LASP's new Helpline hours started Monday, March 15, 2021! Our new phone system allows more calls to be answered at one time, while allowing our paralegals and attorneys to meet COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. Call the Helpline, 877-429-5994, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday or start an online application 24/7 at lasp.org/apply.

HARRISBURG - Postponed a year due to COVID-19, the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN) Excellence Awards were presented virtually March 23. Recipients were announced in November 2019. Mardi Busanus, longtime LASP volunteer, received a PLAN Excellence Award honoring her 20+ years of service as a volunteer in the Doylestown office.

The program booklet notes, "For the last two decades, Mardi Busanus has been a loyal volunteer of the Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Mardi has devoted thousands of hours to working with Bucks County’s innovative PFA court, which provides pro bono attorneys for both petitioners and respondents in every PFA case. Mardi’s knowledge of the court and the Bucks County PFA program is invaluable and she is a large part of its success. Every Wednesday, Mardi goes to PFA court to assist the attorneys and court. Coordinating this project is no easy task due to the high case volumes and the program relying solely on volunteers. Mardi’s work is integral to maintaining this effort, and on Mardi’s 10-year volunteer anniversary, Judge Susan Devlin Scott issued a proclamation in honor of Mardi’s commitment. On Fridays, Mardi volunteers in Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania's Doylestown office, where she answers phones and assists with other office duties."

This schedule has been impacted by COVID-19, and Mardi looks forward to returning to the office soon.

Congratulations to all Excellence Award recipients and to Samuel W. Milkes, Esq., PLAN Executive Director Emeritus, for the Outstanding Leadership In Support of Legal Services Award. In a surprise announcement during the virtual ceremony, Sam learned that the PLAN Board of Directors had voted to rename the leadership award in his honor. More information: https://palegalaid.net/pennsylvania-legal-aid-network-excellence-awards.

Pennsylvania Emergency Rent [and Utility] Assistance Program (ERAP)

PA's Dept. of Human Services (DHS) website for the Emergency Rent [and Utility] Assistance Program (ERAP) is now open for applications. http://bit.ly/38YznWs. Tenants can apply through COMPASS or their county offices. See below for contacts in the counties LASP serves, or visit the statewide list. Paper applications are available in 7 languages. Apply online through COMPASS, or use the paper application, available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Cambodian, Russian, and Vietnamese.

Bucks Emergency Rental Assistance (BERA) Program

www.buckscounty.org/renthelp or call 1-888-50-BUCKS. Tenants and landlords are encouraged to apply. LASP is one of the partners in this program. March 17 press release.

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 (ERA)

Delaware County Emergency Rental Assistance opened March 26, 2021, at delco-era.com. Call 484-729-4200, or e-mail info@delco-era.com.

Montgomery County Emergency Rent and Utility Coalition (ERUC): https://yourwayhome.org/eruc

Call Your Way Home by dialing 211, text your zip code to 898-211, OR contact any of the following six participating nonprofits directly:

Norristown Emergency Rental, Mortgage, and Utility Assistance - Home Improvement Program (ERMUA) https://hip.cgph.net/norristown-cares. Clients can call 484-808-2112, email NorristownCARES@gmail.com, or fill out an application online.

WEST CHESTER - LASP continues its partnership in the Chester County Mobile Home Tax Reassessment Project, with United Way of Chester County, LCH Health and Community Services (formerly La Comunidad Hispana), and local food pantries.

In 2019 and 2020, this project helped 510 people lower their property tax payments by an average of $966 per home owner. Sign up now at United Way of Chester County's website: https://bit.ly/3hJzSaf or by calling 610-429-9400. (Para más información en español, llame a 610-444-7750 opción 8.)

Need more information and/or flyers? See LASP's website: http://bit.ly/2P5lVZH.

In January, the PA Dept. of Labor & Industry restarted the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) programs. Both PEUC and PUA expired at the end of December 2020 along with the CARES Act, and both resumed as part of the American Rescue Plan.

PEUC and PUA funding is in place through Sept. 6, 2021.

Learn more about the programs: Click image at right or visit https://bit.ly/3pqb3D2.

Many people receiving PA unemployment compensation benefits are coming to the end of their benefits year, which may mean they have to reapply. Click here (or image above) to visit the state website for more information and an online tool to help navigate this process.

