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Legal Aid shares regular updates with community partners

Posted May 26, 2017
12:41 pm

Legal Aid works closely with hundreds of community partners in Northeast Ohio.  Periodically, Legal Aid circulates e-news to these partners, to keep friends updated on key issues and events in the community.  Below is the information shared today with more than 1000 community partner contacts:

  • Beware of a new phone scam: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently confirmed that the HHS OIG Hotline telephone number is being used as part of a telephone spoofing scam targeting individuals throughout the country. These scammers represent themselves as HHS OIG Hotline employees and can alter the appearance of the caller ID to make it seem as if the call is coming from the HHS OIG Hotline 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477). The perpetrator may use various tactics to obtain or verify the victim’s personal information, which can then be used to steal money from an individual’s bank account or for other fraudulent activity. HHS OIG is investigating this matter and intends to have the perpetrators prosecuted.  It is important to know that HHS OIG will not use the HHS OIG Hotline telephone number to make outgoing calls and individuals should not answer calls from 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477). We encourage the public to remain vigilant, protect their personal information, and guard against providing personal information during calls that purport to be from the HHS OIG Hotline telephone number. We also remind the public that it is still safe to call into the HHS OIG Hotline to report fraud.  We particularly encourage those who believe they may have been a victim of the telephone spoofing scam to report that information to us through the HHS OIG Hotline 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or spoof@oig.hhs.gov. Individuals may also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).  More information can also be found at the consumer alert website: https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/consumer-alerts/alerts/phone-scam.asp
  • Lead poisoning lawsuit. The City of Cleveland can be a leader to prevent lead poisoning of children.  Cleveland Legal Aid recently filed a lawsuit against the City, Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson, and Cleveland Director of Public Health Merle Gordon on behalf of a toddler who has been poisoned by lead.  Legal Aid believes the City is capable of protecting Cleveland’s children and can be a leader to prevent lead poisoning of children.  Legal Aid believes the City can and must ensure that families are aware of which homes are toxic.  The suit seeks to require City Officials to enforce existing laws to protect children and families.  The complaint filed in Ohio’s Eight District court of Appeals can be read here.   Legal Aid highlights in the complaint the failure of the City to protect this toddler as it is required by law.  For more information, see https://lasclev.org/05182017/.  See below for information on help available.
  • Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry 5th Annual Community Public Meeting. The public meeting sponsored by the Office of Reentry will be held Friday, June 2 at the Cleveland Foodbank (15500 S. Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, 44110) from 8:30 am – 11:30 am.  The Keynote speaker is Mr. Mike Davis, Chief of The Office of Reentry and Enterprise Development for Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.  Details can be found on the flyer available here along with a link to RSVP for the meeting. 
  • Lead poisoning cases and referrals. Families with children who have been found to have elevated levels of lead in their blood should call Legal Aid’s intake line at 1-888-817-3777.  Low-income households in need of financial assistance with home repairs to remediate lead can apply to Community Housing Solutions for funding.  The household must include a child age 5 or under or a pregnant woman. To start the application, call 216-651-0077. In addition, tenants where there is lead poisoning in the home can apply for PRC through Cuyahoga County Jobs and Family Services. The household must include one minor child, or a pregnant person, or a non-custodial parent of a child. To apply, call 216-416-4440.  Additional information is available at https://lasclev.org/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-lead-poisoning/.
  • Community Revitalization Project: Legal Aid has begun a new initiative: The Greater Cleveland Community Revitalization Project. Through this Project, Legal Aid will work with community members and other organizations to transform neighborhoods. Legal Aid will build partnerships, provide legal assistance, engage in community education and outreach, and advocate on systemic issues identified by local leaders.  The Project seeks to ensure that people with low-income live in strong, supportive neighborhoods; have safe, stable housing; have access to credit; and are able to qualify for available employment.  In the first year, this Project will focus on four Cleveland neighborhoods:  Kinsman, Central, Hough, and Broadway/Slavic Village.  Anyone interested in learning more about this work should contact Anne Sweeney at sweeney@lasclev.org.
  • JRAP Brief Advice Clinic. Free brief advice and legal clinic for all CMHA residents and recipients of Section 8 vouchers through CMHA to be held on Tuesday, June 20 from 2-4 pm at CMHA’s Woodhill Community Center, 2491 Baldwin Road, Cleveland, OH 44104.  Legal Aid staff will be available to provide brief advice on civil legal matters related to record sealing, housing, employment, education, family, and health.  Attendees should bring all important papers with them.

 

Questions?  Contact Anne Sweeney, Managing Attorney for Community Engagement, at anne.sweeney@lasclev.org.

 

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