Posted November 2, 20214:45 pm
We provided this update on local events, community updates, and other newsworthy items to our partners and public officials.
If you are on-staff at a local organization or government agency, please email us with a request to join the mailing list. Include your name, title, organization and email in the note. You will then begin receiving Legal Aid's bi-weekly updates.
Legal Aid continues our monthly Facebook live series and November’s topic is cooperatives, also known as co-ops. Tune in at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30 – or catch the recording afterwards here, where you can find the archive of all our past Facebook live events. Click here to share the event on Facebook with your network.
And, our in-person Brief Advice Clinics are back! This fall, for the first time since the pandemic began, we are back in neighborhoods of Northeast Ohio. To ensure a COVID-safe environment, these events are currently by appointment only and all attending must wear masks. Appointments become available two weeks before each clinic date. Visit our website and share our events calendar with your network, or download this flyer to distribute.
Did you know Legal Aid helps people seal their records, allowing them access to better employment opportunities and more housing options? Ohio has expanded who is eligible to have their records sealed, and more people are eligible now than ever before. Check out the brochure on our website. Contact Legal Aid at 888-817-3777 or visit our website to request help.
We want to hear from you! Do you work with clients and community members who are navigating civil legal issues like housing matters, resolving debts, accessing education, or starting a nonprofit? Are there resources that would be helpful for you in your work? Let us know by completing this brief survey. Responses will help us structure our 2022 trainings for providers and partners.
What You Need to Know About Student Loans: On January 30, 2022, the federal pause on student loan payments will end. Borrowers need to be prepared to act accordingly. We recently published this FAQ on our website about income-driven repayment plans and this self-help article with instructions about enrolling federal student loans into an income-driven repayment plan. We also hosted a Facebook Live about student loans with College Now Greater Cleveland and Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library – check out the recording to learn more about loans, scholarships, payment options, and more.
Do you work with student loan borrowers? Legal Aid attorneys are available to provide comprehensive community presentations about student loans, repayment options, and general guidance about managing student loan debt. The presentations will focus on what borrowers can be doing now to prepare for the end of the federal pause on student loan payments. Email us at outreach@lasclev.org if your organization and any community partners would like to organize a training.
Northeast Ohio Winter Utility Assistance: The cold winter months are almost here. Funds are available to help Ohioans afford utilities like heat. Contact 2-1-1 or click here to get county-specific phone numbers to apply for winter utility assistance programs.
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week: Did you know that last week was National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week? Visit our website to learn about your rights regarding lead poisoning in your home. According to Dr. Harvey Kaufman, MD, two-thirds of houses in Ohio might contain lead. Read more in this post from the Center for Community Solutions.
SNAP benefits are increasing for Ohioans: After a reevaluation of costs and other factors, the USDA is increasing SNAP benefits for recipients. Ohioans who receive SNAP should see an increase of nearly $40 a month. According to ideastream public media, 42% of those enrolled are children. While the SNAP increase doesn’t address all of the barriers to a healthy diet, it’s a timely and needed benefit for the many Ohio households who have struggled to make ends meet during the pandemic. Check out and share our short FAQ video about SNAP benefits.
As always, please reach out if you have any questions.
Natalie Ziegler
Community Engagement Paralegal
Direct: 216-861-5019 / Main: 216-861-5500
Email: natalie.ziegler@lasclev.org
The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
1223 West Sixth Street
Cleveland, Ohio, 44113
www.lasclev.org
Rights. Dignity. Justice.