THE LEGAL AIDER: Autumn 2024
a letter to our members
Legal Aid Society has a rich history spanning over a century. During this time, we’ve witnessed numerous changes, faced challenges, and celebrated triumphs. We’ve walked side by side with hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians so they did not have to navigate a legal issue or the legal system alone. We pursued justice – TOGETHER.
Our identity as a Society is a testament to our collective strength. Legal Aid Society is guided by a robust Board of Directors, served by the dedication and expertise of our staff and volunteers, and actualized through the bravery of our clients. But it is POWERED by you—our donors and volunteers, our MEMBERS who make our Society whole and whose support is invaluable.
As a member, your contributions, whether in the form of time, funds, or expertise, have made a lasting impact on the lives of our clients. Your efforts have not only strengthened neighborhoods and communities but have also bolstered our justice system.
Without you, we would be just another nonprofit law firm. With you, we are the LEGAL AID SOCIETY!
JOIN the LEGAL AID SOCIETY - become a member today!
Legal Aid Society isn’t just a non-profit law firm. We are a collective of individuals - staff, donors, volunteers, and advocates - who make civil legal justice happen! That’s why our founders named us THE Legal Aid SOCIETY! They understood then, as we do now, that justice is a verb. We must continue to work together to ensure our American promise of justice for all becomes a reality.
Members of the Legal Aid Society believe:
Civil legal aid has the power to change lives.
A person’s income should not determine the level of justice they receive.
Lawyers have a responsibility to share their time and talent.
You can become a member, or continue your membership, through your participation in our Legal Aid Society in any of the following ways:
Make a one-time give of any amount to Legal Aid Society’s annual Justice for All Campaign, or
Make a monthly donation of any amount through Legal Aid’s Torchbearer Sustaining Giving Program, or
Leave a bequest to Legal Aid Society in your will, or
Volunteer your time and expertise through our Volunteer Lawyer Program, or
Serve on one of our volunteer committees (Board of Directors, Justice for All Campaign Committee, or Journey to Justice Host Committee).
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
The intrinsic value of knowing that your active participation makes a difference in the lives of your neighbors,
A biannual newsletter that illustrates your impact through client’s stories and program spotlights,
An invitation to join our Justice Unbound Book Club and 20% off all book club selections from Carmichaels Bookstore,
Invitations to our FREE CLEs throughout the year,
Listing our in our Annual Report, and
Legal Aid Society Membership pin (wear it with pride).
NOURISHING FUTURES
NAOMI’S FIGHT for FOOD JUSTICE
A story from Legal Aid Society’s Food Justice Program, supported by The Humana Foundation.
Like many college students, "Naomi" had to get creative to fund her education. For the past four years, she has maintained a full scholarship at the University of Louisville by participating in a federally funded work study at the university library. U of L also required her to keep an expensive meal plan as a condition of attendance. While this meal plan allowed her to eat at the cafeteria occasionally, it only allotted $300 per semester for meals. Naomi also received a small portion of monthly government SNAP benefits to meet these gaps in her nutrition.
As she embarked on her final semester, Naomi was hit with distressing news—the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS), the entity responsible for distributing food stamps, informed her that she had been cut off from the SNAP benefits program. They argued that her student meal plan made her ineligible for SNAP benefits, and demanded she repay the entire amount they had provided her in benefits, a staggering sum of nearly $2,000.
Overwhelmed by the complexities of contesting a government decision and the logistics of providing food for herself—not to mention her continuing studies—Naomi knew she needed help. When she contacted Legal Aid, our expert Food Justice attorneys immediately jumped into action, filing an administrative Fair Hearing to contest the agency's decision. Attorneys argued that the agency was incorrect in removing her SNAP benefits, as the law clearly states a student can receive benefits while on a university meal plan if the meal plan accounts for less than half the student's nutritional needs. Naomi's small meal plan only accounted for $300 of meals per semester—far less than a 21-year-old needs to survive. Our attorneys were also able to provide evidence to the court that Naomi had disclosed her meal plan to DCBS.
Upon receiving this evidence, the court ruled in Naomi's favor. She was not required to repay the $2,000 and was granted the backdated SNAP benefits she was entitled to. This decision brought immense relief to Naomi, who could now focus on her studies and future without the burden of a hefty debt (or going hungry). After four years of hard work, Naomi graduated and began her first professional job!
join our book club... JUSTICE UNBOUND!
We believe that stories have the power to create empathy and connect communities. Our book club aims to explore issues related to civil legal justice, better understand the challenges facing low-income communities, and inspire creative solutions to complicated and systemic issues. All are welcome to join!
BENEFITS OF JOINING
20% discount on all book club books at Carmichaels Bookstore
Invitation to our Books and Breakfast series discussion events
Connection with a community of individuals passionate about civil legal justice
Follow us on Goodreads to keep up with book selections!
RECLAIMING HOPE
CHERYL’S FIGHT for a NEW BEGINNING
A story from Legal Aid Society’s Project HELP Program, supported by Louisville Metro Government, Greenwald Family Endowment, Snowy Owl Foundation, and The Gheens Foundation.
By all accounts, “Cheryl” had fallen on hard times—in 2023, she became homeless after courageously fleeing from domestic violence. Her light at the end of the tunnel was the hope that she could secure government benefits to help her find a home. During the pandemic, Cheryl had received unemployment benefits and had been trying to explain to the unemployment office for more than a year that a substantial portion of those benefits totaling more than $4,000—had never reached her. She knew those funds could give her the financial boost necessary to secure housing and begin her job search anew, but the unemployment office was steadfast in their belief that she had indeed received those funds.
Cheryl had reached an impasse. Without the money she was entitled to, she had no way of securing safe housing away from her abusive partner. She had been fighting the unemployment office for over a year and knew she couldn’t win alone.
That’s where Legal Aid Society came in. With remarkable courage, Cheryl sought help through a Legal Aid Project HELP clinic at UP for Women and Children. After hearing her story, Legal Aid Society attorneys immediately reached out to the unemployment office and completed an open records request. This allowed Legal Aid Society attorneys to review all records of unemployment paperwork, including payment records which clearly showed Cheryl was correct – she had not received more than $4,000 that she was owed due to a computer error that had placed the funds in the wrong account.
Legal Aid Society attorneys worked with the unemployment office to have Cheryl’s benefits transferred to her bank account immediately. By the next business day, Cheryl had enough money to help her get off the streets and into a safe, secure home of her own and begin a new life free from her abusive partner.
2023 ANNUAL REPORT
To see our 2023 financials and a full list of donors, please CLICK HERE check out our Annual Report.