2010-2011 - Legal Aid of Southeast Pennsylvania

Annual
Report
Ten Years of
Working
for Justice
&
Changing
Lives
Fiscal Year
2010-2011
MISSION
Legal Aid of Southeastern PA provides quality legal representation
to low-income and vulnerable people in Bucks, Chester, Delaware
and Montgomery Counties, to empower them to solve problems
without legal representation through legal education and increased
access to the courts, and to change community practices and systems
that cause or aggravate poverty.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2012
John F. McKenna, Esq.
president
Chester County
Ronald R. Bolig, Esq.
vice president
Bucks County
Donald J. Weiss, Esq.
treasurer
Delaware County
Mark C. Schultz, Esq.
secretary
Montgomery County
BUCKS COUNTY
Judith A. Algeo, Esq.
Dean P. Arthur, Esq.
Ronald R. Bolig, Esq.
Mary C. Eberle, Esq.
Georgeann R. Fusco, Esq.
Meg Groff, Esq.
Ruth Ellen Irish
Laura Long
Ruth Szafranski
CHESTER COUNTY
Robert F. Adams, Esq.
Reginald J. Doherty
William J. Gallagher, Esq.
John F. McKenna, Esq.
Kim Denise Morton, Esq.
Robert M. Mulhern, Jr., Esq.
Catherine H. Voit, Esq.
DELAWARE COUNTY
William L. Baldwin, Esq.
Donna M. Cantor, Esq.
Robert DeLong, Jr., Esq.
Kathleen Fontaine
Kathryn A. Meloni, Esq.
Ruth Minor
Anna-Marie Murphy, Esq.
Donald J. Weiss, Esq.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Richard L. Cantor, Esq.
Mark A. Kearney, Esq.
Joseph P. Lynch, Esq.
Melissa Paris
Nancy R. Paul
Catherine Savage
Mark C. Schultz, Esq.
Cheryl Young, Esq.
Ten years ago, four county legal aid programs came together and
formed Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (LASP). The merger
was not an easy process and many board members, staff and supporters worried about the final result. Would LASP be responsive to local
needs and concerns? Would it be able to retain close ties to the local
bar associations and collaborations with local agencies? Could it hold
on to local funding and pro bono resources? Could a regional program
be successful in providing critical legal services to low income residents
of four counties?
Ten years later, we pause to answer these questions with a resounding YES! The LASP of today is a strong, vibrant organization actively
engaged in each of the counties it serves. Not only has it maintained its
relationships with local service agencies, bar associations and funders, it
has built upon these to become an even more visible and effective advocate for low income clients and communities. Recently it completed a
comprehensive legal needs assessment, revised its priorities and adopted
a new strategic plan taking it through 2014. Despite the economic
challenges we face, LASP is here to stay.
Of course, we could not have been so successful without the help of
many individuals and institutions in the region and we are grateful for
all the support we have received. Together, we look forward to working
for justice and changing lives for the next ten years and beyond.
elizabeth wood fritsch, esq.
harvey f. strauss, esq.
co-executive directors
legal aid of southeastern pennsylvania
1
legal aid of southeastern pa
CLIENTS & CASES
THIS
YEAR...
73%
37%
18%
17,000+
12,048
227
of our cases helped female clients.
of our cases helped clients who were members
of racial or ethnic minority groups.
of our cases helped clients aged 60 and older.
phone calls were handled by our helpline staff.
legal cases were handled total.
attorneys volunteered 6,486 hours of time,
providing legal services valued at $972,900.
CASES HANDLED IN 2010-2011 BY CATEGORY
child custody
juvenile
other
consumer &
bankruptcy
mortgage
foreclosure
& lending
employment
protection
from abuse
2
health benefits &
income maintenance
other housing
annual report 2010-2011
ONE CLIENT'S STORY
LASP MADE SURE HE HAD ENOUGH TO EAT.
Mr. S* is an older man living on
a very limited income who suffers
from cancer in addition to a long
list of complex medical problems.
With all of his extra income going
to cover medical co-payments and
with only $16 a month in food
stamps, he simply couldn’t afford to
buy nutritious food and often went
hungry, further compromising
his health.
