbar.org/calendar/
Flyer (or click image at right)

DOYLESTOWN - The Bucks County Bar Association’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Pro Bono Committees are co-sponsoring the CLE, “The New Clean Slate 3.0 Law,” as part of April CLE Marathon Day.

The attorneys will present on Pennsylvania's new Clean Slate 3.0 law, which expands criminal record sealing. For the first time, some nonviolent, nonsexual felony convictions are eligible for sealing. LASP attorneys will also review expungements and pardons.

There will be upcoming opportunities to volunteer at LASP expungement clinics in Bucks County.

Presenters:

Laurel Anderson, LASP Community Engagement Unit Staff Attorney
Megan Reinprecht, LASP Community Engagement Unit Staff Attorney

Bucks County pro bono opportunities

Volunteers needed Thursdays at 2 p.m. for eviction prevention program in Lower Makefield Township

Pro bono attorneys are needed for an eviction prevention program in Bucks County! The hearings take place every Thursday at 2 p.m. at Judge Kronnagel’s MDJ court, located at 31 E. Cleveland Ave., Morrisville, PA 19067. The project is a collaboration between the Bucks County Bar Association Pro Bono Committee, LASP, and the Bucks County Opportunity Council (BCOC), with support from the Bucks County Dept. of Housing & Community Development.

More information: website article. To learn more or sign up, contact Megan Reinprecht at mreinprecht@lasp.org.

Represent plaintiffs at PFA hearings any Wednesday in Doylestown

DOYLESTOWN - Represent plaintiffs at Protection from Abuse (PFA) hearings, held every Wednesday. CHOOSE ANY DAY(S)! Volunteers for plaintiffs are especially needed on Wednesday, April 10!

LIMITED SCOPE pro bono opportunity, with no expectation of continued representation beyond the day of volunteer service. New volunteers can observe PFA Day and learn from staff and current volunteers before committing to provide representation. You do NOT need to be a family law attorney to participate. Hearings are at Bucks County Justice Center, Doylestown.

To volunteer for plaintiffs, contact Durene McCarty at dmccarty@lasp.org or 215-398-6757. To volunteer for defense, contact the Bucks County Bar Association.

Chester County: Volunteer attorneys, paralegals, law students & community members needed for 2024 mobile home project

The 2024 Chester County Mobile Home Tax Reassessment Project will begin in February 2024 and continue through summer. Volunteer opportunities are available for attorneys, paralegals, law students and community members.

Multiple opportunities are available, and you do NOT need to volunteer for all months of the project. Learn more about the project and its impact on our webpage.

To learn more or to volunteer, please contact Brian Doyle, Staff Attorney and Chester County Pro Bono Coordinator, at 484-416-4259 x5210 or bdoyle@lasp.org.

Delaware County pro bono opportunities

Ongoing: Pro bono attorneys needed for multiple practice areas

Make a difference in Delaware County! Pro bono opportunities include no fault, no asset divorces; simple wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives for seniors; custody (limited scope available); and other civil legal issues low-income individuals face. Your volunteer service improves access to justice.

Divorce

Pro bono volunteers are needed to represent clients in no fault, no asset divorces. The divorces are either by consent or one-year separation and do not involve equitable distribution, custody, support, or fault grounds. Typically, a pro bono volunteer will not need to appear at a court proceeding in these cases.

Custody

Pro bono volunteers are needed to represent clients in custody cases in a limited scope, pursuant to the PA Rules of Professional Conduct and Delaware County’s limited entry of appearance rule. Delaware County's Rule 1012 permits attorneys to withdraw by praecipe after representation at the number of custody conferences agreed to in advance.

To learn more or sign up, please contact Cassidy Heiserman, Staff Attorney & Delaware County Pro Bono Coordinator, at cheiserman@lasp.org. Or register at lasp.org/volunteer-signup.

Montgomery County pro bono opportunities

May 16: Volunteer attorneys, paralegals & notaries are needed for Senior Legal Clinic in Narberth

NARBERTH - Volunteer attorneys, paralegals and notaries are needed to help low-income seniors draft simple wills, financial powers of attorney and healthcare directives at a clinic with Rep. Mary Jo Daley, on Thursday, May 16 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Narberth Municipal Center, 100 Conway Avenue, Narberth, PA 19072.

Volunteers can sign up for all, or a portion of, the clinic.

To learn more or sign up, contact Erika Felpel, Pro Bono Paralegal, at 484-275-0672 or efelpel@lasp.org.

