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CDC Eviction moratorium expires July 31; expected to be last extension
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LAST CHANCE to make your 2020-21 annual gift: Donate today!
- New Child Tax Credit payments start July 15
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Unemployment work search requirements restart in July
- LASP in the news: Bucks Co. Courier Times, Doylestown Intelligencer, KYW NewsRadio & Associated Press/CPI
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UPDATED RESOURCES: Rent & utility assistance in PA, 4 counties + Norristown | CDC declaration form
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Pro bono volunteer opportunities in 4 counties
- JUST ANNOUNCED: Mobile Home Tax Reassessment clinics across Chester County July 7-20
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Virtual Expungement Clinic July 17 with Sen. Kearney & Rep. Davidson
- In-person Pardon Clinic July 28 in Chester City, with Brandon Flood, Secretary, Board of Pardons, & Jonathan Abdur Rahim King, Re-Entry Professional
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We're hiring: Staff Attorney in Norristown, Temporary Administrative Support in Bristol, & 6 LASP Summer Attorney Fellows across the program
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CDC extends eviction moratorium to July 31
Expected to be last extension: Apply now for rent & utility assistance
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On June 24, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) extended the eviction moratorium to July 31, 2021. This is expected to be the last extension. CDC news release: https://bit.ly/3zY4w8v.
If you need help with rent and/or utility payments, APPLY NOW! Funding is available in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties + PA and Norristown. Learn more at LASP's news page: bit.ly/rent-utility-help.
This extra month will make a difference in connecting renters with EXISTING federal funding. The programs get landlords paid, meet utility payment obligations, and PREVENT EVICTIONS and homelessness. Additional resources are included in this edition (scroll down).
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Having a lawyer improves outcomes;
provides access to justice locally!
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Contributions made by June 30, 2021 will be recognized in the 2020-21 Annual Report. |
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"Struggling renters have one more month to stave off eviction. Will help arrive?"
by Jo Ciavaglia
Bucks County Courier Times and Doylestown Intelligencer | Sunday, June 27, 2021 | Front page | bit.ly/3h6IZTP
"Tenants, landlords urged to apply for rental assistance before eviction moratorium ends"
by Kim Glovas
"State Supreme Court ruling puts many tenants in Pa. at risk of eviction"
by Kim Glovas
"More than $425 million promised for rental assistance didn’t make it to tenants or their landlords"
by Sarah Kleiner, Taylor Johnston and Michael Casey
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How to apply for rental assistance in PA, LASP's 4 counties + Norristown |
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APPLY NOW for rent/utility assistance
LASP attorneys recommend: Renters who are behind on rent and utility payments need to APPLY NOW for help through the state and county programs, to prevent eviction. The application process takes time, and the July 31 CDC eviction moratorium is not expected to be extended.
bit.ly/BucksBERA, or call 1-888-50-BUCKS. Tenants and landlords are encouraged to apply. LASP is a partner in BERA. Program flyer.
Need rental assistance? Call 211 and select prompt 2.
Tarde con el pago de la renta? Enfrentando un desalojo? Llame al 211.
Delaware County Emergency Rental Assistance opened March 26, 2021, at delco-era.com.
Call Your Way Home by dialing 211, text your zip code to 898-211, OR contact any of the following six participating nonprofits directly:
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Declaration form & resources for renters |
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New Child Tax Credit gives families extra $250-$300
per month, from July-December
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Beginning July 15, most families with children will begin receiving monthly installments of the Child Tax Credit. Payments will be monthly through December. Families who are eligible will receive $250 per month for each child age 6-17 and $300 per month for children younger than 6.
The maximum credit is available to taxpayers with a modified adjusted gross income of:
- $75,000 or less for single filers and married persons filing separate returns.
- $112,500 or less for heads of household.
- $150,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return and qualifying widows and widowers.
For tax year 2021, qualifying families claiming the Child Tax Credit will receive:
- Up to $3,000 per qualifying child between the ages of 6 and 17 at the end of 2021.
- Up to $3,600 per qualifying child under age 6 at the end of 2021.
A new Non-filer Sign-up tool is also available at the IRS website, as of June 14. The non-filer portal is also available for single individuals and people experiencing homelessness. Individuals can provide their information to the IRS so that they can receive any of the three Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), also known as “stimulus payments,” that they may be missing. If an individual did not get the full amounts of the EIPs, they may use this tool if they:
- Are not required to file a 2020 tax return, didn’t file a 2020 tax return, and don’t plan to, and
- Want to claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit (which covers the first and second EIPs) and get their third EIP.
More information:
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Unemployment Compensation: Work search requirements restart week of July 11 |
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HARRISBURG - Work search requirements for individuals receiving unemployment benefits will restart the week of July 11, with individuals to begin certifying on July 18 that they have looked for work during the previous week.
More information from the PA Dept. of Labor and Industry:
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2021 health care enrollment extended to Aug. 15 |
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HARRISBURG - Due to COVID-19, enrollment for health insurance in Pennsylvania has reopened.
If you are uninsured or affected by COVID-19, visit pennie.com and enroll in a plan.
Deadline to apply: Aug. 15.
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JUST ANNOUNCED: In-person Chester County Mobile Home Reassessment Clinics throughout July
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West Grove Library - July 7 & 8
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Oxford Library - July 13 & 15
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Honey Brook Food Pantry - July 16
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Appleville Mobile Home Park - July 17 & 19
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Mockingbird Mobile Home Park - July 20
Get your mobile home taxes reassessed for free. Advocates from Legal Aid of Southeastern PA and United Way of Chester County will hold an outdoor outreaches throughout July.
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Please bring your title and/or other home documents.
- Help will be available in English and Spanish.
In 2019 and 2020, the Chester County Mobile Home Tax Reassessment Project helped 510 owners save $966 per home per year!