Working with a LASP
advocate, Mr. S was able to
effectively document his
medical costs to the County Assistance Office. As a result his food stamps
were increased to $106 each month, enabling him to buy adequate and
healthful food.
*no actual client names or photographs are used in this report.
3
legal aid of southeastern pa
TRENDS & HIGHLIGHTS
HELPING TO KEEP HEAT AND ELECTRIC SERVICE ON
Loss of electricity or heat can adversely affect health and nutrition. It
can also contribute to fire hazards when cooking stoves and space heaters take the place of central heating. According to the Pennsylvania
Utilities Commission’s annual Cold Weather survey, more than 2700
households in PECO’s service area were without a central heating
source due to termination of service in 2011.
Legal Aid helped 111 clients and their family members in 2010-2011
to prevent or end utility termination. Advocates helped clients to
obtain utility assistance through government programs and corrected
client payment records to preserve utility access. In addition to Legal
Aid’s general funders, special grants from The Patricia Kind Family
Foundation and the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation
as well as the federally funded Homeless Prevention Rapid Rehousing
Program helped to support this important work.
OFFERING A SECOND CHANCE
Records of arrest for criminal offenses, minor or serious, can remain
on the books for decades, despite no finding of guilt. These records can
create barriers to employment, the obtaining of professional licenses,
housing and a host of other problems. The expungement process can
erase old records and Legal Aid attorneys have a significant success rate
in helping individuals to clear their names through this process.
In 2010-11, with Legal Aid's help, 109 clients succeeded in having
criminal arrest records expunged, offering them the chance for a
fresh start.
4
annual report 2010-2011
ONE CLIENT'S STORY
LASP HELPED HIM GET MUCH-NEEDED DISABILITY BENEFITS.
Mr. L* suffers from sickle cell
anemia. As a child with a
disability, he collected Social
Security benefits. But when he
turned 18, he received a notice
that he was no longer disabled and
his benefits ended. By the time
his mother approached LASP for
help, the time to appeal had passed.
After applying for, and receiving,
permission from the Social
Security Administration to file
a late appeal, LASP successfully
proved Mr. L’s continuing
disability with medical records,
including documentation of recent hospitalizations. With restoration of
Mr. L’s benefits, his family now receives the monthly income they need to
provide food, shelter and medical care for their son.
*no actual client names or photographs are used in this report.
5
legal aid of southeastern pa
ONE CLIENT'S STORY
LASP HELPED THEM OUT FROM UNDER CRUSHING DEBT.
Mr. And Mrs. H* had a familyowned home building business for
three decades. Their most recent
project was on land on which
Mr. H’s childhood home had been
located. After the recession began,
they were unable to sell the house
as anticipated. This eventually led
to foreclosure and, ultimately, the
failure of their business. Left with
only Social Security income, Legal
Aid helped the couple through a
bankruptcy to get them out from
under crushing debt. They wrote in a thank you note to their Legal Aid attorney:
“Thank you so much for all your help to bring us to a point that we can
actually feel as if we can hold our heads up and begin to get our selfesteem back. Your compassion and wise counsel and patient spirit were
so inspirational to us. We have learned from our mistakes, but, most
assuredly we have been healed by your selfless efforts to restore our faith
and hope. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
*no actual client names or photographs are used in this report.
6
annual report 2010-2011
TRENDS & HIGHLIGHTS
WORKING TO END INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE
The first National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey
published in 2011 reveals the alarming magnitude of domestic violence,
sexual assault, stalking and dating violence in America. Among states,
Pennsylvania tied for 15th place for women, and ranked 25th place for
men, in the lifetime prevalence of rape, physical violence and/or stalking
by an intimate partner.
Legal Aid helps victims of intimate partner violence to obtain
Protection from Abuse legal orders protecting themselves and their
dependents. In 2010-2011, Legal Aid staff and volunteer attorneys
handled 1461 Protection from Abuse legal cases for victims and their
family members.
