At left: Norristown on Sept. 2. At right: FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia & York counties. lasp.org/hurricane-ida

Hurricane Ida's path of destruction on Sept. 1 included all four of the counties LASP serves. Tornadoes and historic flooding on and after Sept. 1 severely impacted parts of our service area. On Sept. 10, President Biden declared a federal disaster area in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia and York counties, which allows residents to apply ("register') for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). On Sept. 24, Bedford and Northampton counties were added to the federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Ida in PA.

Sara Planthaber, Certified Legal Intern, staffed a LASP legal information table at the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Downingtown Sept. 27. Flood photo (above): Main and Arch Streets, Norristown on Sept. 2. Scroll down for photos from the Sept. 8-9 Multi-Area Resource Centers (MARCs) in Norristown and Downingtown.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is now available in PA Ida counties; apply by Oct. 20 in LASP's 4-county service area

If you live, work, or have to travel through impacted areas to reach work in any of the eight counties listed above, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) may be available.

Eligibility guidelines & details: Pennsylvania unemployment compensation website

WAYNE - The Trial Run 5K is back for its 16th year, in a new location! Start Halloween with a morning run or walk at Wilson Farm Park in support of Legal Aid of Southeastern PA! Awards will include top men's/women's finishers and best costume. The Chester County Bar Association Pro Bono Committee is organizing this event as part of its Pro Bono Week celebration.

The race will be Sunday, Oct. 31 at Wilson Farm Park, 500 Lee Road, Wayne, PA 19087. Sign-in starts at 8:15 a.m. The race begins at 9 a.m. Parking is available on-site. The starting line is the south pavilion, nearest to Route 202.

To register: runsignup.com/Race/PA/Wayne/TrialRun5K.

Entry fee: $20 until race day. On race day: $25. Includes t-shirt, while supplies last! LASP's event webpage is lasp.org/trial-run.

To sponsor or for more information, contact Brian Doyle, LASP Staff Attorney and Chester County Pro Bono Coordinator, at 484-416-4259 x5210 or bdoyle@lasp.org.

Pro Bono Week is Oct. 24-30! LASP extends a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our pro bono volunteers! YOU directly increase access to justice, and your service to clients and community is deeply appreciated.

After the U.S. Supreme Court ended the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) eviction moratorium Aug. 26, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland wrote, in an Aug. 30 letter to the legal community, "The legal profession is well positioned to provide support for tenants, landlords, and courts during this crisis. Promoting access to justice to ensure that our justice system delivers outcomes that are fair and accessible to all, irrespective of wealth or status, is one of the highest ideals of the legal profession." He asked the legal community to engage in these action steps:

Garland wrote, "During the height of the Civil Rights Movement, then-Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy urged members of the legal profession, as part of their obligation to support equal justice under law, to use their knowledge and skills to advance the rights of those who were most vulnerable. Once again, the legal community has an obligation to help those who are most vulnerable. We can do that by doing everything we can to ensure that people have a meaningful opportunity to stay in their homes and that eviction procedures are carried out in a fair and just manner."

Thursday, Oct. 28 at BCBA, 135 E. State St., Doylestown, PA 18901

Additional details will be announced at bucksbar.org and lasp.org/pro-bono.

Chester County Bar Association Pro Bono Committee presents: Access to Justice Pro Bono CLE Seminar Oct. 22

Friday, Oct. 22 at CCBA, 15 W. Gay St. #2, West Chester, PA 19380

Sign in & continental breakfast: 8:30 a.m.

Program: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

3 credits: 2 substantive, 1 ethics

Trial Run 5K Run / Walk Oct. 31 at 9 a.m.

The CCBA Pro Bono Committee hosts the Trial Run 5K on Sunday, Oct. 31 to promote Legal Aid and to highlight the Pro Bono program. Start time is 9 a.m.! Scroll up for full details, or register directly on the race platform. To learn more, visit LASP's Trial Run 5K webpage.

The Delaware County Bar Association (DCBA) Pro Bono Committee will present two CLEs for 2021 Pro Bono Week.

Tuesday, Oct. 26 from 12-1:30 p.m. at DCBA, 335 W. Front St. Media, PA 19063

Sign in: 12 p.m. (bring a brown bag lunch). Seminar: 12:30 p.m.

Speakers: Steven R. Koense, Esq., Hearing Officer Amanda Konyk, Esq. and Hearing Officer Gregory Hurchalla, Esq.

