Posted September 27, 20199:47 am
Dear Community Partner: Please see important information about the following topics in the message below –
- Legal Aid will host a Brief Advice Clinic at the Nord Center in Lorain
- Proposed legislation would establish a right to counsel for some tenants facing eviction in Cleveland
- Public Hearings regarding Utility shut-offs by Cleveland Public Power
- Women in Transition program through Tri-C is seeking students
- The Ohio Benefits telephone system has been modified
- September is Kinship Care Month! Celebrate with ODJFS and their new kinship website
- Ohio Driver’s License Reinstatement Fee Amnesty Initiative will restart
Questions? Contact Anne Sweeney, Managing Attorney for Community Engagement, at anne.sweeney@lasclev.org
Legal Aid Updates:
Legal Aid will host a Brief Advice Clinic at the Nord Center in Lorain. Visit the Nord Center at 6140 South Broadway on October 10th from 2-3:30pm for first come, first served free civil legal advice for low-income individuals. Bring all relevant paperwork with you. For a list of all our Brief Advice Clinics, click here.
Cleveland City Council has introduced legislation that would establish a right to counsel for some tenants facing eviction. As drafted, only families with children whose income is at or below 100% of the federal poverty guidelines would be entitled to a lawyer. If passed, Cleveland will be among the first cities (along with New York, Washington D.C, and San Francisco) to adopt this type of legislation! Read more about The Housing Justice Alliance and the legislation here.
Local Updates:
NEOCH and the End Poverty Now Coalition will be sponsoring Public Hearings regarding Utility shut-offs by Cleveland Public Power. Attend the next Public Hearing on Thursday, October 10, 2019 at 6pm at St. Paul’s Community Church at 4427 Franklin Blvd. For more information, call NEOCH at 216.432.0540.
The Women in Transition program through Tri-C is seeking students! The program is a free, non-credit, 8-week course designed to help women develop a personalized academic plan and a focus on their professional development. Participants receive guidance in soft-skills, life management skills and future career exploration. Upon completion, participants will be aware of workforce options, have a better understanding of what to expect as students, be equipped with the tools to begin their education and be informed of financial aid options. For more information about the program, click here or call your local campus. To pre-register, click here.
The Ohio Benefits telephone system has been modified. Now, when customers receive call backs from Ohio Benefits, the caller ID reads "State of Ohio" rather than a random number. Please encourage Job and Family Services customers to answer these phone calls as the call may be a follow up eligibility interview or a request for information to help complete a benefit application. If you are working with a consumer who, because of a disability, is having difficulty accessing public benefits such as food stamps and Medicaid, please contact either Attorney Jennifer Kinsley at 216.861.5443 or Attorney Deborah Dallmann at 216.861.5942. The ADA requires agencies make reasonable modification to programs and services for those with disabilities.
Ohio Updates:
September is Kinship Care Month! To kick it off, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) has announced a new website with resources for grandparents and other relatives caring for children. Current and prospective kinship caregivers can visit the website for answer to frequently asked questions, use an interactive map to find local services, view a calendar of events and trainings, and fill out a “Contact Us” form for one-on-one assistance. Explore the website here to learn more.
The Driver’s License Reinstatement Fee Amnesty Initiative that ended earlier this summer will restart. The program will start back up on October 18, 2019 and continue until December 31, 2019. The provisions will be identical to those of the pilot. For more information about eligibility and to print an application, click here.
Legal Aid will be in the neighborhood! Click here for a printable flyer – or see all of Legal Aid’s upcoming FREE legal advice clinics by visiting our online calendar!