News Release

Texas Access to Justice Foundation 
September 12, 2014

Texas Access to Justice Foundation Award More than $30 Million to Nonprofits Across the State
Funds will support 30 nonprofits that provide civil legal aid services


AUSTIN, Texas  – The Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF) has announced its 2014-2015 grants, totaling more than $30 million, to be distributed to 30 nonprofit organizations throughout Texas that provide civil legal aid to the poor.

With the help of grants from the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, public interest and pro bono lawyers provide legal representation to low-income Texans with basic civil legal problems, such as landlord-tenant issues, family law matters, employment law, access to earned benefits and consumer issues. Each year, TAJF grantees help more than 100,000 disadvantaged Texas families.

Grant levels were able to remain stable for 2014-2015 due to the $17.6 million biennium appropriation by the 83rd Texas Legislature for basic civil legal services. This funding is critical as historically low interest rates continue to decimate the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Account (IOLTA) program, a primary funding source for legal aid. Additionally, Texas legal aid providers who receive federal funding continue to see losses in legal aid funding.

There are more than 5.8 million Texans who qualify for legal aid, the second-highest number in the nation. Due to a lack of resources, only about 20 percent of the civil legal needs of low-income and poor Texans are being met. To be eligible for civil legal aid, an individual must earn no more than $14,588 a year. For a family of four, the annual household income cannot exceed $29,813.

“Access to a lawyer can be a lifesaver to disadvantaged families facing challenging times,” Betty Balli Torres, executive director of the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, said. “Legal aid plays a crucial role in ensuring that vulnerable Texans are able to access the judicial system.” 

TAJF has awarded more than $410 million in its 30 years. The organization collects and administers funds, including IOLTA, Basic Civil Legal Services (filing fees, fees assessed to out-of-state attorneys practicing in Texas, and other public funding), crime victims’ funds and private donations.

Texas Access to Justice Foundation Grantees for the 2014-2015 Grant Year


Headquarters - Program Name - Grants
Austin     Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse $351,500
Austin     American Gateways $279,685
Austin     Disability Rights Texas $1,385,654
Austin     Equal Justice Center $236,977
Austin     Oficina Legal del Pueblo Unido, Inc. $810,631
Austin     Southern Disability Law Center $144,089
Austin     Texas Legal Services Center $2,485,081
Austin     Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas $236,823
Conroe     Montgomery County Women's Center $65,004
Dallas     Catholic Charities of Dallas $298,457
Dallas     Dallas Bar Association Community Service Fund (DVAP) $235,975
Dallas     Legal Hospice of Texas $172,387
El Paso     Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services $312,459
Fort Worth     Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas $6,088,740
Fort Worth     Texas A&M Research Foundation $40,000
Harlingen     Pro Bar-ABA Fund for Justice and Education $108,198
Houston     Boat People SOS, Inc. $147,689
Houston     Cabrini Center for Immigration Legal Services $324,802
Houston     Cathedral Justice Project $133,533
Houston     Earl Carl Institute $118,340
Houston     Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program $607,041
Houston     Lone Star Legal Aid $6,447,933
Houston     South Texas College of Law $103,074
Houston     University of Houston $135,251
Lubbock     Legal Aid Society of Lubbock $253,282
San Antonio     Family Violence Prevention Services, Inc. $192,190
San Antonio     Refugee & Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services $166,608
San Antonio     St. Mary's University School of Law Center for Legal and Social Justice $150,969
Sugarland     Fort Bend Lawyers Care $56,098
Weslaco     Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc. $8,421,970
TOTAL $30,510,440


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The Texas Access to Justice Foundation, created by the Supreme Court of Texas in 1984, is the largest state-based funding source for the provision of civil legal aid in Texas. The organization is committed to the vision that all Texans will have equal access to justice, regardless of their income. The Foundation administers a variety of funding sources, which are earmarked to assist nonprofit organizations in providing legal aid to more than 100,000 Texas families each year. For more information, please visit: www.teajf.org.

Contact: Kimberly Schmitt
512-320-0099, ext. 104
kschmitt@teajf.org

 

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