INDEPENDENT OLDER YEARS
Nearly one in five Legal Aid clients is aged 60 or older. While older
adult clients face many of the same issues as Legal Aid’s other clients,
these problems are worsened because of very low fixed incomes,
inadequate retirement savings, poor health and high medical expenses
leading to debt and financial vulnerability. Older adults also have
unique legal needs as they negotiate living arrangements, nursing home
and institutional care, and make end of life decisions. In 2010-2011,
Legal Aid attorneys helped 252 older adult clients in need of help
drafting advance directives or establishing a durable power of attorney.
This work is supported through contracts with Area Agencies on
Aging in our four counties of service as well as grants from the
Greentree Community Health Foundation and the Pew Fund for
Health and Human Services.
7
legal aid of southeastern pa
FUNDER OBSERVATIONS
LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION PAYS LASP A VISIT.
Here are a few findings made by a Legal Services
Corporation (LSC) monitoring team (LSC is a major funder of
LASP), which performed a program audit in October 2011:
8
•
“LASP has a superior centralized intake unit (helpline)
that is an excellent entrance to the program’s services
and has resulted in improved client access”
•
“The program has a dedicated staff that provides the
client eligible population in the service area with
extensive access to quality legal services.”
•
“The program and its staff are well respected by the
judiciary and social service community throughout its
service area”
•
“LASP is very engaged with the client community…
Staff members routinely conduct outreach to
vulnerable populations including the homeless,
residents of mobile home parks, seniors, disabled
persons, veterans, ex-offenders, persons needing
expungements and domestic violence victims,
among others.”
annual report 2010-2011
10 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Excellence Awards honor
members and friends of the legal aid community who exemplify excellence in
their commitments and accomplishments as advocates for low-income people.
Legal Aid has been well-represented over the past ten years.
2003
Nanci A. Hoover, Esq., managing attorney at Legal Aid of Southeastern
PA’s regional centralized telephone intake, brief service and referral unit for
creating a unit that produces easy access and high quality services for clients.
2007
Catherine Herman, Fiscal Manager for Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania and Evelyn Pankey, Administrative Coordinator of Community Legal
Service together demonstrate the crucial importance of fiscal and administrative
employees to the mission of the legal aid community.
2008
John F. McKenna, Esq., MacElree and Harvey; Board of Directors, Legal
Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, West Chester, PA, for exemplary Board
support for Legal Services.
2009
Elizabeth C. Price, Executive Director, Delaware County Bar Association
and Chair, Board of Director, Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, for a
career of supporting Legal Services regionally and across the state.
2011
Karen Tyler, paralegal, Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware
County Division for service to older adults and clients in the City of Chester
and throughout the county.
2012
Suzanne Noble, Esq., staff attorney for Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware County Division, for ground-breaking family law work and
mentoring of young legal professionals.
9
legal aid of southeastern pa
WITH SINCERE THANKS
2010-11 BUSINESS, FOUNDATION & INSTITUTIONAL FUNDERS
Government Grants and Contracts
Bucks Co. Area Agency on Aging
Bucks Co. Children and Youth
Social Services Agency
Bucks Co. Commissioners
Bucks Co. Dept. of
Community and Business Development
Chester Co. Dept. of Aging Services
Chester Co. Dept. of Community Development
Delaware Co. Office of
Housing and Community Development
Delaware Co. Office of Services to the Aging
Legal Services Corporation
Montgomery Co. Commissioners
Montgomery Co. Dept. of
Housing and Community Development
Montgomery Co. Office of
Aging and Adult Services
Pennsylvania Dept. of
Community and Economic Development
Pennsylvania Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Charitable Foundations & Trusts
1675 Foundation
Bucks Co. Foundation
E Wallace Chadwick Memorial Fund
Cozen O'Connor Foundation
Equal Justice America
Golden Family Foundation
Green Tree Community Health Foundation
Independence Foundation
Montgomery Co. Foundation
OMG Capacity Program for the Pew Fund
The Patricia Kind Family Foundation
The Philadelphia Foundation
Pew Fund for Health and Human Services
Taylor Community Foundation
Collaborative Grants
Bucks Co. STOP Grant
(Collaboration w/NOVA and A Woman's Place)
Pottstown Health and Wellness Foundation
(Partnership w/VNA Community Services)
10
Business, Corporate,
Service, Religious & Others
Absorption Systems LP
Aetna
Both is Better LLC
Chester Co. Paralegal Assn.