For ongoing updates on state UC programs, visit uc.pa.gov or follow @PALaborIndustry on Facebook and/or Twitter.

Note: The state website may be overwhelmed due to high demand. If you get an error message at the website or end of the application form, try again later.

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

Eligible individuals receive $300 per week on top of the weekly benefit amount s/he receives from other UC programs. An individual must first be eligible for UC, PEUC, Extended Benefits (EB), or PUA benefits to qualify. Individuals don't need to do anything extra to receive the $300. Continue to file biweekly claims – benefits will be automatically paid to qualified individuals.

Information on unemployment compensation and taxes: https://www.uc.pa.gov/unemployment-benefits/benefits-information/Pages/Taxes-on-Benefits.aspx.

"Norristown Forum On Evictions Offers Aid, Resources" (Montgomery County Landlord-Tenant Forum)

by Justin Heinze | Patch.com | March 23, 2021 | https://bit.ly/3lOAXPS (scroll down to full replay, 1 hour, 11 minutes)

"Bucks County renters, landlords to get help through new $37M program"

by Peg Quann | Bucks County Courier Times | https://bit.ly/311C3OB

"United Way of Chester County working to assist mobile home owners"

West Chester Daily Local | Feb. 24, 2021 | https://bit.ly/3qT4tWs

"Tax Reassessment Appeals Helping Chesco Mobile Home Owners"

by Marlene Lang | Patch.com | Feb. 25, 2021 | https://bit.ly/2O1kUBq

"LASP & Partners Help 333 Mobile Homeowners Successfully Appeal Property Taxes During COVID"

by Brian Doyle, LASP Staff Attorney | Chester County New Matter | 1st Quarter 2021 | http://bit.ly/3qxVDwf

"Glitches in Pa. unemployment program ‘a disaster’ for vulnerable residents"

by Laura Benshoff | WHYY News | March 2, 2021 | https://bit.ly/3sOQeCu

"Delco to begin distributing $37M in rental assistance"

by Kathleen E. Carey | Delaware County Daily Times | March 7, 2021 | http://bit.ly/3casGSa

"Advocates rally for Chesco woman facing eviction after loss of long-sought housing voucher"

by Ximena Conde | WHYY News | March 10, 2021 | http://bit.ly/30tnuDd

In February, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS) presented the new report, "Measuring Civil Justice for All: What do we know? What do we need to know? How can we know it?" It emphasizes the importance of collecting data on civil legal needs and outcomes on a national scale, and the critical role of equal justice for all in democracy. http://bit.ly/MeasuringCivilJusticeForAll

Pictured (clockwise from top left): John Tessitore, AAAS senior program advisor and moderator; Jim Sandman, Legal Services Corp. President Emeritus; Rebecca Sandefur, MacArthur Fellow and Arizona State University professor; and John Mark Hansen, University of Chicago professor.

54-minute introduction to civil legal aid + webinar: https://bit.ly/3etwQr4

Pro bono attorneys: Weber Gallagher invites you to a virtual CLE Expungement Training Tuesday, March 30 from 11 a.m.-noon. Register: https://bit.ly/3rojkYE.

Expungement and #CleanSlate laws are changing and can help community members gain access to better jobs, education and housing!

MEDIA - The Delaware County Bar Association (DCBA) will present a virtual CLE webinar on "Landlord-Tenant Law in a Pandemic" Wednesday, April 14 from 12:30-1:30 p.m., via Zoom. The CLE is sponsored by the Pro Bono and Legal Services to the Poor Committee and the Magisterial District Judges Committee.

Cost: FREE for those who sign up to take a pro bono landlord-tenant case. Otherwise, $35 DCBA Member/$55 non-member.

Presenters:

To register, visit delcobar.org or contact Nancy Ravert Ward at 610-566-6625 x222 or email nancy@delcobar.com.

Reminder, attorneys! The PACLE Board's Pro Bono Pilot Program continues this year!

Beginning in 2019, attorneys receive one CLE credit hour for every five hours of pro bono service completed through accredited pro bono CLE providers. A maximum of three hours may be applied per compliance period. LASP is an accredited CLE provider!

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania approved this pilot project for a three-year period, in an effort to blend legal education initiatives with assistance for legal service programs.

