|
News Release
Texas Access to Justice Foundation
The two new categories of special impact
initiatives grants from the Texas Access to Justice Foundation are: 1)
“Expanding the Right to Civil Counsel “Civil Gideon” Pilot Projects” which
includes collaborative programs with courts for the delivery of legal
services where basic human needs are at risk; such as shelter, sustenance,
safety, health or child custody; and 2) “Self-Represented Litigation Pilot
Projects” designed to help the ever-increasing number of litigants
representing themselves “pro se” in Texas courts. The special impact initiative grantees and their pilot projects are:
Lone Star Legal Aid – “Tenant Defense Project,” $310,38 To create a project that appoints counsel for persons involved in eviction appeals in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties. Texas RioGrande Legal Aid – “Border Foreclosure Defense Project,” $347,611 A project partnering with the courts in Webb, Zapata, Starr, Cameron, Hidaldo and Willacy counties to represent low-income clients in defense of foreclosures. Self-Represented Litigation Pilot Projects Grant Awards Lone Star Legal Aid – “Rural Pro Se Litigation Project,” $206,000 Creating court-based self-help centers, web kiosks, standardized forms, and pro se clinics in Nacogdoches and Angelina counties. Lubbock County Bar Association – “Pro Se Programs,” $76,000 To develop online document assembly stations and an informational video in Lubbock County. Smith County Bar Foundation – “Self-Help Center,” $65,000 To create a self-help center in the Smith County Law Library. Texas Legal Services Center – “Self-Represented Litigation Project,” $195,000 Will develop and provide easily accessible legal information, such as about court procedures, standard litigation forms, and individualized advice and brief services from licensed attorneys through a statewide web site, www.texaslawhelp.org .
“As the legal needs of poor
and low-income Texans continue to increase, we are
encouraging our providers of legal aid services to think
strategically, and collaboratively, in creative projects
that will have a long-term and future impact on the
delivery of legal services,” said Betty Balli Torres, executive director of the Texas Access
to Justice Foundation. “These
pilot projects are designed to help low-income Texans obtain the access to
the court system they so desperately need and are often unable to afford.” The Texas Access to Justice Foundation was created by
the Supreme Court of Texas and is the largest Each year,
TAJF grantees
help more than 100,000 low-income individuals with their civil legal
needs. With the help of grants from the Texas Access to Justice Foundation,
public interest lawyers give free legal advice and representation to
low-income Texans with civil legal problems, such as landlord-tenant issues,
family law matters, employment law, access to earned benefits and consumer
issues. Unlike the criminal justice system, low-income Texans facing civil
legal problems are not guaranteed an attorney. # # # The Texas Access to Justice
Foundation (www.teajf.org), created
by the Supreme Court of Texas in 1984, is the primary 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 approximately 100,000 Texans each year. 512-320-0099, ext. 104 kschmitt@teajf.org
|
Recent News |
