Posted May 23, 20179:19 pm
This morning the White House released its full FY 2018 Budget, which expands on the budget released by the Office of Management and Budget in March. The President’s budget eliminates funding for the Legal Services Corporation. The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) provides 28% of The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland’s budget. The LSC is among 19 agencies named for total elimination of funding.
The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland is prohibited from lobbying and hence cannot participate in the public debate over the President’s budget. But, Northeast Ohio can be proud that there is strong, bipartisan support for civil legal aid from the courts, the business community, faith leaders and the legal community. Civil legal aid has long enjoyed broad bipartisan support for a reason: Americans believe in justice for all, not just for those who can afford it.
As demonstrated by the great outcomes from The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, civil legal aid is a good investment. Last year, Legal Aid impacted 18,000 people through more than 7500 cases in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Lorain counties. In 2016 alone, Legal Aid secured nearly $16 million for low-income clients by increasing assets and income and reducing debt.
The investment of the LSC in Cleveland’s Legal Aid leverages an additional $6 million in private funds and other grants to promote civil justice through Legal Aid’s budget. Cleveland Legal Aid – now 112 years old – secures shelter, ensures health and safety, and increases economic security for low-income people in Northeast Ohio.
Additionally, state studies from across the U.S. show that providing civil legal services saves millions of dollars in homeless shelter costs, domestic violence, medical and mental health expenses, and social services. The federal contribution to civil legal aid allows millions of Americans to safeguard their basic legal rights.
“Under the President’s proposal, Cleveland Legal Aid will be forced to serve fewer clients,” said Colleen M. Cotter, Esq., Executive Director of The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. “We will lose the capacity to handle 25% of our cases. That translates to 1,800 cases Legal Aid cannot handle; 4,500 people for whom justice will be out of reach.”
LSC is the single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans in the nation. Established in 1974, LSC distributes funding to 133 independent nonprofit legal aid programs with more than 800 offices across the United States. LSC assures fairness for all in the justice system, regardless of income. It provides access to legal help for people to protect their livelihoods, their health, and their families.
Media and interview inquires can be directed to Melanie Shakarian, Esq. – Legal Aid’s Director of Development & Communications: 216-215-0074 (cell), melanie.shakarian@lasclev.org, or private message via Twitter @LegalAidCLE.