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November updates from Legal Aid

Posted November 9, 2023
3:37 pm

We provided this update on local events, community updates, and other newsworthy items to our community partners and public officials.

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Hello from Legal Aid! Legal Aid is available in person, by phone and online to meet our clients’ needs. Apply by phone at 1-888-817-3777 or online at lasclev.org. Please reach out with any questions or requests. Check out the information below specific to veterans, in addition to the usual updates! 

 Please share the following information about benefits and resources with your colleagues, clients, and communities!  

Resources for Emergency Financial, Housing, and Food Assistance! Through FindHelp, residents have access to various emergency resources spanning a wide range of needs including: Food, Cash, and Housing Assistance. Please visit their website to find specific programs in your county and how they can help you.  

 EDEN’s Mainstream Housing Choice Voucher Program. EDEN is opening its waitlist online at www.EDENcle.org/form/waitlist from 12:01 am on Noveber 13 and will close at 11:59 pm on November 15, 2023. Please note that the form must be SUBMITTED by 11:59 pm on November 15th. This Voucher Program is designed to help individuals with disabilities live independently in the community. The Mainstream Housing Choice Vouchers must be used to assist non-elderly (between the ages of 18-61) persons with disabilities and their families.  For questions, please visit the FAQ page. 

Utility Assistance in Cuyahoga County. To better serve clients with utility assistance regarding their application, program eligibility, and any other questions, CHN Housing Partners and Step Forward are now using a call center staffed by United Way of Greater Cleveland to answer client calls. They can be reached at 216-350-8008 during the hours of 8am-5pm. 

Holiday Amnesty Program for Driver’s License Suspensions. The Lorain County Child Support Enforcement Agency (LCCSEA) is sponsoring a Holiday Amnesty Program. Between November 1st and December 1st, parents that have had their driver’s license suspended due to default in Child Support Payments can have their license reinstated by paying one month’s support obligation plus $1 per case. Those interested can pay online, on the web-portal, or credit card through phone at 1-800-965-2676. For any questions, please call 440-284-4401 and select option 3.  

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Family Forum. The forum will be focused on assisting those being released from prison and their families in navigating reentry. The session will include resources and discussion on topics such as what to expect when a family member gets home, what happens prior to the release, how supervision works, and more. This will take place on November 9th, from 5-7pm, at the P2R Training and Resource Center located at 1909 North Ridge Road, Unit 6, Lorain, Ohio 44055. No prior registration required. For questions, please contact Isrom Johnson at ijohnson.p2r@gmail.com. 

 In honor of Veteran’s Day (November 11th) 

Cuyahoga Veterans Service Commission Winter Clothing Program. Offered to Cuyahoga County Veterans who demonstrate a financial need for outerwear – including winter boots, jackets, gloves, and hats – Veterans can apply now for the Cuyahoga Veterans Services Commission winter clothing program. The program is currently running and will end January 31st. For more information, please visit this link. 

Veterans Thanksgiving and Christmas Vouchers. The Ashtabula Veterans Service Commission will provide one $40 voucher per family, redeemable at Saybrook and Geneva Giant Eagles to assist with Veteran’s holiday meal. Veterans must provide a DD214 to receive the voucher. Those interested can stop by the Ashtabula Veterans Service Commission during regular business hours from 8:00am-4:30pm, between November 13 and November 17. Vouchers expire December 31st.  

The second annual Lorain County REVS22k. On any given day approximately 17 veterans commit suicide. Lorain County Veterans Service Commission presents the 2nd Annual Lorain REVS22k – A Race to End Veteran Suicide. This 2.2-mile run/walk/ruck will be held Saturday, November 11th at Ely Square Park, located across the street from Elyria City Hall. More information and registration can be found at at this link. 

Veteran Service Commissions. Every county in Ohio provides support and services to veterans through its Veteran Services Commission. These services include help with matters such as VA benefits, emergency financial assistance, access to food, transportation, and healthcare. Contact the VSC where you live to learn more about what is available. 

Check out these updates from Legal Aid 

Legal Aid in the Community: Training, Know Your Rights and Resource Fairs – Veterans edition! Legal Aid provides training to VA staff, VSC staff, SSVF programs, and other veteran providers as well as Know Your Rights presentations to veterans and other community groups on a variety of topics. Please direct requests to outreach@lasclev.org and give as much information and notice as possible. Also, if your organization is hosting a resource fair to share information with people who have low income, please consider inviting Legal Aid to attend. Send an email to outreach@lasclev.org with all of the logistical details (date, time, location, audience) providing as much of an advance in notice as possible. If we are not available in person, we can always provide materials.  

Legal Aid shares information about legal assistance online 24/7. Check out some of the materials relevant to veterans, such as: 

Free legal clinics: Q4 2023 calendar now available!  Click here for a printable bilingual flyer (PDF) of Legal Aid's upcoming FREE legal advice clinics scheduled for Fall 2023 (October, November, December). 

 Please visit the events page on our website anytime to view the current clinic schedule. 

 Upcoming Brief Advice Clinics:  

  • Tuesday, November 14th at Oberlin Community Services from 2:00-4:00pm – 500 East Lorain Street, Oberlin, Ohio 44074. Please call 440.774.6579 for an appointment. 
  • Saturday, November 18th at Cleveland Public Library, Rice Branch, from 10:00-11:00am – 11535 Shaker Blvd, Cleveland 
  • Tuesday, November 21st at Ashtabula Public Library from 2:00-4:00pm – 4335 Park Avenue, Ashtabula. Please call 440.992.2121 for an appointment.  
  • Saturday, December 9th at Cleveland Public Library, Woodland Branch, from 10:00-11:00am – 5806 Woodland Avenue, Cleveland. 

 Upcoming Legal Aid Events:  

 Wednesday, December 6th, in partnership with NAMI Lorain County , Understanding Psychiatric Advanced Directives and Supported Decision Making, at 1165 N. Ridge Rd, Lorain, Ohio 44055 at 6:30pm. This free presentation will examine the current psychiatric advanced directives framework and the overall way mental and cognitive disorders and mental health issues are dealt with in the court system. Advance registration requested at https://lasclev.org/12062023/. 

Thank you for your partnership in striving for justice throughout Northeast Ohio. As always, please reach out with any questions or ideas! 

 Sincerely,   

Anne 

Anne K. Sweeney (she/her) 

Managing Attorney for Community Engagement 

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland 

serving Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain counties 

Direct: 216.861.5242 / Main: 216.861.5500 

Email: anne.sweeney@lasclev.org 

lasclev.org 

Rights. Dignity. Justice. 

 

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