For more information on LASP's Pro Bono Program, please visit lasp.org/pro-bono.

On Dec. 23, 2020, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued an order permitting attorneys to complete their 2021 compliance requirements with 12 credits earned through accredited distance learning programming. Attorneys may check their MyPACLE account for updates.

In accordance with adopted CLE Board policy:

LASP is an accredited CLE provider and is also an accredited distance learning CLE provider in Pennsylvania! For more information, please contact Kesha James, Deputy Director for Advocacy and Pro Bono Director, at kjames@lasp.org.

Pennsylvanians experiencing homelessness are now able to obtain a free initial photo ID as a result of Act 131, which Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law in late 2020. It went into effect Jan. 25.

Learn more in the PA Dept. of Transportation announcement: https://bit.ly/3jPlE8A.

Most of the COVID-19 emergency utility protections will end March 31, 2021, and households across the state may face utility shutoffs. Learn how people can avoid having their utilities terminated for nonpayment. Join the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Utility Law Project, and Community Legal Services of Philadelphia:

If you need help paying your heating bills, or have a heating emergency, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) may be able to help.

The program is administered by the PA Dept. of Human Services. Applications will be accepted through April 9.

Visit the state website at https://bit.ly/32v9gmN for income eligibility guidelines, how to apply, telephone helplines, and brochures in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Cambodian, Russian and Vietnamese.

2021 health care enrollment reopened; Deadline: May 15

HARRISBURG - Uninsured Pennsylvanians or those affected by COVID-19 can visit pennie.com and enroll in a plan through May 15: https://bit.ly/3cmlClk.

File for a stimulus payment, even if you don't normally file taxes; Deadline: May 17

Filing deadline is May 17, 2021.

How to find free help to file your taxes. (Many people can get help for free.)

Attorneys, paralegals, law students, and other legal professionals are needed to help with workshops from February 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.

The project is now accepting Chester County clients. See story above or the article on our website.

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. Staff Attorney Michelle Dempsky is LASP's lead attorney for EPIC, and CARES Attorney Fellow Anthony Richardson also is working on EPIC. 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.

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.

Note: In January, Bucks County Protection from Abuse (PFA) court implemented multiple new protocols, designed to keep everyone as safe as possible and limit those who need to appear.

Each judge may have specific procedures in their courtroom; their staff should be consulted to confirm if parties may be excused.

Virtual Unemployment Compensation Workshop April 9

Staff Attorney Deborah Steeves will present a free, virtual workshop on Unemployment Compensation Friday, April 9 from 11 a.m.-noon. For information and advance registration, visit https://bit.ly/2PsYEkE . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to join the meeting. This event is in partnership with United Way of Chester County and PA CareerLink of Chester County.

Virtual Clean Slate Clinic April 14

Staff Attorney Deborah Steeves will present a free, virtual clinic on expungements and Clean Slate on Wednesday, April 14 from 3-4 p.m. Please register in advance: https://bit.ly/3rt46BC. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to join the meeting. This event is in partnership with Coatesville Center for Community Health.

Virtual Clean Slate Workshop April 23

Staff Attorney Deborah Steeves will present a free, virtual workshop on expungements and Clean Slate Friday, April 23 from 11 a.m.-noon. For information and advance registration, visit https://bit.ly/2NPXHm3. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to join the meeting. This event is in partnership with United Way of Chester County and PA CareerLink of Chester County.

On March 17, 2020, following safety guidelines from state, local and federal officials, LASP closed offices, but our dedicated staff have continued to bring access to justice through remote service as we adapted to changing guidelines - both legal and public health-related.

LASP staff, Board members, volunteers, community partners, funders and donors are all a part of bringing access to justice during COVID-19. Thank you for your service and commitment to our low-income, vulnerable residents in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

(Mask by Isabella)

NORRISTOWN - Alexandria Baland joined LASP as a Staff Attorney in the Community Engagement Unit on Feb. 1. Alexandria began her legal career at South Jersey Legal Services where she handled a variety of civil matters. Since then, she has worked at private firms where she specialized in education issues, guardianship, special needs trusts and Social Security matters. "I pride myself on delivering exceptional service to every client I interact with and making sure they feel cared for, heard, and competently represented," she said. She holds a J.D. from Syracuse University School of Law, a Master's in Cultural Foundations of Education, certificate in disability studies from the Syracuse School of Education, and a B.A. in political science and Spanish from Temple University, where she was on the rowing team and spent a semester abroad in Oviedo, Spain. Alexandria is fluent in Spanish. Contact: abaland@lasp.org.

