Pisgah Legal Services

PISGAH LEGAL SERVICES PURSUES JUSTICE TO IMPROVE LIVES FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND ADVOCACY.

HEALTH AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY: PROVIDES AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND PURCHASE AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE IN EIGHTEEN COUNTIES IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. THIS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES FREE TAX RETURN PREPARATION UNDER VITA STANDARDS TO QUALIFYING HOUSEHOLDS IN EIGHTEEN WNC COUNTIES WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING THE UPTAKE IN UNCLAIMED TAX CREDITS IN ORDER TO DECREASE CHILD POVERTY.

- LEGAL SERVICES TO THE POOR: HELPS LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS ADDRESS CONSUMER PROTECTION ISSUES, INCOME SHORTFALLS, AND MANAGE THEIR LIMITED RESOURCES. THIS WORK INCLUDES HELPING RESTORE DRIVERS' LICENSES AND EXPUNGE CRIMINAL RECORDS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN INCREASE THEIR INCOMES . - ELDER LAW: HELPS SENIORS LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR HOMES AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. PROTECTS SENIORS FROM FINANCIAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE OR HARASSMENT AND ASSISTS WITH END-OF-LIFE PLANNING. 2023 EXPENDITURES: 374,841. - CHILDREN'S LAW PROJECT: HELPS DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN AVOID HOMELESSNESS, ACCESS ESSENTIAL SERVICES SUCH AS MEDICAL CARE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND ESCAPE SITUATIONS OF ABUSE. 2023 EXPENDITURES: 332,838. - BENEFITS LAW: OBTAINS AND PROTECTS PUBLIC BENEFITS FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE, INCLUDING FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL SERVICES, MEDICAID, SOCIAL SECURITY, AND OTHERS. NORTH CAROLINA MEDICAID IS UNDERGOING SIGNIFICANT CHANGE WITH THE END OF THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY , THE RECENT TRANSITION TO MANAGED CARE MEDICAID AND THE ROLLOUT OF MEDICAID EXPANSION. PISGAH LEGAL ASSISTS MEDICAID BENEFICIARIES AND APPLICANTS TO PROTECT MEDICAID RIGHTS. 2023 EXPENDITURES: 269,748. - JUSTICE FOR ALL PROJECT: ASSISTS ELIGIBLE IMMIGRANTS WITH SECURING LEGAL IMMIGRATION STATUS OR WORK AUTHORIZATION AND ADDRESSES OTHER BASIC NEEDS LIKE SAFETY AND HOUSING SO THAT IMMIGRANTS MAY LIFT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY. THIS PROGRAM SERVES 18 OF THE WESTERNMOST COUNTIES OF NORTH CAROLINA. SOME IMMIGRANTS ARE SERVED IN OTHER PROGRAMS, INCLUDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION. 2023 EXPENDITURES: 406,504. - VOLUNTEER LAWYERS/HOTLINE: RECRUITS AND TRAINS A NETWORK OF VOLUNTEER LAWYERS TO PROVIDE PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES TO THE ORGANIZATION'S CLIENTS; CASES ARE SCREENED FOR INCOME AND CASE TYPE AND REFERRED BY PISGAH LEGAL SERVICES. 2023 EXPENDITURES: 568,829 (NOT INCLUDING 739,000 DONATED ATTORNEY PROFESSIONAL TIME). - COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: INCREASES JOBS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH ADVOCACY AND TECHNICAL, LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT AND BUILD CAPACITY OF NONPROFITS, FAITH GROUPS, SMALL BUSINESSES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. 2023 EXPENDITURES: 255,249. - LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC (LITC): THIS NEW PROGRAM BEGAN ON JANUARY 1, 2023. THE LITC PROGRAM PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN TAX DISPUTES WITH THE IRS, COMMUNITY TAX EDUCATION AND SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY TO LOW-INCOME TAXPAYERS IN EIGHTEEN COUNTIES IN WNC. - NORTH CAROLINA MEDICAID OMBUDSMAN (NCMO): IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHARLOTTE CENTER FOR LEGAL ADVOCACY AND LEGAL AID OF NC, THE NCMO PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT TO MEDICAID MANAGED CARE BENEFICIARIES AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE STATE REGARDING ISSUES LEARNED FROM MEDICAID MEMBERS. ALL AMOUNTS ABOVE ARE ADJUSTED TO REMOVE THE VALUE OF DONATED SERVICES NOT REPORTED AS INCOME ON FORM 990.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION SERVICES: IN 2023, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED FREE LEGAL ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO HELP MORE THAN 6,900 ADULTS AND CHILDREN WHO WERE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE TO ESCAPE ABUSE AND REBUILD THEIR LIVES. STAFF AND VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS HELP VICTIMS/SURVIVORS SECURE COURT PROTECTIVE ORDERS TO IMPROVE THEIR SAFETY, AND ADDRESS BARRIERS TO INDEPENDENCE, SUCH AS CHILD CUSTODY, DIVISION OF MARITAL PROPERTY, HOUSING PROBLEMS, INCOME, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION SO THAT VICTIMS CAN ESTABLISH NEW LIVES APART FROM THEIR ABUSERS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO COLLABORATES WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO REDUCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN AREA COMMUNITIES AND TO IMPROVE SERVICES FOR VICTIMS. 32% OF THE ORGANIZATION'S CLOSED LEGAL CASES INVOLVED ISSUES RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE.

HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION: PREVENTS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS FROM LOSING THEIR HOMES TO EVICTION OR FORECLOSURE AND IMPROVES EXISTING HOUSING CONDITIONS 32% OF LEGAL CASES CLOSED IN 2023 PRESENTED AS HOUSING ISSUES.