North Penn Legal Services Inc

NORTH PENN LEGAL SERVICES IS A PROVIDER OF FREE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO RESIDENTS OF A 20 COUNTY AREA IN NORTHEAST PA. POTENTIAL CLIENTS ARE SCREENED FOR INCOME ELIGIBILITY WHICH IS, IN MOST CASES, 125% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. CASE TYPES ACCEPTED FOR SERVICE ARE THOSE WHICH FIT WITHIN PRIORITIES REVIEWED ANNUALLY BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. NORTH PENN LEGAL SERVICES ADVOCATES HANDLE A VARIETY OF CASES INCLUDING HOUSING, HEALTH, JUVENILE, FAMILY, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, CONSUMER, INCOME MAINTENANCE, AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS. THE PRIORITIES ARE DESIGNED TO SCREEN FOR CASES WHICH ARE EMERGENCIES AND WHICH HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE SAFETY AND ECONOMIC STABILITY OF A FAMILY. FOR EXAMPLE, NORTH PENN LEGAL SERVICES ADVOCATES TAKE CASES WHERE THE CLIENT IS AT RISK OF EVICTION FROM PRIVATE OR FEDERALLY SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, HAS BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO PUBLIC BENEFIT - WHETHER IN THE FORM OF CASH ASSISTANCE OR MEDICAL SUPPORT - OR THE VICTIM OF CREDITOR HARASSMENT.

NORTH PENN LEGAL SERVICES IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY SOLUTION THAT PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE. REQUESTS FOR OUR FREE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES DURING THE LAST YEAR RESULTED IN HANDLING MORE THAN 10,036 CASES. IN 20 COUNTIES, CLOSE TO 250,000 PEOPLE ARE IN POVERTY AND ELIGIBLE FOR THE SERVICES OF NORTH PENN LEGAL SERVICES. WE PROVIDED CIVIL LEGAL AID TO 1,929 OF THOSE PEOPLE THROUGH COURT AND ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS, ENHANCING CLIENTS' ECONOMIC SECURITY BY OBTAINING AWARDS OF JUST OVER $3.4 MILLION PRIMARILY IN CONSUMER CASES. IN AN ATTEMPT TO REACH ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS WE WERE OTHERWISE UNABLE TO SERVE, WE DEVELOPED SELF-HELP MATERIALS, DISTRIBUTED 3,692 INFORMATIONAL PAMPHLETS AND CONDUCTED OUTREACH EVENTS TO 3,396 PEOPLE.

AS A REGIONAL PROVIDER OF CIVIL LEGAL AID FOR MORE THAN 55 YEARS, NORTH PENN LEGAL SERVICES HAS BEEN ENSURING THAT LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN NORTHEAST PA HAVE ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND THE SAME LEGAL RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS THAT THOSE WHO HAVE MEANS CAN AFFORD ON THEIR OWN. NORTH PENN LEGAL SERVICES STAFF PROVIDE CRITICAL ADVOCACY THROUGH REPRESENTATION AT HEARINGS, MODERATING DIFFICULT LANDLORD-TENANT RELATIONSHIPS, AND PROVIDING SELF-HELP MATERIALS TO LOW INCOME PEOPLE FACING EVICTION, FORECLOSURE, AND LOSS OF FEDERAL HOUSING SUBSIDIES. IN 2021-2022 HOUSING WAS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR CLIENTS. NORTH PENN LEGAL SERVICES STAFF HELPED 6,684 PEOPLE WITH HOUSING ISSUES.

AS THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC CONTINUES, LEGAL AID LAWYERS AND PARALEGALS AT NORTH PENN LEGAL SERVICES HAVE BEEN ESSENTIAL IN PROVIDING FAMILIES WITH SAFETY AND STABILITY WHEN THEY HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN. IN CASES WHERE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WERE THREATENED WITH VIOLENCE FROM AN INTIMATE PARTNER, STAFF OBTAINED PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDERS IN 598 CASES. IN SITUATIONS WHERE FAMILIES WERE IN FEAR OF LOSING THEIR HOME, NPLS WAS ABLE TO PREVENT EVICTION OR PRESERVE SHELTER IN 491 CASES. DURING THIS PAST YEAR OF FUNDING, NPLS HAS MAINTAINED A STEADY NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS, PARALEGALS, STAFF SUPPORT, AND INTERNS WHO ASSISTED OUR CLIENTS. WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, OFTEN VIRTUAL DUE TO PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS, THROUGH SPECIAL PROJECT FUNDING SUCH AS OUR LEHIGH VALLEY FAIR HOUSING PROJECT.