Iowa Legal Aid was recently awarded a $17,500 grant from United Way of the Midlands. This grant was made possible through the support of metro area donors who helped United Way of the Midlands raise $32 million during the past campaign year.
The grant will support the Pottawattamie County Family and Housing Stability Project where Iowa Legal Aid provides free civil legal services for low-income individuals and families. From July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, a total of 1,084 Pottawattamie County residents, including 556 children, were served through this project. More than 440 clients and members of their household preserved their housing and avoid immediate homelessness with legal assistance during this period.
A reported 325 domestic abuse survivors, including 216 children, obtained vital information to preserve safety and an understanding of their rights and options. When necessary, clients obtained restraining orders and gained independence from their abusers.
Clients received legal assistance to stabilize their finances through applications for public and economic benefits such as unemployment insurance, Medicaid, or federal housing subsidies. Attorneys worked to restructure debt, stop garnishment of assets or income and aggressive tactics by debt collectors.
Legal assistance can be an essential step in breaking the cycle of poverty by ensuring that low-income individuals and families have access to basic needs, such as safe housing, financial stability, protection from domestic violence and access to healthcare. A successful case outcome can contribute significantly to overall economic well-being and self-sufficiency.
United Way’s support for this project demonstrates the United Way’s understanding of how important legal assistance is in stabilizing the lives of individuals and families. “I so appreciate the United Way’s ongoing support. There is no right to an attorney in civil cases and Iowa Legal Aid could not continue to provide these essential legal services to our community without the generous funding of local partners like United Way,” said Erin Planalp, Managing Attorney for Iowa Legal Aid’s Southwest Regional Office in Council Bluffs.
Additional local support for Iowa Legal Aid is provided by Wells Fargo, The Principal Foundation, Iowa West Foundation, Mutual of Omaha Foundation, Pottawattamie County Housing Trust Fund, Charles E. Lakin Foundation, The Dodge Trust, area law firms, and individual donors.
About Iowa Legal Aid:
Iowa Legal Aid, a nonprofit law firm, has helped low-income Iowans receive justice for more than 45 years. With Iowa Legal Aid’s assistance, low-income Iowans access the legal representation, advice, and support they need to resolve civil legal problems impacting their basic needs, including safe and sustainable housing, stable income, health care, and freedom from domestic violence and other abuse. These legal interventions help individuals and families move from poverty and dependency to self-sufficiency. Iowa Legal Aid’s Southwest Regional Office in Council Bluffs helps hundreds of low-income Iowans resolve critical civil legal problems every year.
The Southwest Iowa Regional Office for Iowa Legal Aid is located at 532 1st Ave., Suite 300 in Council Bluffs. Clients may come to the office, call 712-328-8265, or toll free anywhere in Iowa, 1-800-532-1503 to talk to a staff member. More information about Iowa Legal Aid can be found at iowalegalaid.org.
About United Way of the Midlands:
United Way of the Midlands (UWM) has served the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro for more than 95 years. Guided by best practices and community input, it approaches poverty in a specific way – a “united” way. With the support of volunteers, community partners, and donors, UWM invests donor dollars efficiently and effectively in our local community. These dollars fund basic needs, education, and financial stability programs at local nonprofits, creating a circle of support for people in need. Please visit unitedwaymidlands.org for more information.