Flyer (1-page PDF), or click image at right

Ongoing: Montgomery County pro bono opportunities

Divorce cases | Custody cases | Lansdale outreach

More details about each opportunity are at lasp.org/pro-bono, or contact Melina Dixon, Staff Attorney and Montgomery Count Pro Bono Coordinator, at 484-275-0463 or mdixon@lasp.org.

Eviction prevention in 8 courts across the county as part of EPIC

The Eviction Prevention & Intervention Coalition (EPIC) started in 2017 in one courtroom in Norristown and is currently in eight Magisterial District Justice courtrooms across Montgomery County: three in Norristown, two in Pottstown, and one each in East Norriton, Jenkintown and Lansdale.

Volunteer attorneys appear in court to help those facing eviction. You can specify your courtroom location/day of service, etc. To learn more or volunteer for EPIC, please contact Michelle Dempsky, LASP Staff Attorney & lead attorney with EPIC, at mdempsky@lasp.org.

LASP Pro Bono

Stay tuned:

pro bono

CLEs!

Bucks Co. Bar Assoc. events

Chester Co. Bar Assoc. events

Delaware Co. Bar Assoc events

Montgomery Bar Assoc. events

LASP in the news

Top Lawyers of Delaware County

Delaware County Daily Times | March 26, 2024 | https://bit.ly/DailyTimes-3-26-2024

Kimberly Hollenback, LASP VOCA Supervising Attorney & Media Office Managing Attorney

Other news

The Criminalization of Homelessness

by Rebekah Barber | Nonprofit Quarterly | Feb. 28, 2024 | https://bit.ly/NPQ-2-2024

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary: Protecting the Promise

Legal Services Corporation | 2024 | https://www.lsc.gov/celebrate50

PA Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF)

PAHAF applications reopened March 18 to help homeowners impacted by COVID-19

Applications reopened March 18 for the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund. PAHAF funds are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible new applicants until the funds are spent. APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

PAHAF helps homeowners struggling due to pandemic-related financial hardships. The financial assistance is available to eligible homeowners for mortgage and housing-related expenses. PAHAF is intended to address delinquency and avoid default, foreclosure or displacement.

Priority will be given to homeowners facing an imminent adverse action like a notice of foreclosure, sheriff sale or utility shut-off notice.

The program is administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). Visit pahaf.org for more information, eligibility requirements, and instructions on how to submit an application.

LASP News: article, flyers + links

PA Property Tax/Rent Rebate

Apply for the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate by June 30

The Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program may help low-income households. The deadline to apply is Sunday, June 30, 2024. It’s free to apply. You may be able to get back up to $1,000 on property taxes or rent paid in 2023.

Pennsylvania residents must meet the age guidelines (at least one of the following):

65 and older
Widows and widowers age 50 and older
People with disabilities age 18 and older

Household income must be $45,000 or less per year. Half of Social Security income is excluded.

LASP News: article + links

Montgomery County Domestic Violence

Montco Protection from Abuse (PFA) process adds digital petition, new waiting area & Hope Card program

NORRISTOWN - Prothonotary Noah Marlier launched three initiatives in February to benefit survivors of domestic violence: online access to the Protection from Abuse (PFA) petition, a new waiting area for PFA petitioners, and a Hope Card program.

The effort, more than a year in development, was a collaboration with the Montgomery County Courts, District Attorney's Office, Pennsylvania State Police, and Laurel House.

Details: https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/4514/Hope-Card-Program

Chester County Mobile Home Tax Reassessment Project

LASP & United Way of Chester County team up to help Chester County mobile home owners with free tax reassessments

The 2024 Chester County Mobile Home Tax Reassessment Project is starting! Deadline to apply is Friday, July 12, 2024.

A collaboration between LASP and United Way of Chester County, this impactful project provides free tax reassessments, including preparation and filing of the tax appeal and representation at the hearing. Since 2019, this project has assisted in 1,014 successful appeals and saved each mobile home owner an average of $800+ on their annual taxes. Deadline to apply: Friday, July 12, 2024.

Application form and other information on the United Way of Chester County webpage: unitedwaychestercounty.org/our-impact/mobile-home-tax-reassessment.
LASP webpage: lasp.org/chester-county-mobile-home-tax-reassessments.

Pictured above: Edwina Johnson, Community Impact Assistant for United Way of Chester County, promoted the Chester County Mobile Home Tax Reassessment Project at a resource fair following Rep. Chrissy Houlahan's Public Interest Town Hall on March 16 in West Chester. LASP also had a table at the event.