Citadel Federal Credit Union
Eastern District Bankruptcy Conference
First National Bank Of Chester Co.
First Presbyterian Church Of West Chester
Flexible Benefits Plan
Goodsearch
Graystone Tower Bank
Heart of Europe Tours
Helping Through Hoops
Joyce Miller & Associates
Kiwanis Club Of Lansdale
McAdam Financial Group
Merck Company Foundation
MOVAD
National Penn Bank
Peace a Pizza
Royal Maccabees Settlement Fund
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
Soroptimist International Doylestown
Summerwood Corporation
United Way of Bucks Co.
United Way of Chester Co.
United Way of Delaware
United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania
United Way Of Southern Chester Co.
Univest National Bank & Trust Co.
WSFS Bank
Bar Associations & Foundations
Bucks Co. Bar Association
Chester Co. Bar Association
Chester Co. Bar Foundation
Delaware Co. Bar Association
Delaware Co. Bar Foundation
Montgomery Bar Association
Montgomery Bar Foundation
annual report 2010-2011
DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS
For a
complete
listing of
donors and
volunteers...
LASP.ORG/ANNUAL-REPORT
You'll find more thanks online to the
individual donors, volunteer attorneys
and law firms who have helped those
who call or come through our doors.
VISIT US
ONLINE
lasp.org
LASP.ORG/HOW-YOU-CAN-HELP
Join the Legal Aid supporters who
make a difference in their community.
Go online to learn about donating your
time, or make a financial contribution.
To support
Legal Aid
and help
neighbors
in need...
legal aid of southeastern pa
JULY 2010 to JUNE 2011
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION1
REVENUE
Government Funding$ 3,698,403
Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts
(IOLTA)$ 275,766
Foundations & Corporations
$ 231,345
Annual Donor Appeals
$ 148,905
Bar Associations & Foundations
$ 83,620
United Ways$ 51,416
Other Funding Sources
$ 138,056
Total Funding$ 4,627,511
EXPENSES
Salaries$ 3,107,047
Employee Benefits$ 904,038
Consultants & Contract Services
$ 67,019
Travel$ 34,316
Space Costs$ 277,079
Consumables$ 44,966
Equipment Rental & Maintenance
$ 95,192
Other Expenses$ 214,741
Total Expenses$ 4,744,398
Change in Net Assets: ($116,887)
In-Kind Resources: $1,227,600
• Donated Attorney Services (6,400 hours @ $150/hour)
$222,000
• Other Donated Services (3,700 hours @ $60/hour)
$222,000
• Donated Office Space
$45,600
1
12
Figures based on audited financial statement for FY 2011.
annual report 2010-2011
FOR MORE INFORMATION
go online
Visit lasp.org to learn more about our
organization and to find helpful legal news and
resources. Visit dontborrowtroublesepa.org
for information about mortgage foreclosure
and predatory lending.
call us
OUR TOLL-FREE HELPLINE
For legal help, call 1-877-429-5994.
Helpline hours are 9am - 1pm,
Monday through Friday.
DON’T BORROW TROUBLE
For help with predatory lending
and mortgage foreclosure,
call 1-888-275-8843.
Helpline hours are 9am - 1pm,
Monday through Thursday.
locations
BUCKS CO.
1290 Veterans Highway
Box 809
Bristol, PA 19007
215-781-1111
108 N. Main Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
215-340-1818
CHESTER CO.
222 N. Walnut Street
West Chester, PA 19380
610-436-4510
DELAWARE CO.
410 Welsh Street
Chester, PA 19013
610-874-8421
MONTGOMERY CO.
625 Swede Street
Norristown, PA 19401
610-275-5400
248 King Street
Pottstown, PA 19464
610-326-8280
13
annual report 2010-2011
www.lasp.org
625 Swede Street
Norristown, PA 19401
administration
1290 Veterans Highway
Box 809
Bristol, PA 19007
PERMIT NO. 436
LEVITTOWN, PA 19055
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
NON-PROFIT