To register: DCBA website. 1 credit Substantive.

Thursday, Oct. 28 from 12-1:30 p.m. at DCBA, 335 W. Front St. Media, PA 19063

Sign in: 12 p.m. (bring a brown bag lunch). Seminar: 12:30 p.m.

Panel: 

To register: DCBA website

Volunteer opportunity: Montgomery County Virtual Custody Clinic Oct. 27

A free legal advice Virtual Custody Clinic will help about 25 parent participants with custody matters on Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Five to six pro bono attorneys who practice in the area of custody are needed. Each attorney will be in a private Zoom breakout room and will meet with about five parent participants for 20 minutes each to provide brief legal advice. The volunteer attorneys will determine whether the parent needs to file an initial Complaint in Custody, Modification, or Contempt. After the clinic, LASP will send the appropriate documents to each client with instructions on how to complete and file pro se. LASP will pre-screen participants to make sure they meet LASP eligibility guidelines. "This is a great opportunity to make a real impact in our community during Pro Bono Week," noted Kathryn Palladino, LASP Staff Attorney and Pro Bono Coordinator.  For more information or to volunteer, please email her at kpalladino@lasp.org.

Visit LASP's website pages for Pro Bono inspiration and opportunities, or register. You can work with a LASP Pro Bono attorney in your county to make pro bono service work for your schedule!

Specific pro bono opportunities for Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties are posted at lasp.org/pro-bono-portal. Coming soon! LASP anticipates pro bono opportunities in all four counties related the Hurricane Ida federal disaster declaration.

LASP has pro bono coordinators in all four counties who can discuss volunteer opportunities, training if outside your regular practice, and more. Contact them directly, or simply register as a volunteer on our website, and one of them will contact you!

Wednesday, Oct. 6 from 12-1:30 p.m.

Hybrid event: MBA CLE room, 100 W. Airy St., Norristown, PA 19401, & Zoom

Representing five major Montgomery County stakeholders dealing with domestic violence cases daily, panelists will teach family law attorneys to better address domestic violence in their cases. Laurel House, Legal Aid of Southeastern PA, Montgomery County Child Advocacy Project, the District Attorney's office, Women's Center, and the Court will all be represented. Panelists will offer techniques, tactics, and information to better inform representation of domestic violence victims.

Moderator: Rachel Becker, Esq., Staff Attorney at Laurel House

Speakers: 

Registration: MBA website

by Kenny Cooper | KYW News | Sept. 18, 2021 | bit.ly/3CtRO1M

"Chester County establishes resource center for Ida victims"

West Chester Daily Local News Sept. 7, 2021 | bit.ly/2VrhZpZ

"Chester County Sets Up Resource Center For Hurricane Ida Recovery"

by Marlene Lang | West Chester Patch.com | Sept. 7, 2021 | bit.ly/2X47M3m

"Broke, bracing and on the brink: Snapshots from an evictions crisis"

by Ricardo Kaulessar, Sammy Gibbons, Matthew Korfhage, Ashley Balcerzak, Jasmine Vaughn-Hall & Kelly Powers of NorthJersey.com | Doylestown Intelligencer | Sept. 2, 2021 | bit.ly/eviction-Intell-9-2-2021

"'A Lot Of People On The Streets': The Eviction Crisis Has Begun"

by Matthew Rothstein | Bisnow East Coast | Sept. 2, 2021 | bit.ly/3l5rGDb

NORRISTOWN - After 39+ years as a legal aid lawyer in southeastern Pennsylvania, Staff Attorney Ed Danelski retired from LASP on Sept. 10. He handled Protection from Abuse (PFA) cases and children and youth cases in Montgomery County since 1983, first for Montgomery County Legal Aid Service and then for LASP after it formed in 2001. Prior to 1983, he also worked as an attorney at Delaware County Legal Assistance Association, but lacked the seniority to survive the 1980s legal aid job cuts.

Shortly before his retirement, Ed took some time amidst stacks of closed case files to reflect on his career. His last scheduled court date was scheduled for Sept. 2 but was canceled due to the Montgomery Courts closure in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. "I spent more time in that courtroom than anywhere," he said. Initially, he handled PFA cases and years later, occasionally would be approached by a former client who told him, '"You don't remember me, but you saved my life.'"

In juvenile court, his goal was "a fair resolution for the kid." While he didn't agree with every judge's decision, "I never saw them do other than what they thought was right," he said.

