e c i t jus for all

09

2008 | 20

PORT

RE ANNUAL

s e l a c s e h t balancing

provides quality legal representation to low-income and vulnerable people, to empower them to solve problems without legal representation through legal education and increased access to the courts, and to change community practices and systems that cause or aggravate poverty.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

balancing the scales Elizabeth C. Price President Delaware County John F. McKenna, Esq. Vice President Chester County Ronald R. Bolig, Esq. Treasurer Bucks County Mark C. Schultz, Esq. Secretary Montgomery County Bucks County Judith A. Algeo, Esq. Dean P. Arthur, Esq. Ralf Gilbert, Esq. Meg Groff, Esq. Ruth Ellen Irish Amy Kunkle Laura Long Jennifer McGrath, Esq.

Chester County Robert F. Adams, Esq. Bruce J. Clark William J. Gallagher, Esq. Shawna Gunn Jeffrey P. Lewis, Esq. Robert M. Mulhern, Jr., Esq. Anthony T. Verwey, Esq. Barbara Watkins Delaware County Joseph W. Chupein, Jr., Esq. Kathleen Fontaine Kathryn A. Meloni, Esq. Ruth Minor Anna-Marie Murphy, Esq. Donald J. Weiss, Esq. Michael F. Wenke, Esq. Carolyn Whitsett MONTGOMERY COUNTY Richard L. Cantor, Esq. Jean Luna Joseph P. Lynch, Esq. Claire Nijinski Deborah Frances Nixon Nancy R. Paul Nancy H. Wentz, Esq. Cheryl Young, Esq.

In aect perf .. world.

...true justice would prevail for all people in all circumstances. Today, unfortunately, far too many low-income and vulnerable people are caught in a cycle of poverty and injustice. Inadequate access to legal representation and education can mean the scales of justice are not fairly balanced. In the 2008-09 fiscal year, Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania responded to the region’s economic downturn and its impact on low income communities by assisting more low-income and vulnerable clients than ever before. What is astounding about this fact is that the increase in services occurred during a period of drastic program funding cuts resulting in lower staff levels. Rather than accept the tough conditions in which we found ourselves and retrench, we stretched to help more victims of domestic violence, the elderly and economically at-risk members of our communities. We stepped up our fund raising efforts and increased the number and diversity of our funders. One notable success was acquisition of Chester County funding for increased services to seniors so that we now have county funding for expanded senior services in all four counties. We also responded to the economic crisis by taking on more employment cases and consumer cases, focusing specifically on mortgage foreclosure issues to save homes. Finally, with the assistance of a consulting firm, we initiated a legal needs assessment process to determine the most pressing legal needs in the region and to inform our program priorities for the coming years.

Elizabeth Wood Fritsch, Esq. Harvey F. Strauss, Esq. co-executive directors legal aid of southeastern pennsylvania

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legal aid of southeastern pa

Clients and Cases: By the Numbers 75% of clients were women, 37% were members of racial minority groups, and 16% were aged 60 and older. 18,025 phone calls were answered by helpline staff. 10,813 legal cases were handled in total. 324 attorney volunteers handled 1,109 of those cases. In 2008-09, Legal Aid handled 148 more cases than in 2007-08, despite a reduction in staff size by 2 positions. While the distribution of these cases (represented in the chart below) largely follows the distribution of cases in past years, some categories such as employment law and mortgage foreclosure cases saw significant increases.

Number of Cases Handled in 2008-09 by Category

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ANNUAL REPORT 08|09

A Snapshot of Poverty in Our Communities Thanks to funding from the Montgomery County Foundation, North Penn Community Health Foundation, the Montgomery Bar Association and the Montgomery Bar Foundation, Legal Aid engaged a nationally respected consulting firm, The Resource for Great Programs, to help conduct a comprehensive assessment of legal need in our communities. Phase I of the study was completed in 2008-09 and offered a demographic picture of our communities. Some of the early findings: •

In Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties, 8.7% of people (or about one in twelve) live at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Thresholds.

•

The incidence of poverty is the worst in Delaware County, where it has reached double digits and is pushed higher by the nearly 42% poverty rate in the city of Chester.

•

In Montgomery County, Norristown Borough’s poverty rate is 29.6% and Pottstown’s rate is 20.5%.

•

Poverty in the region is growing – between 2000 and 2007 the poverty population grew by 24%, while the total population had only grown by 4%.

•

Drawing from national research conducted by the American Bar Association, the 79,200 low income households in our region experience an estimated 79,700 legal problems each year, with financial/consumer problems and housing legal problems the most commonly experienced.

Check www.lasp.org for the full report of this 18 month needs assessment process, which will conclude in Spring 2010.

