Newsletter
Aug. 31, 2020
Bucks County
In this Issue:
  • New Helpline hours: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. AND 1-4 p.m.
  • Eviction and foreclosure moratoria end Aug. 31 in PA
  • LIHEAP applications deadline today, Aug. 31
  • Calling Bucks County pro bono attorneys! Volunteers needed for PFA court in September
  • Housing Roundtable with U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon and regional organizations on housing issues (video)
  • Videos: Information sessions with PA Sen. Steve Santarsiero & PA Rep. Brian Kirkland. Learn about expungements, Clean Slate, housing and LASP services
  • LASP in the news: Grants from PHFA and CCFWG
  • CARES Act: Economic Impact Payments (EIP) deadline is Oct. 15
  • Aug. 31, 7-8 p.m.: Homeownership Law with Annie Neamand, Staff Attorney
  • More free virtual outreach: Employee Rights, landlord-tenant, Clean Slate & expungement | Full list at lasp.org/events
  • Meet new Staff Attorney God-Is Ike
  • Job announcements: Doylestown Managing Attorney & Community Engagement Staff Attorney
In July, LASP expanded Helpline hours!

877-429-5994
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. AND 1-4 p.m.
COVID-19 Alerts
Aug. 31: Eviction and foreclosure update
Pennsylvania eviction and foreclosure moratoria expire Aug. 31

by Christina Drzal, Supervising Attorney for LASP's Regional Housing Unit

Pennsylvania's eviction and foreclosure moratoria end Monday, Aug. 31. The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) has $150 million in rental assistance and $25 million in mortgage assistance for Pennsylvania residents affected by COVID-19. Information on the programs and applications can be found at https://www.phfa.org/pacares/.

The funds are a grant and do not need to be repaid. 
 
The Philadelphia Unemployment Project is offering several "Housing Help Virtual Info Sessions – Pandemic Mortgage Assistance Program" on Thursdays, Sept. 3 and Sept. 17, both at 7 p.m., and on Saturdays, Sept. 5 and Sept. 19, both at 10 a.m. To register for one of these free events:  https://bit.ly/32JxpWb. The sessions are designed for people who are currently behind or expect to fall behind on their mortgage payments to see if the Pandemic Mortgage Assistance program can help. The sessions also will briefly discuss other available resources for homeowners, renters, and those struggling with unemployment compensation.
  
In their current form, the PHFA programs have faced serious issues that have impeded success rates. In the first 25 days of the rental assistance program, out of about 10,000 applications, only 195 landlords were paid. For the mortgage assistance program, out of 1,500 hundred applicants, 100 were approved. 
 
However, PHFA has already submitted suggestions for legislative changes to the programs including increasing the monthly assistance amount, extending the program application deadline, and no longer requiring that people actually be delinquent to receive assistance.
 
The funds are disbursed through PHFA in partnership with a local agency in each county. Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Delaware counties all have separate funding through the Coronavirus Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and are using or should soon be using that funding to supplement the PHFA funds.
 
LASP has received funding to assist people to apply to these programs.


Recent news roundup on expiration of the
eviction and foreclosure moratoria

"Thousands face homelessness in Chester County after eviction moratorium expires"
West Chester Daily Local story by Fran Maye | Aug 30, 2020 | https://bit.ly/2Ddwdl1

"FHA Extends Foreclosure and Eviction Moratorium for Homeowners Through Year End"
MyChesco.com story | Aug. 30, 2020 | https://bit.ly/2QLX3Up

"Pennsylvania residents prepare for the statewide eviction moratorium to end Monday"
Philadelphia Inquirer story by Michaelle Bond | Aug. 31, 2020 | https://bit.ly/3jwaYdL

"Looming ‘deluge’ of evictions threatens thousands of Pa. families as school begins"
WHYY story by Avi Wolfman-Arent | Aug. 31, 2020 | https://bit.ly/2QEwIb1

"As Evictions Loom, Lawyers Are Gearing Up to Help"
With a federal moratorium coming to an end, legal aid lawyers say they are preparing to defend renters in housing court. New York Times story by Matthew Goldstein | Aug. 24, 2020 | https://nyti.ms/3aVmc8M

"Locked Out: Data Brokers May Report COVID-19–Related Evictions for Years"
Money woes during the pandemic’s economic slowdown will haunt some tenants, even if they pay up: The Markup story by Lauren Kirchner | Aug. 4, 2020 | https://bit.ly/2ERhH2K
Aug. 31: LIHEAP application deadline
The deadline to apply for LIHEAP Recovery Crisis Program is Monday, Aug. 31, 2020: lasp.org/news/liheap-covid-deadline-aug-31-2020.
Bucks County pro bono attorneys:

