November 2024 Pursuing Justice Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE:

Veterans Outreach: Serving Those Who Served

By Anna Lynch, LASCO Veteran Outreach Attorney

As a veterans-focused attorney, it’s been my privilege to be a part of LASCO's ongoing commitment to supporting those who have served our country. Over the past year, we have expanded and strengthened our efforts to provide essential civil legal services to low-income veterans and veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness across our 36-county service area. In 2023, we served nearly 1,000 veterans, and we're on track to exceed that number in 2024.

Thanks to grant funding, we can help ensure veterans receive the full scope of support they deserve. This includes legal representation for housing, family law, and income support. We also provide help with Veterans Affairs benefits claims and discharge upgrades, which are requests to the military to change a veteran’s discharge type to a more favorable one in order to improve access to benefits.

One such client, Rhonda*, faced an especially difficult situation. Rhonda, whose daughter and six grandchildren lived with her, received an eviction notice. Legal Aid negotiated a settlement with her landlord, but it fell through after an issue with her rental assistance application. Rhonda and her family were forced out of their home and moved into a motel. Her attorney Nathan Crowell and LASCO social worker Chris Kelly worked to secure housing voucher extensions and provided ongoing support for 10 months while the family was homeless. She credits Legal Aid with helping her find a new home. "Everyone else was giving us the run-around. [Nathan] hung in there. If it wasn't for him, I don't know what would have happened."

I’ve been pleased to connect with partners like Supportive Services for Veteran Families grantees and county level Veterans Service Commissions and volunteers at our pro bono legal clinics in Columbus, Chillicothe, and Newark.

As we build on this momentum, we remain steadfast in our commitment to serving veterans. Through innovative partnerships, robust outreach, and comprehensive legal services, we are honored to support those who have bravely served our nation. To all our veteran clients and partners, thank you for your service and trust in our mission.

If you would like to learn more about how you can contribute to our veterans pro bono program, please contact our pro bono team at probono@lasco.org.

*Name changed to protect client privacy.

Introducing the 25-in-’25 Pro Bono Challenge!

We can’t accomplish our mission alone. That’s why we’re excited to announce our 25-in-’25 Pro Bono Challenge, a call to action for firms and individuals to pledge 25 hours of pro bono work in 2025! The goal of the Challenge is simple: to increase pro bono participation so that more people can receive life-changing legal help.

Ready to accept the Challenge? Just email probono@lasco.org! For details on the 25-in-’25 Challenge, including how you can get your firm involved, visit lasco.org/25in25.

“Journey Toward Justice” in the Books!

Pictured with their awards are [left to right] Humphrey Kweminyi (Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter), Larsa Ramsini (representing JPMorganChase), Barry Kiser (Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP), Anna Sanyal (Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease), Eric Henricks (Nationwide Insurance), and Barry Wolinetz (Wolinetz, Horvath and Brown). For more on each of this year's winners, visit lasco.org/ProBonoExcellence!

To see more photos from Journey Toward Justice—including our onsite photobooth—check out our Facebook photo album!

Development Digest

Supporter Spotlight—John Boyer

With Veterans Day just behind us, LASCO would like to recognize the contributions and support of John Boyer, LASCO Board Member, recurring Legal Aid contributor, and a veteran who served four years on active duty with the 101st Airborne Division.

“I support Legal Aid with my recurring contributions through my employer, Nationwide, and my long-term board engagement because Legal Aid prevents homelessness by saving families from eviction, helps people rise out of poverty by getting them the benefits they deserve, and helps those who need it most, including thousands of low-income seniors, veterans, and children every year.

Legal Aid is important to our community because the strong legal advice and representation of Legal Aid is essential for those who are the most vulnerable to receive the justice they deserve.”

Nationwide is one of many employers that have recurring donation options as well as generous match programs. If you are interested in learning more about yours, contact your HR department or reach out to Melissa at mlinville@lasco.org with questions.

Connecting with Pro Bono

Opportunities to Help Out

For a complete listing of ways to get involved, check out our Volunteer Resources page.

Scioto County “Fresh Start Friday” Clinic – November 22

Legal Aid staff are holding legal clinics throughout Southeast Ohio to help clients with record sealing and expungement applications. Register here if you’d like to volunteer to help out with our last 2024 expungement clinic, which will be in Scioto County!

When:

Friday, November 22, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Where:

Scioto County Welcome Center

342 Second St., Portsmouth, Ohio 45662

Wills Clinic at Morgan County Senior Center – December 6

Volunteer lawyers and paralegals will be offering simple wills, powers of attorney, living wills, and transfer on death affidavits to seniors and low-income individuals. Legal Aid staff will be onsite to conduct intake, fill out client questionnaires for drop-in clients, proofread forms, and answer questions. Training and templates are available to all volunteers. LASCO will also supply laptops and forms templates for those who need them. Register to volunteer here.

When:

Friday, December 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Where:

Morgan County Senior Center

10 W. Main St., McConnelsville, Ohio 43756

Visit Our New Website!

LASCO's Draft 2025 PAI Plan

Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO) is committed to engaging volunteers to help us in our mission to provide civil legal aid and advocacy to overcome unfairness and injustice to reduce poverty and increase opportunity. Each year, LASCO must assemble a “Private Attorney Involvement” (PAI) Plan, which summarizes its priorities and methods that focus on the engagement of volunteers. Read the draft plan to learn more about how LASCO will pursue justice and change lives in 2025. To leave feedback on the proposed draft, email probono@lasco.org.

Legal Aid's Kate McGarvey Will Participate in Forum on Rising Eviction Rates

On December 4 at the Columbus Metropolitan Club, LASCO Executive Director Kate McGarvey will be part of a forum discussing rising eviction rates in Franklin County. The panel—moderated by Columbus Dispatch reporter Danae King—will also feature Columbus City Council Member Shayla D. Favor and Director of Legal Research and Franklin County Municipal Court Magistrate Gene Edwards.

For more information, or to register to attend, click here.

Special CBJ Ticket Deal for Volunteers!

As a thank you to volunteers, the Columbus Blue Jackets are offering a buy one, get one deal for tickets to their November 23 game against the Carolina Hurricanes and their February 6 game against the Utah Hockey Club! For details, check out bluejackets.com/Volunteers.

Legal Aid in the News

ACRMC celebrates successful Aging Better Expo

People’s Defender (Oct. 18, 2024)

Heinrich promoted to Managing Attorney of Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio

The Athens Messenger (Oct. 29, 2024)

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