A Strong Foundation for a Brighter Future - LawHelp.org
A Strong Foundation for a Brighter Future - LawHelp.org
A Strong Foundation for a Brighter Future - LawHelp.org
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prIMary areas of practIce<br />
Family Law<br />
The greatest demand <strong>for</strong> civil legal services from Iowa Legal Aid is in the area of family law. Domestic<br />
violence survivors and their children have priority <strong>for</strong> representation in protection orders, dissolution,<br />
custody and support proceedings. Abuse permeates every aspect of victims’ lives including employment,<br />
housing, health and education. Iowa Legal Aid is committed to providing all the comprehensive services<br />
our resources allow to respond to the heightened needs of survivors.<br />
Housing<br />
The home is recognized as a family’s place of safety and security – a cherished possession in America.<br />
Availability of safe, decent, accessible and af<strong>for</strong>dable housing is a benchmark of a just society. However,<br />
every day, low-income Iowa families are destabilized by unsafe housing, illegal evictions, discrimination,<br />
utility shut-offs and <strong>for</strong>eclosure. Iowa Legal Aid works diligently to preserve housing, prevent<br />
homelessness and protect the interests of vulnerable people against unfair housing practices.<br />
Consumer Protection<br />
Iowa Legal Aid works <strong>for</strong> fairness <strong>for</strong> Iowans who have become the victims of unfair and abusive loan<br />
practices. It does so by defending against illegal loans, challenging unconscionable contract provisions<br />
and holding accountable predatory lenders.<br />
Income Maintenance<br />
Iowa Legal Aid provides a range of services to help ensure that clients receive the income supports they<br />
need and are available to them under federal, state and local laws. Advocates ensure that low-income<br />
Iowans are fairly represented in situations where their benefits are improperly denied or discontinued.<br />
Health<br />
It is a priority <strong>for</strong> Iowa Legal Aid to secure or maintain access to health care <strong>for</strong> low-income Iowans. To<br />
that end, legal aid advocates represent individuals in administrative proceedings, state and federal court<br />
and other human service settings to assert the basic right of access to quality, attentive and reliable health<br />
care. Additionally, Iowa Legal Aid assists numerous clients with preparing advance directives to allow<br />
low-income people to have personal involvement in decisions about care at the end of life.<br />
ways Iowa LegaL aId Leverages addItIonaL assIstance to cLIents<br />
Volunteer Lawyers Projects<br />
Volunteer Lawyers Projects work with lawyers in all 99 counties who will take pro bono cases. Volunteer<br />
Lawyers Projects operated by Iowa Legal Aid (serving 97 counties), the Polk County Bar Association<br />
(serving Polk County) and the Scott County Bar Association (serving Scott County) have over 2,700<br />
attorneys throughout the state providing free legal assistance to low-income people. In 2005, volunteer<br />
lawyers donated time valued at nearly $1.9 million to help meet the needs of Iowans who would<br />
otherwise be without access to counsel.<br />
Using the Internet in Working <strong>for</strong> Fairness<br />
Iowa Legal Aid continues to expand the resources available to clients on the Iowa Legal Aid Website at<br />
iowalegalaid.<strong>org</strong>. A major expansion of the website was introduced with the launch of probono.net/iowa,<br />
providing services to attorneys and other professionals assisting clients through volunteer lawyers projects<br />
and other advocacy <strong>org</strong>anizations.<br />
Iowa Legal Aid is Working <strong>for</strong> Fairness 5
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