LSC 50th anniversary

Protecting the Promise: Legal Services Corporation

For 50 years, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) has been Protecting the Promise of justice for all by providing millions of Americans throughout the country with access to legal resources that have had a life-changing impact. But there is still more work to be done. LSC will hold its 50th Anniversary Luncheon & Gala in Washington, D.C on April 9.

LASP is grateful for support from LSC, which funds a significant portion of our work in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties and also funds LASP's work related to disaster legal services, pro bono innovation, and technology.

https://www.lsc.gov/celebrate50
LSC-LASP Protecting the Promise poster set (5-page PDF, or click image at right)

LSC 50th Anniversary webpage

Free legal outreach

In-person: Legal Clinic in Exton - April 10

Wednesday, April 10 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Also: May 8 & June 12, 2024
at PA CareerLink of Chester County, 479 Thomas Jones Way, Suite 500, Exton, PA 19380
Flyer (1-page PDF), or click image at right

EXTON - A free legal clinic will be held monthly at PA CareerLink of Chester County. The clinics will be the second Wednesday of the month through June 2024.

To schedule a 30-minute appointment with a LASP attorney, contact Edwina at 610-429-9400, ext. 4115 or ejohnson@uwchestercounty.org. (Note: The number given is to make the appointment only. Please save the discussion of your legal situation for the meeting with the attorney.)

The clinics are a partnership between LASP, United Way of Chester County's Financial Stability Center, and PA CareerLink of Chester County.

In-person, en español: Foro de Derechos de los Inquilinos Migrantes | Migrant Renters' Rights Forum in Kennett Square - April 11

Thursday, April 11 from 6-8 p.m.
at Kennett Square Borough Hall, 600 S. Broad Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348
Flyer (1-page PDF): Spanish | English

KENNETT SQUARE - ¡Guarda la fecha! Únase a nosotros para una discusión sobre temas de vivienda, conectar con recursos locales y abogar por los derechos de los inquilinos migrantes; toda la información se presentará en español.

Join us for a discussion on housing issues, connect with local resources, and advocate for migrant renters rights; all information will be presented in Spanish.

Partner organizations: Chester County Dept. of Community Development, Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness, Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania, Kennett Area Community Service (KACS), and Legal Aid of Southeastern PA.

In-person: Expungement & Pardon Clinic in Ridley Park - April 13

Saturday, April 13 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
at Rep. Delloso's District Office, 605 E. Chester Pike, Ridley Park, PA 19078
Register in advance by April 10: Call Rep. Delloso’s office at 610-534-1002
Flyer (1-page JPG), or click image at right

RIDLEY PARK – State Rep. David M. Delloso will hold an Expungement and Pardon Clinic to help community members learn if record expungement might be an option for them. Attorneys from Legal Aid of Southeastern PA will be on hand to provide expert guidance.

Virtual: Montgomery County Name Change Clinic - April 24

Wednesday, April 24 from 4-6 p.m.
Register by Wednesday, April 10: https://bit.ly/NameChange-4-24-2024
Flyer (1-page PDF), or click image at right)

NORRISTOWN – Registration is open for a Montgomery County Virtual Name Change Clinic. The free clinic is open to Montgomery County residents ages 18 and older, including those in the transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming communities. Register by April 10.

The Montgomery County website has more details:

https://bit.ly/Montco-4-24-2024.

In-person: Senior Legal Clinic in Brookhaven - April 25

Thursday, April 25 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
at Brookhaven Municipal Center, 2 Cambridge Road, Brookhaven, PA 19015
Flyer (1-page PDF), or click image at right

BROOKHAVEN - Join Rep. Leanne Krueger, Sen. John Kane and LASP for a free Senior Legal Clinic.

Get help with simple wills, durable Powers of Attorney and healthcare directives at no cost for seniors (60+) who meet LASP’s income guidelines.

Registration is required. To ask a question or sign up, contact Erika Felpel at efelpel@lasp.org or 484-275-0672.

In-person: Legal Clinic in Lansdale - April 25

Thursday, April 25 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (monthly)
at Manna on Main Street / North Penn Commons, 606 E. Main St., Lansdale, PA 19446
Flyer (1-page PDF), or click image at right

LANSDALE - LASP will hold a free monthly outreach event at North Penn Commons / Manna on Main Street in Lansdale. Stop by our table!

Have a question? Contact Erika Felpel at 484-275-0672 or efelpel@lasp.org.