Partners for the 2021 project are: LASP, United Way of Chester County, & LCH Health & Community Services (formerly La Comunidad Hispana).
More information about the project:
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Friday, July 9 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Free
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At PA CareerLink of Chester County, 479 Thomas Jones Way, Suite 500, Exton 19341, or virtual
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Register in advance through PA CareerLink at https://bit.ly/2UMbDAN.
- Or learn more at LASP's website events page.
LASP Staff Attorney Deborah Steeves will present information on the upgrade to Pennsylvania's Unemployment Compensation computer system, how and when to apply, and will answer your questions.
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Saturday, July 17, from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. | Free
- Register: senatorkearney.com/expungement
- After registration, participants will receive a confirmation email with a link to fill out LASP’s application form online.
State Sen. Tim Kearney and Rep. Margo Davidson, in partnership with LASP, are hosts. You will learn about the expungement and Clean Slate process in Pennsylvania and will be able to meet one-on-one with a LASP advocate to discuss the specifics of your case. If your record is not eligible yet for expungement or Clean Slate, you'll learn your timeline and steps you can take in preparation.
LASP serves Delaware, Chester, Bucks and Montgomery counties.
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LASP Staff Attorney Deborah Steeves will present a free, virtual Clean Slate and Expungement Workshop in partnership with the Coatesville Center for Community Health. Open to the public. After you register, you will receive the meeting link through email.
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Friday, July 23 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Free
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At PA CareerLink of Chester County, 479 Thomas Jones Way, Suite 500, Exton 19341, or virtual
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Register in advance through PA CareerLink at https://bit.ly/3quYZlv.
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Or see LASP's event listing.
EXTON - LASP Staff Attorney Deborah Steeves will present information about record-clearing. Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate law allows certain criminal cases to be sealed – taken out of public view – so they cannot be used as barriers to employment, housing, etc.
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Wednesday, July 28 from 5:30-8 p.m. | Free
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At Chester Cultural Arts and Technology Center, 2300 W 4th St A211, Chester, PA 19013
- Or learn more at LASP's website events page
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Co-host: Chester Community Safe Corridors
IN PERSON, IN CHESTER CITY, Delaware County. Brandon Flood, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, and Jonathan Abdur Rahim King, Re-Entry Professional and CEO, Safe Corridors, will be guest speakers.
Details: Dinner will be provided. CDC guidelines will be followed.
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with Montgomery County Public Defender's Office
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The weekly clinic hours are intended to be a virtual version of the “walk-in” intake hours LASP offered before COVID-19. People can log onto Zoom and talk individually with Lily, one-on-one.
When: Wednesdays from 3-5 p.m.
Who: Montgomery County Public Defender clients
Where: Virtual
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From the Zoom app: Click join meeting, enter Meeting ID: 874 9396 5977
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Call in: Dial 929-205-6099 on your phone, and enter the Meeting ID above.
- Computer: https://tinyurl.com/LASPandPD. (If you enter this URL on your smartphone, you will be be asked to download the zoom app.)
NOTE: Montgomery County Public Defender clients also can call LASP's Helpline for civil legal issues (housing, family, public benefits, employment issues, and more), especially if they have a short deadline of seven days or less from any Wednesday. The Helpline, 877-429-5994, is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Questions? Contact Lily Austin, Esq., Independence Fellow, at laustin@lasp.org.
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Pro bono attorneys are needed for PFA hearings Wednesdays in Doylestown |
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DOYLESTOWN - Protection from Abuse (PFA) hearings take place Wednesdays at the Bucks County Justice Center at 100 N. Main St., Doylestown 18901.
To volunteer with LASP's Bucks County Division, please contact Randi Riefner, Paralegal and Bucks County Assistant Pro Bono Coordinator, at rriefner@lasp.org or 215-770-4067. |
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2021 Mobile Home Tax Appeal Project needs volunteers |
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Attorneys, paralegals, law students, and other legal professionals are needed to help with workshops through July. Attorneys are needed for hearings beginning mid to late summer. 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.
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Pro bono attorneys requested for eviction hearings |
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Eviction filings are on the rise in Delaware County! Pro bono volunteers are needed to represent clients in eviction court. Many clients are currently arriving at court WITHOUT the CDC Declaration. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) eviction moratorium ends June 30, 2021. The need for pro bono assistance is expected to be even greater when the moratorium expires.
To learn more or to volunteer, please contact Thomas Kerstan, Staff Attorney and Delaware County Pro Bono Coordinator, at tkerstan@lasp.org or 484-206-7808.
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Montgomery County pro bono |
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Volunteers are needed for eviction hearings for Montco's EPIC program |
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The Eviction Prevention & Intervention Coalition (EPIC) has expanded to seven courtrooms across Montgomery County, including two courtrooms in Norristown, two in Pottstown, one in East Norriton, one in Jenkintown, and one in Lansdale. Pro bono attorneys are needed to represent renters at eviction hearings in all seven of these courts.
To learn more about volunteering for the EPIC program, please contact Michael E. Kelley, LASP Norristown Managing Attorney, at 484-322-6468 or mekelley@lasp.org.
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We're hiring:
LASP has multiple
job openings.
- Staff Attorney in Norristown
- Temporary Administrative Support in Bristol
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6 Summer Attorney Fellows (Norristown, Doylestown, Chester city, West Chester, Community Engagement Unit based in Norristown, and Regional Housing Unit based in Chester city, Delaware County)
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If you received e-news as a forwarded email, or if you found it on social media, please subscribe at lasp.org/enews or email Marion Hoffman Fraley, Communications Director, at mfraley@lasp.org.
E-news is published 11-12 times per year.
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Legal Aid of Southeastern PA
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Copyright ©2021. All Rights Reserved. |
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