LASP PFA clients need you on Wednesdays in September!
DOYLESTOWN - LASP's Bucks County Division is in need of pro bono attorneys to help with Protection from Abuse court days on Wednesdays in September. PFA hearings take place at the Bucks County Justice Center at 100 N. Main St., Doylestown, PA 18901. If you can volunteer for a morning or afternoon on Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, and/or 30, please contact Randi Riefner, Paralegal and Bucks County Assistant Pro Bono Coordinator, at rriefner@lasp.org.
Housing Roundtable with Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon
An Aug. 3 Housing Roundtable addressed issues related to COVID-19 in Delaware County and Philadelphia. Top row (from left): Christina Drzal, Supervising Attorney for LASP's Regional Housing Unit; Robin Wiessmann, Executive Director & CEO, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA); and U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon. Bottom row: Dana Goldberg, Legal Director, SeniorLAW Center; Edward Coleman, Director, Community Action Agency of Delaware County; and Dr. Monica Taylor, Vice Chair, Delaware County Council.
Housing Roundtable hosted by U.S. Rep. Scanlon
On Aug. 3, Christina Drzal, Supervising Attorney for the Regional Housing Unit, joined a panel discussing COVID-19 issues related to housing. Hosted by Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, the Housing Roundtable covered how, during COVID, local organizations can help with housing issues in Delaware County and the Philadelphia region. The 34-minute conversation is available on Facebook LIve: https://bit.ly/3gjykkO.

The pandemic has exacerbated longstanding issues like affordable housing, even with the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures in place through Aug. 31. Rep. Scanlon discussed the event in her Weekly Recap of Aug. 11: "Rising housing costs over the past decade have strained family budgets, making many chronically cost burdened by their rent, mortgage, or other housing costs. Right here in PA-5, there are over 24,000 households who spend more than 50% of their income on housing costs. As a result of this affordability crisis, too many people have little-to-no savings, and are only one unexpected expense away from insolvency."
LASP in the news & on the web

West Chester Daily Local | Aug. 15, 2020

Pottstown Mercury | Aug. 15, 2020

Delaware County Daily Times by Peg DeGrassa | Aug. 17, 2020


by Marlene Lang, Patch Staff

Patch | Aug. 20, 2020
Video on housing, expungements & Clean Slate:

Info session with PA Sen. Santarsiero, presented by Christina Drzal and Erica Briant

Hosted by PA Sen. Steve Santarsiero on July 31, LASP supervising attorneys Christina Drzal, Regional Housing Unit, and Erica Briant, Community Engagement Unit, presented information on foreclosures, evictions, and record-clearing during COVID-19. The 53-minute video is available on YouTube: https://bit.ly/2QaRFdr (Housing, first half. Expungement / Clean Slate, second half.)
Expungements, Clean Slate & pardons in PA

On July 28, LASP presented its first virtual expungement clinic, hosted by State Rep. Brian Kirkand. In this video, Erica Briant, Supervising Attorney for the Community Engagement Unit, explains the process for expungements, Clean Slate and pardons in Pennsylvania: https://bit.ly/2QaMkTw.

Expungements and Clean Slate can improve access to jobs, education and housing.
LASP Intro & COVID Resources

As part of the July 28 virtual expungement clinic hosted by Rep. Brian Kirkland, LASP Community Engagement Attorney Daniel Cortes presented an introduction to LASP services and COVID resources. Learn more In this video at: https://bit.ly/2QaMkTw.
Resources
CARES Act: Economic Impact Payments (EIP) deadline is Oct. 15
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Campaign for Working Families, an estimated 350,000-450,000 Pennsylvanians may have missed their Economic Impact Payment (EIP), also known as the $1,200 stimulus payment. Those who did not file taxes can still receive the payment as a non-filer. The application deadline is Oct. 15, 2020.

If you currently receive assistance in the form of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or Medical Assistance (Medicaid), this one-time payment will not affect your benefit amount.

Background: As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economy Security (CARES) Act of 2020, in April 2020 the U.S. Dept. of Treasury began issuing funds known as Recovery Rebates or Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) to most Americans. If people did not file taxes, they can still complete the non-filer form for the EIP until Oct. 15, 2020. In addition, Campaign for Working Families is able to assist people with completing the non-filer form if needed (see below).

For more information:
  • The Campaign for Working Families confirmed Aug. 10, 2020 that they can help residents of Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties with completing the non-filer form. Their office, currently open - by appointment only - is located at 1415 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19122. Appointments can be made on their website, and eligibility information is at https://cwfphilly.org/stimulus. Click for PDF flyer about this program (shown above).
  • PA Dept. of Human Services information on the economic stimulus.
  • Internal Revenue Service information page for Economic Impact Payments.
  • Internal Revenue Service information page for non-filers.
  • Business Wire story (Aug. 4, 2020): “There Are Nearly $337 Million Outstanding Stimulus Payments for Pennsylvania Residents; Campaign for Working Families is Helping Them Get Their Money”
Free virtual legal clinics
Homeownership Basics - free virtual information session Aug. 31 with Phoenixville Public Library
  • Monday, Aug. 31
  • 7-8 p.m.

