Minnesota Quietly Turning its Back to Thousands of Families in Crisis; Legal Aid Report Illustrates Hole in the Safety Net

As policy makers focus intently on balancing the State budget, a new Legal Services Advocacy Project report illustrates the unintended consequences of sharp cuts made to emergency services for the poor during the 2003 budget shortfall.

The report "A Hole in Minnesota’s Safety Net" shows staggering increases in emergency demands statewide in the wake of the Legislature’s 2003 decision to eliminate the dedicated State funded emergency assistance program (EA) serving 25,000 families each year. The program helped low-income families solve short-term financial crises and avoid homelessness, but the forecasted funding was eliminated and the state gave counties a reduced amount of discretionary funds in its place. More than 4,700 families facing financial emergencies in 2006 did not receive the help they would have prior to the state’s elimination of EA.

“This year, the State’s families have endured floods, mortgage foreclosures, job loss, and health crises without insurance,” said Jessica Webster, policy advocate with Legal Aid. “Where our State once stepped in to help families solve short-term crises and avoid homelessness, our counties are now forced to turn their backs and shunt increasing numbers of families to homeless shelters, food shelves, churches and nonprofits that are unable to meet the surge in demand.” Read more.

Kathy Wingen Selected for Bernard Becker Award from Minnesota State Bar Association

Kathy Wingen, Central Minnesota Legal Services' Volunteer Attorney Coordinator for the St. Cloud Volunteer Attorney Program, will receive the Minnesota State Bar Association's prestigious Bernard Becker Award. Kathy started with St. Cloud Area Legal Services as an outreach coordinator for an SSI project and assumed her current position with the VAP program in 1993. For 2007 Kathy successfully referred 290 cases to volunteer attorneys, up from the 235 referrals in 2006 and the 223 referrals prior.

This steady escalation of referrals is due in large part to Kathy and other staff on the VAP team, who focus on both the unmet critical legal needs of clients and by creating new volunteer opportunities to meet them. Congratulations, Kathy!

Eviction Defense Manual and Answers Updated; Unreported Cases Needed

Larry McDonough, Housing Managing Attorney at Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis, has completed the 10th Edition of his Eviction Defense Manual – Residential Unlawful Detainer and Eviction Defense. Also updated were Eviction Answers and Motions for Dismissal or Summary Judgment. All the Eviction Defense materials can be accessed on the ProJusticeMN.org website.

The Eviction Defense materials also include numerous unreported decisions. Larry needs recent unreported decisions to bring these up-to-date, especially those from the past 5 years. Please fax decisions to Larry's attention at (612) 827-7890. He can also be reached at lrmcdonough@midmnlegal.org.

Economic Stimulus Payments Alert and Information Available on LawHelpMN.org

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has declared March 29 "Super Saturday" and will provide extra volunteers at IRS TACs (walk-in sites) specifically to assist people with SSA and VA income in completing the 2007 income tax returns needed to qualify for the upcoming Economic Stimulus rebates. The IRS is also working with AARP to increase the number of volunteers at AARP sites. The IRS will release a promotional DVD or CD to VA hospitals, nursing homes, and cable TV stations telling people what they need to do. This information will be provided in English and Spanish only.

A new fact sheet from the Community Legal Education Program of MMLA titled "Tax Rebate Checks" explains the economic stimulus rebates and is now available in English on LawHelpMN.org, along with other information about the recovery rebates. The new fact sheet is currently being translated into Spanish, Hmong, and Somali as well. Read more.

South Jersey Legal Services Forms Medical-Legal Partnership

South Jersey Legal Services (SJLS) has formed a medical-legal partnership to help low-income families appeal denials of Supplemental Security Income for their disabled children.

Eligible clients seeking assistance from SJLS will be referred to pro bono attorneys trained by SJLS, who will receive assistance from Rutgers law students. Medical students supervised by physicians at Cooper University Hospital will review the clients' medical records. Read more.

-Noteworthy-



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