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legal aid of southeastern pa

Trends and Highlights

public benefits In a year that the biggest economic crisis in more that fifty years saw families slipping into poverty and losing jobs and desperately needed health care benefits, the value of Legal Aid’s work preserving and protecting government funded benefits was more evident than ever. Legal Aid steps in when oversights or errors result in benefit loss or denial. In the 2008-09 fiscal year we recovered $735,394 in lump sum payments and $126,815 in monthly payments for our clients.

protection from abuse The Protection from Abuse (PFA) Act is one of the most effective strategies protecting victims from injury and reducing future violence. Last year, orders were entered providing protection from domestic abuse for 1,105 adults and children.

elder law Across the counties the elderly population increased by 93% between 1970 and 2000, with even higher gains in Bucks (190%) and Chester (134%) counties. In addition to traditional elder law work preparing Durable Powers of Attorney and assisting with end of life issues, Legal Aid attorneys last year also assisted with rising consumer credit problems, mortgage foreclosure, utility shut-offs and food insecurity among older adult clients.

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One ’s client... story

ANNUAL REPORT 08|09

, hildren young c o w t f r o Social e mothe taining a singl b o , * n . i R p Ms. for hel ed LASP t c a t n o c ility. y Disab Securit abuse hysical p d m o o h red fro child R. suffe ult of s . e s r M a , h T is As her killed (PTSD). t r s e o d m r l o is ng that a tress D m stayi matic S her fro u a d r e T t n t e ev Pos ity to only pr er abil t h o n d e r s e i om disord o compr ere she but als oint wh p d e e y h o t l o he emp ldren t ed by t her chi upervis s d n rney a parent t orted SP at o p A p L u s A g . n th was bei and You of ildren denial h C f o i n tial i ost, e Office h t eal again l p p e a h s r e n h he helped , and w ppeal. benefits ssful a e y c t c i u l s i y d, disab Securit a secon Social er file h d e d n e i p a l t he he . R. ob rt of t ely, Ms cial pa u r c for Ultimat a r come, to ca e n i r e y h t i s le Disabil at enab stem th y s t r o n dre . supp er chil h d port. n a this re herself used in e aphs ar

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One ’s client... story

legal aid of southeastern pa

ing was liv , e e r i t re o ar-old t had s a 66-ye The uni , * . . t T n e o d m st Mrs. artm to spen n an ap i d e n c w r o o f on her she was ment. at that s apart e ’ h r e e t l h t g lit her dau time at r e h f o a ter for ning wa n u r et the t g u witho ly to l g u n f i s o s g e cc After seat, ng unsu toilet h, tryi t n n e o k m o r l b a ful sues, replace lity is i o b t a t d i r b a landlo other h p. iencing r e p x for hel e P and d LAS e h c a o r app rent Mrs. T. put her r e h d e help at an ttorney ded her a n e d f i e A d t al ths and Distric Her Leg r 3 mon terial o s f i g w a o M r c he into es efore t vement, aring b s invol e ’ h P S n A o L i s evict sult of . T. wa As a re rs, Mrs . i e a c p i e e to t r s b Ju e the was a l d a e m h s d r d an dlo n rent ng that the lan ement i n housi t i a b y a l t n n de ds. given a indepen standar e g v n i i l v i o l e e t asonabl continu p to re u t port. h g u this re sed in was bro u e r a phs t l clien * No actua

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ANNUAL REPORT 08|09

Trends and Highlights

employment law As businesses faltered in the poor economy and unemployment in LASP’s four counties rose, the need for assistance in obtaining unemployment compensation, expunging or correcting past criminal records, and challenging unfair employment practices skyrocketed. As a result, our employment law caseload grew by 64% in one year.

mortgage foreclosure assistance Even though Pennsylvania was not considered a foreclosure “hot spot,” many homeowners in our region were nonetheless affected by this nationwide crisis. Legal Aid received 789 calls to its Don’t Borrow Trouble Suburban Philadelphia Helpline and 570 legal cases were opened as a result, the large majority relating to mortgage foreclosure and predatory mortgages. Our housing attorneys also participated in a statewide Mortgage Foreclosure Counseling Program, working with the local housing counselors to help homeowners preserve or extend their time in their homes. Altogether, Legal Aid saw its mortgage foreclosure caseload grow by 27%, from 436 cases in 2007-08 to 555 cases in 2008-09.

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legal aid of southeastern pa

People are Talking about Legal Aid

our clients

“

Even though you’re low income, you can still have access to justice…Legal Aid means access.

“

”

People get excellent representation at Legal Aid.

“

The Legal Aid associates were helpful, kind and knowledgeable. Your co-workers gave respect to each of us litigants as we negotiated these unfamiliar waters.

” ” referral agencies

“I have referred several clients to the helpline. They have called me back to say they were really helped.” “The value of your service speaks for itself. The low- and moderateincome persons we work with do not have the income to secure legal representation when they need it.“

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ANNUAL REPORT 08|09

thanks to a board member From a client of LASP board treasurer Ronald R. Bolig, Esq: “My sincere appreciation for your counsel and guidance at my Protection from Abuse court appearance. You handled the case extremely professionally and because of your expertise the protective order was granted. I now have peace of mind – thank you.”

thanks to our staff “My employer filed for bankruptcy and turned my life upside down. I had to move out of my home, find a renter and move in with my son and his family! Desperate, discouraged and beside myself, I turned to Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania. From the start I realized that I had made the right choice. Things were about to turn around (with help from) my two extremely professional and compassionate attorneys. Thanks to Randall Hove’s incredible brief to the board and Dawn Padanyi’s eye for detail and her summation of my situation at my second hearing, my life was about to rebound. Words cannot express my appreciation to LASP for representing me. Your organization has had a major beneficial impact on this 61-year-old grandfather’s life!”