BRISTOL - Joshua Davis joined LASP Feb. 8 as a Staff Attorney in the Bristol Office. Joshua is a recent graduate of Temple University Law School. During law school, Joshua participated in several practicums and internships serving low-income clients in consumer bankruptcy, consumer housing, Social Security Disability, elder law, family law, and landlord-tenant law. Joshua’s experience with Temple’s Family Law Clinic and SSI Clinic and internships with Community Legal Services, Philadelphia Legal Assistance and the AIDS Law Project show his dedication to public interest law and serving low-income communities. He holds a J.D. from Temple University School of Law and a B.A. in international studies and French from Dickinson College, with a year abroad in Toulouse, France. He also holds a Black Belt. Contact: jdavis@lasp.org. 

WEST CHESTER - Christine Hall joined LASP Feb. 8 as Paralegal in the West Chester Office. Christine is completing her Paralegal Certificate through Lock Haven University. Before joining LASP, Christine worked as a legal assistant for a solo practitioner. There, she gained experience in bankruptcy, immigration, divorce and custody, among other areas of law. She holds a B.S. in biology from West Chester University. Christine is also a notary. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and gardening.  Contact: chall@lasp.org.

BRISTOL - Formerly a LASP CARES Attorney Fellow, Julie Rose returned to LASP on Feb. 1, as a VOCA Staff Attorney in the Bristol Office. She is handling domestic violence related VOCA work. Last fall Julie spent several weeks with the Doylestown Office handling Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders and custody cases. Julie is an experienced dependency and family law attorney. She has spent the last four years representing parents and children in dependency cases in Philadelphia. Before that, Julie represented children in abuse and neglect cases in New Jersey. Julie has also volunteered with HIAS, Philadelphia VIP and Support Center for Child Advocates. She holds a J.D. and M.S.W. Social Work from Tulane University and a B.A. in creative writing from Oberlin College. Contact: jrose@lasp.org. 

CHESTER City - Elizabeth Tarloski joined LASP Nov. 30 as a Veterans Advocacy Project Staff Attorney. Part of the Community Engagement Unit, the Veterans Advocacy Project helps veterans in all four counties and is based in Chester city, Delaware County. Elizabeth has extensive veterans and public interest law experience. Soon after law school, she served as both a volunteer and a staff attorney at Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity, handling criminal record expungements and community outreach. She began her veterans practice as an AmeriCorps Equal Justice Works Legal Fellow with the Veterans Law Clinic at Widener University Delaware Law School. After that, she worked as a Visiting Professor at the Veterans Benefits Clinic at William and Mary Law School. Most recently, Elizabeth worked as a Staff Attorney at Philadelphia VIP. She eagerly returned to veterans work, where she has a wealth of experience in veterans benefits, discharge upgrades, military trauma, teaching, conducting trainings, providing outreach, handling cases and addressing issues affecting veterans. She holds a J.D. from Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, MSc from London School of Economics and Political Science in gender, development, and globalisation, and a B.A. in international relations from the University of San Diego. Contact: etarloski@lasp.org. 

WEST CHESTER - Kelly Young joined LASP as a Staff Attorney in the West Chester Office on Nov. 16. Kelly holds a J.D from Temple University School of Law, with a certificate in Trial Advocacy and Litigation, and a B.A. in Russian from West Chester University. She also attended the University of Chicago. A longtime Chester County resident, Kelly interned in the West Chester Office starting in 2018, handling unemployment compensation, SSI matters and custody work. She also assisted with the Chester County Mobile Home Tax Reassessment Project. Kelly has also had summer internships with Community Legal Services of Philadelphia and SeniorLAW Center. She is a violinist. Contact: kyoung@lasp.org. 

To support LASP's work throughout COVID-19, bringing access to justice to Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties, please donate at https://bit.ly/LegalAidHelps.

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.

Past issues are at lasp.org/enews.