Join Annie Neamand, Staff Attorney for LASP’s Regional Housing Unit, to learn the basics of homeownership in PA. Topics covered will include: important homeownership statutes, mortgage and tax foreclosure processes, reverse mortgages, ways to defend/prevent various foreclosures, the process of ejectment, and the impact of COVID-19 on residential housing.
Phoenixville Public Library is hosting this free event, which is open to the public. It will be held online via Zoom. Registration is required to receive an invitation to the Zoom event. To register, click the event listing at the library’s website: https://bit.ly/2YtLLsi.

For more information, contact Mark Pinto, Reference Librarian/Director of Adult Services: mpinto@ccls.org or 610-933-3013 x132.
Employee Rights - free virtual information session Sept. 2 with Phoenixville Public Library
  • Wednesday, Sept. 2
  • 10-11 a.m.

Join Deborah Steeves, Staff Attorney, for an information session to discuss laws around the rights of employees and jobseekers during COVID-19 and answer your questions. Topics will include salary level and health care rights, health and safety requirements, high risk employees, child care issues, and refusing work/getting fired and still collecting unemployment.
 
Phoenixville Public Library is hosting this free event, which is open to the public. It will be held online via Zoom. Registration is required to receive an invitation to the Zoom event. To register, click the event listing at the library’s website at https://bit.ly/32jMTjy.

For more information, contact Mark Pinto, Reference Librarian/Director of Adult Services: mpinto@ccls.org or 610-933-3013 x132.
Landlord-tenant & eviction law - free virtual info session Sept. 16 with Phoenixville Public Library
  • Wednesday, Sept. 16
  • 10-11 a.m.

Join Christina Drzal, Supervising Attorney for LASP’s Regional Housing Unit, to learn the basics of landlord/tenant law in PA. She will review important landlord/tenant statutes, explain the eviction process, explore eviction defenses, discuss the impact of COVID-19 on eviction proceedings, and more.

Phoenixville Public Library is hosting this free online event, which is open to the public. To receive an invitation to the Zoom event, register at the event listing at the library’s website: https://bit.ly/3kF8ATd.

For more information, contact Mark Pinto, Reference Librarian/Director of Adult Services: mpinto@ccls.org or 610-933-3013 x132.
Clean Slate / Expungement Workshops in Sept., Oct. & Nov. with Coatesville Center for Community Health
LASP Attorney Deborah Steeves will present Clean Slate and Expungement Workshops in September, October and November in partnership with the Coatesville Center for Community Health. Register for your preferred workshop by emailing ccch@comcast.net. After you register, you will receive the meeting link through email.
  • Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 3-4 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 4-5 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 3-4 p.m.

The workshops will help individuals with criminal records who may have been denied employment or other services because of their record. Participants will learn about the Clean Slate and expungement process, eligibility, and learn how to proceed.

To obtain a copy of your criminal record, visit http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/MDJ.aspx.
Additional events: lasp.org/events

This listing is updated frequently, so please check our website for new offerings.
New Staff Attorney
God-Is C. Ike
DOYLESTOWN - God-Is Ike (pronounced God-Is Ē·kei) joined LASP in May as a Staff Attorney in the Doylestown Office. She is primarily handling family law cases, with a focus on dependency work. As Managing Attorney of The Ike Group, LLC in Trenton, New Jersey for more than eight years, she provided legal counsel to clients regarding immigration, matrimonial, contract, and criminal law matters in Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court. Her work in family law included handling juvenile cases, guardianship matters, child abuse and neglect matters, domestic violence cases and matrimonial law cases. She also provided pro bono legal services in neighboring counties.

As Designated Counsel for the Office of the Public Defender for the State of New Jersey,  God-Is spent a year representing parent defendants in actions by the Division of Youth and Family Services. 

She holds a J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law. While earning her B.A. in criminal justice from Rutgers University, she studied abroad for a semester at Manchester University in England. She is admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. To reach her, email gike@lasp.org.
Annual Giving

To support free civil legal aid during COVID-19, please visit https://bit.ly/LegalAidHelps!
Job announcements
LASP Doylestown
Managing Attorney
Click to read the full job description

Staff Attorney - Community Engagement Unit

LASP CARES
Attorney Fellows


Stay tuned! Additional job announcement will be posted soon.
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