·         Iowa Legal Aid is the statewide provider of civil legal representation to low-income Iowans in all 99 counties, working out of 10 regional offices geographically dispersed throughout the state.  Staff attorneys are augmented by more than 2,500 volunteer attorneys donating nearly $1.9 million in pro bono services every year.

 

·         In 2007, Iowa Legal Aid helped nearly 19,000 families, 45,000 Iowans, 19,000 of whom were children.  In that same time 12,000 families were turned away or underserved because of inadequate resources.

 

·         For Iowans living in poverty, it is a sad reality that civil legal representation is often the only means to secure basic necessities of life, be that protection from physical abuse, avoidance of homelessness, or access to adequate healthcare.

 

·         Often those living in poverty see a single issue compound for lack of resolution.  A predatory car loan results in forfeiture of the car, which means loss of employment and ultimately eviction, all for lack of civil representation and access to justice.

 

·         Iowa Legal Aid is a sound investment for Iowa

o   Often federal dollars are brought into the state, lessening the burden on state and local resources.  Reversing unjust denials of Social Security Income/Social Security Disability Income and Medicare/Medicaid claims reduces the burden on state and local support systems.

o   Families that are protected from unjust eviction do not become a burden on cities, counties and the state in homeless shelters.

o   Providing for the safety and security of low-income families works to stabilize the workforce.

 

·         Beyond the general practice of civil representation, Iowa Legal Aid operates several specialized programs including but not limited to:

o   Hotline for Older Iowans: Provides legal advice, information and referral to Iowans over the age of 60.

o   Health and Law Project: Working in the medical community to identify and address legal issues that are the underlying cause of chronic medical conditions.

o   Equal Justice Project: Working to identify best practices of the legal community to lift victims from the cycle of domestic abuse.

o   The Iowa Returning Veterans Legal Assistance Program: Income eligibility is not an issue with the program which addresses problems often exacerbated by the long and painful interruptions of normal income or routine experienced by veterans in service to the country. Additionally some unique legal challenges posed by military service are addressed by the program.

o   Iowa Legal Aid Volunteer Lawyers Project: Unites low-income clients with private practice attorney’s willing to accept a limited number of pro-bono cases.

 

For more information about Iowa Legal Aid, and for legal resources supplied by Iowa Legal Aid, visit www.iowalegalaid.org