Ed is a proud alumnus of Seton Hall Prep in New Jersey and St. Joseph's College — "Class of '73, and NOT 1873," he quipped. He earned his law degree at the University of San Diego and studied for the MSW at San Diego State University.

Often seen with a book, Ed shared a few favorites: "This Side of Paradise" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, "The Power and the Glory" by Graham Greene, "Battle Cry of Freedom" by James M. McPherson, and espionage thrillers by John le Carré and Mary Beard.

Are you behind on rent or utility payments due to COVID-19? Apply NOW for help through your county. LASP's News webpage, bit.ly/rent-utility-help, links to programs WITH EXISTING FUNDING in Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. Landlords and utility companies get paid through this funding, and tenants avert eviction. Flyers for each program are provided. Live elsewhere in PA? Find the program in your county.

Under work requirements for new unemployment compensation (UC) applicants, Pennsylvania requires you to register for a PA CareerLink account within 30 days of the initial claim. If you do not register with PA CareerLink, UC claims will be denied until the PA CareerLink account is created.

To register, visit the PA CareerLink website at pacareerlink.pa.gov and click on the "register" button in the upper right corner.

UC in the news: Impact of unemployment benefits in 2020

National Employment Law Project (NELP) analysis of 2020 census data finds:

Unemployment Benefits Kept 4.7 Million People Out of Poverty in 2020

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps families living on low incomes pay their heating bills in the form of a cash grant.

The 2021-22 program opens Monday Oct. 18, 2021, and closes May 6, 2022.

Resources:

In Norristown and Downingtown on Sept. 8-9, Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARCs) helped residents affected by Hurricane Ida. LASP advocates answered questions about civil legal issues at both locations. The events were held at Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, Norristown, and at the United Sports Training Center in Downingtown. As of Sept. 30, FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are open Monday-Saturday in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia and York counties. Hours, locations and how to apply ("register") for FEMA assistance are at lasp.org/hurricane-ida.

All participants are encouraged to complete the online screening form in advance, or call Congresswoman Dean’s office at 215-884-4300.

EXTON - Need ID? Beginning Sept. 22, free ID clinics are held every Wednesday 1–3 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m–12 p.m. The clinics will be at PA CareerLink, 479 Thomas Jones Way, Suite 500, Exton, PA 19380. They are held in partnership with LASP, the United Way of Chester County's Financial Stability Center, and PA CareerLink of Chester County.

To schedule a 30-minute appointment with a trained volunteer, contact Edwina at 610-429-9400, ext. 4115 or ejohnson@uwchestercounty.org.

Click flyer above for one-page PDF.

WILLOW GROVE - LASP's Community Engagement Unit will have a table to discuss civil legal issues at the free Indoor/Outdoor Community Service event Thursday, Oct. 21 from 3–6 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Crestmont, 1678 Fairview Ave., Willow Grove, PA.

Co-hosts: State Senator Art Haywood in partnership with State Rep. Ben Sanchez, Montgomery County Prothonotary Noah Marlier & First Baptist Church of Crestmont.

Masks are required indoors, regardless of vaccination status.

Services: State & local government, Legal Aid of Southeastern PA, free powers of attorney, prep-free notary services, free food & produce, first and second doses of the Pfizer and J&J COVID-19 vaccines, and third doses for immunocompromised individuals, SEPTA Key Senior Card Photos, health & wellness screenings, flu vaccines and more.

This event is free and open to all. Registration is required for COVID-19 and flu vaccines. To sign up, call Sen. Haywood’s district office at 215-242-8171. One-page PDF flyer.

EXTON - A free legal clinic will be held monthly at PA CareerLink of Chester County on the third Tuesday of every month this fall: Oct. 19, Nov. 16 and Dec. 21. Each session will be from 9 a.m.-noon at PA CareerLink, 479 Thomas Jones Way, Suite 500, Exton, PA 19380. The clinics are in partnership with LASP, the United Way of Chester County's Financial Stability Center, and PA CareerLink of Chester County.

To schedule a 30-minute appointment with a Legal Aid of Southeastern PA attorney, contact Edwina at 610-429-9400, ext. 4115 or ejohnson@uwchestercounty.org.

Click flyer at right for one-page PDF.

To support LASP's work to bring access to justice to Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties, please donate today at bit.ly/LegalAidHelps or save the date for Giving Tuesday on Nov. 2!

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.