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legal aid of southeastern pa

With Sincere Thanks Legal Aid depends on a broad base of community support. Our 2008-09 business, foundation and institutional funders included: Government Grants and Contracts Bucks Co. Area Agency on Aging Bucks Co. Children & Youth Services Bucks Co. Commissioners Bucks Co. Dept. of Comm. & Bus. Development Chester Co. Department of Aging Delaware Co. Office of Svcs to the Aging Legal Services Corporation Montgomery Co. Aging and Adult Svcs Montgomery County Commissioners Pennsylvania Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts Program Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Charitable Foundations & Trusts 1675 Foundation Bucks County Foundation The Claneil Foundation Cozen O’Connor Foundation E. Wallace Chadwick Memorial Fund Elizabeth Jamison O’Brien Fund Green Tree Community Health Foundation Harry B. Rust Charitable Fund Independence Foundation McLean Contributionship Montgomery County Foundation Nancy B. McKean Fund Nathan Speare Foundation North Penn Community Health Foundation Pew Fund for Philadelphia Phoenixville Community Health Foundation Taylor Community Foundation The Patricia Kind Family Foundation The Philadelphia Foundation Collaborative Grants Bucks County STOP Grant Pottstown Health & Wellness Foundation (Partnership with VNA Community Services)

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Business, Corporate, Service, Religious & Others Aetna Both is Better LLC Buxmont Unitarian Fellowship CKS Engineers Chester Co. Paralegal Association Committee to Re-elect Melio Community Design Collaborative Fidelitrade First Federal Bank of Bucks Co. First National Bank of Chester Co. First National Bank of Newtown Flexible Benefits Plan Good Search Heart of Europe Tours Kiwanis Club of Lansdale LarsonAllen LLP Merck & Company MOVAD Puck Live! Richmond Insurance Co. Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament United Way of Bucks Co. United Way of Southern Chester Co. Univest National Bank & Trust Women’s Club of Perkasie Bar Associations & Foundations Bucks County Bar Association The Charitable Foundation of the Bucks Co. Bar Assn Chester Co. Bar Association Chester Co. Bar Foundation Delaware Co. Bar Association Delaware Co. Bar Foundation Montgomery Bar Association Montgomery Bar Foundation

ANNUAL REPORT 08|09

more s k n thoa nline To the individual donors, volunteer attorneys and law firms who work with us in “balancing the scales,”

all

1,153

of you,

Legal Aid relies upon and is grateful for the generous gifts of your time, your money, and your professional support. visit www.lasp.org /annual-report

for a complete list of donors and volunteers.

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legal aid of southeastern pa

Statement of Financial Position

funding State – IOLTA & PLAN Federal – LSC County Foundations Annual Legal Community Appeal County Agencies on Aging Don’t Borrow Trouble Bar Associations & Foundations Miscellaneous United Way & Donor Option Special Events Corporations Total Funding

$1,827,331 $1,146,806 $ 428,231 $ 273,664 $ 229,740 $ 185,329 $ 106,588 $ 97,500 $ 49,169 $ 28,879 $ 27,984 $ 24,984 $4,425,507

expenses Personnel Consultants & Contract Services Space Costs Telephone/Internet Miscellaneous Furniture & Equipment Consumable Supplies Travel Library Upkeep & Subscriptions Postage Insurance Litigation Expenses Total Expenses

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$3,525,260 $ 311,649 $ 295,470 $ 65,037 $ 53,045 $ 52,637 $ 34,204 $ 30,743 $ 30,680 $ 24,270 $ 19,421 $ 3,351 $4,445,767

ANNUAL REPORT 08|09

For More Information

go online call us

At www.lasp.org you can learn more about our organization, find links to helpful legal news and resources, and access a number of LASP publications. our toll-free helpline For legal help, call 1-877-429-5994. Helpline hours are 9am - 1pm, Monday through Friday. don’t borrow trouble For help with predatory lending and mortgage foreclosure, call 1-888-275-8843. Helpline hours are 9am - 1pm, Monday through Friday.

locations

Bucks Co. 1290 Veterans Highway Box 809 Bristol, PA 19007 215-781-1111 100 Union Street Doylestown, PA 18901 215-340-1818 Chester Co. 222 N. Walnut Street West Chester, PA 19380 610-436-4510

Delaware Co. 410 Welsh Street Chester, PA 19013 610-874-8421 Montgomery Co. 625 Swede Street Norristown, PA 19401 610-275-5400 248 King Street Pottstown, PA 19464 610-326-8280

1003 E. Lincoln Highway Coatesville, PA 19320 610-380-7111 (Outreach Office)

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www.lasp.org

625 Swede Street Norristown, PA 19401

administration

1290 Veterans Highway Box 809 Bristol, PA 19007

ANNUAL REPORT 08|09

permit no. 436

bristol, pa 19007

u.s. postage paid

non-profit