Legal Services’ Goal: Empower the Poor, for Free

On February 17 the general membership meeting of the Shasta Association of Realtors featured guest speaker attorney Darryll Alvey.

Darryll is a longtime Realtor, since 1975. He became a Broker in our area, and served for a time as President of the Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce. He went on to obtain a degree in law, and began practice as an attorney. He established his own law practice, and eventually retired.

That lasted “about a month,” said the energetic Darryll. One day, he offered his services to help out with low-income legal advice at the office of Legal Services. As can happen, one thing leads to another, and he is now managing attorney for the Shasta office of Legal Services of Northern California, serving Shasta, Siskiyou, Trinity, Lassen, and Modoc Counties.

Legal Services provides no-cost legal aid to persons who meet the income eligibility requirements. Services include General Legal Assistance, Bankruptcy Consultation, and Unlawful Detainer assistance, among others. In addition, they provide free programs of legal services to seniors. These services include Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Health Insurance Counseling, and services such as a Long Term Care Ombudsman. There are other services available as well.

The mission of Legal Services of Northern California is to provide quality legal services to empower the poor to identify and defeat the causes and effects of poverty within their community, efficiently utilizing all available resources.

Legal Services office on West Street in Redding

Darryll explained these services to the membership, knowing Realtors often come into contact with members of the public in need of legal services and advice. Especially given the current economic conditions, the more widely spread this information gets distributed, the better.

Eligibility for these programs require the gross monthly income of the entire home to be under 200 percent of the National Poverty Level, and a resident of Shasta, Trinity, Siskiyou, Lassen, or Modoc County. Here are 2009 numbers:

Advocates in the office may be able to help you in the following areas:

Housing
· If your landlord serves you with eviction papers or threatens to evict you.
· If the place you rent is unsafe or unhealthy and you want to know your rights.
· If your landlord locks you out or shuts off your utilities or takes your property.
· If the Housing Authority is terminating your housing benefits.
· If you are homeless.
· If you feel you have been discriminated against in housing on the basis of your disability, race, gender, national origin or family status.

Benefit Programs
· If you have been denied Food Stamps, CalWORKs, General Assistance, Interim Assistance, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), In-Home Support Services, Unemployment Benefits, Homeless Assistance Funds, or other public benefits, and believe you are eligible.
· If your assistance check or services are being stopped, reduced, or delayed.
· If you need information about appeals or administrative hearings.

Health Rights
· If you need help in proving you are eligible for medical public assistance programs like Medi-Cal, Medicare, Denti-Cal or the County Medical Services Program (CMSP).
· If a hospital or clinic denies or restricts health services.

Family Law
· If you need to get a simple divorce.
· If you need assistance with paperwork for custody.
· If you need assistance with child support.
· If you are trying to obtain guardianship of a child.
· If you are in need of a temporary restraining order.

Bankruptcy

· For information and referral to a private bankruptcy attorney who specializes in low income clients.

Civil Rights
· If you are being discriminated against in any manner because of sex, race, marital status, religion, handicap, receipt of public assistance, color ancestry, or national origin.

Expungement Clinics

· For assistance with expunging convictions from your criminal record. Available for those who did not serve time in a state correctional institution.

· For Certificate of Rehabilitation and Pardon Clinic — assistance with expunging convictions from your record for persons who have spent time in a state correctional institution.

· Call (530) 241 3565 for clinic times, locations and appointment information.

Senior Programs

For seniors over 60, Legal Services include assistance with simple wills, advance health care directives, landlord/tenant issues, public benefits, consumer complaints, restraining orders, estate recovery, debt counseling, APS issues, credit card issues, scamming, simple probate declarations for small estates, and general legal questions. Call (530) 241 3565.

Grandparents raising Grandchildren

Information and assistance in establishing Guardianship for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren, for clients 55 and over. Call (530) 241-3565.

Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP)

Assistance with Medicare education, insurance claims, and supplement plans, drug savings programs, and private insurance claims. This service is available to all Medicare recipients. Call (530) 223-0999 for a HICAP appointment.

Long Term Care Ombudsman

Provides long term care facility monitoring, education, resident rights, quality care, and elder abuse issues. Available to any resident of a long term care facility in our area.  Call (530) 229-1435 to speak with a Long Term Care Ombudsman.

Additional Services

Senior Legal Hotline (1-800-222-1753).

Shasta Voluntary Legal Services Program

Assistance to low-income community groups

Community legal education to promote awareness of legal rights.

Disability and Employment Rights Advocacy — Advocacy and Support for Persons with Disabilities. (1-800-444-6188).

Guardianship process and forms — Small Claims advisor — Enforcement of Judgment Call (530) 241-3565

Family Law Self Help Center — Assistance with divorce, child custody, and child support forms. Shasta County Courthouse Room 115.

Services Not Provided

·         Criminal defense

·         Traffic fines or violations

·         Conflict of interest between you and a current or former LSNC client

·         Immigration

·         Probate

·         Conservatorships

·         SSI Initial denials

Here is a link to the LSNC website

Here is a link to LawHelpCalifornia.org

Hopefully, having this information posted will be helpful to someone in need. Darryll sets a good example as a Realtor who has worked for the betterment of his community. We are inspired and grateful for the work of his office and staff.

Skip Murphy and his daughter, Erin, are Redding area Realtors with Coldwell Banker. Skip’s blog is at ReallyRedding.com