In-person: Reentry, Resetting & Redemption: Expungement & Pardon Clinic in Chester City - May 2

Thursday, May 2 from 6-8 p.m.
at Chester City Hall, Community Room, 1 E. Fourth St., Chester, PA 19013
Register: https://bit.ly/register-5-2-2024
Info: info@safecorridorspa.org, 610-510-8934 or 484-489-0036
Flyer (1-page JPG), or click image at right

CHESTER City - Join the PA Board of Pardons, Safe Corridors and Legal Aid of Southeastern PA for "Reentry, Resetting & Redemption: Expungement & Pardon Clinic."

This free event will provide information and inspiration to help participants get started on their reentry journey. Pro bono attorneys will be available to meet with participants after the event. Attendees who are financially eligible for Legal Aid of Southeastern PA can apply for record-clearing services anytime at lasp.org/apply or by calling the Helpline at 877-429-5994 Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Speakers:

Jonathan Abdur-Rahim King, Executive Director, Safe Corridors
Shelley Watson, Secretary of the PA Board of Pardons
Saad Solimon, CEO, Solomon Consulting, Inc. & National reentry systems subject matter expert
Megan Reinprecht, Community Engagement Unit Staff Attorney, Legal Aid of Southeastern PA

In-person: Senior Legal Clinic in Narberth - May 16

Thursday, May 16 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
at Narberth Municipal Center, 100 Conway Avenue, Narberth, PA 19072
Flyer (1-page PDF), or click image at right

NARBERTH - Join Rep. Mary Jo Daley and LASP for a free Senior Legal Clinic.

Get help with simple wills, durable Powers of Attorney and healthcare directives at no cost for seniors (60+) who meet LASP’s income guidelines.

Registration is required. To ask a question or sign up, contact Erika Felpel at efelpel@lasp.org or 484-275-0672.

LASP scrapbook

Top Lawyer of Delaware County

Congratulations to Kimberly Hollenback! She was named by Delaware County Daily Times readers as a 2024 Top Lawyer of Delaware County in Domestic Violence. The honorees were announced March 26.

Kimberly’s practice focuses on serving victims of domestic violence. She joined LASP in 2018 and is VOCA Supervising Attorney & Managing Attorney of LASP’s Media Office.

Public Service Town Hall with

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan

WEST CHESTER - U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan hosted a Public Service Town Hall Saturday, March 16 at St. Paul's Baptist Church in West Chester. Kelly Young, LASP Staff Attorney and AmeriCorps alum, joined a panel discussion on their respective pathways to public service. Panelists (from left): Captain Howard Crawford (ret. – USAF), Commander of American Legion Post 134 in West Chester; Kelly Young; Rep. Houlahan; Michael D. Smith, AmeriCorps President; and Rev. Dr. Wayne E. Croft, Sr., Pastor of St. Paul's Baptist Church & moderator.

A resource fair followed, featuring AmeriCorps and local volunteer and service opportunities and community programs.

Upper Darby Outreach

UPPER DARBY - At an outreach hosted by Breaking Bread Community Shelter in Upper Darby March 23, Villanova Law students worked under supervision of LASP attorneys to provide legal services for low-income individuals experiencing homelessness. Special thanks to pro bono attorney Thomas Blatcher (back row at right) of Troutman Pepper!

Spring Break at LASP

NORRISTOWN - Three law students joined LASP for a substantive spring break week experience March 4-8, helping clients with Clean Slate 3.0 and elder law. They also road-tripped to our West Chester and Chester City offices, meeting with LASP staff for a more complete-picture view of public interest law.

Front row (from left): Evan Cabrejas, Temple University Beasley School of Law; Julia Schneider, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law; and John Adams, University of Virginia School of Law. Back row: Melina Dixon, Staff Attorney & Montgomery County Pro Bono Coordinator; Erika Felpel, Pro Bono Paralegal; Jennifer Pierce, outgoing Pro Bono Director; and Erika Becker, Pro Bono Director, Staff Attorney & Grants Compliance Specialist.

Women Veterans Health & Wellness Fair

BLUE BELL - LASP joined community partners for the second annual Women Veterans Health & Wellness Fair March 22, 2024. This year's event was at Montgomery County Community College's Blue Bell campus.

Pictured (from left): Justice Simanek, LASP Veterans Advocacy Project Staff Attorney; Nicole McCoy, who manages the legal services at Veterans Multi-Service Center (VMC); and Kimberly Hollenback, LASP VOCA Supervising Attorney & Media Office Managing Attorney. LASP's team provided information about legal issues facing women veterans, including VA benefits and domestic violence.

NORRISTOWN - LASP staff from multiple counties, as well as interns, gathered March 8 for a lunch in honor of Jennifer Pierce for 9+ years of service in multiple roles, most recently as Pro Bono Director.

LASP career opportunities