Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County

Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County Equal Access to Justice Our Mission  Our Mission is to ensure that lowincome people and seniors have access to the civil justice system  to secure safe shelter,  adequate income,  and protection from domestic violence and elder abuse. Primary Services  Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse Restraining Orders  Housing Discrimination, Habitability and Eviction Defense  Social Security, SSI and Public Benefits Eligibility Appeals Other Services       Legal Resource Centers Telecom Rights Campaign Consumer Debt Clinic Project Outreach Senior Outreach Advance Health Care Directives Protection from Abuse  One Client’s Story  Our client was a Santa Barbara mother with 2 teenage girls, ages 12 and 16.  Her ex-husband had been convicted and imprisoned for sexually molesting his older daughter.  The mother came to Legal Aid after her exhusband attempted to contact the older daughter by having his sister forward her a letter. Protection from Abuse  How Did Legal Aid Help?  Our client was frightened because her ex-husband had been released from prison and the Restraining Order she had obtained when the abuse was discovered had expired.  Legal Aid helped the woman renew the Restraining Order for another 3 years. Legal Help for Seniors  One Client’s Story  Our client was an elderly Lompoc woman whose home was being seized by the Sheriff because of a debt her deceased husband had neglected to pay several years earlier.  The value of her home was far greater than the amount of the debt. Legal Help for Seniors  How Did Legal Aid Help?  Legal Aid negotiated an agreement with the creditor’s attorney.  The creditor agreed to postpone collection of the debt during the woman’s lifetime.  Our client can now remain in her home. Protecting the Disabled  One Client’s Story  Our client was an elderly, slightly developmentally disabled, monolingual Spanish-speaking Santa Maria couple.  They were being evicted from the home they had rented for 20 years because they used their rent money to pay for a family member’s funeral and repair their only vehicle. Protecting the Disabled  How Did Legal Aid Help?  Legal Aid contacted Adult Protective Services and secured funds to pay off a portion of the past due rent.  Legal Aid then negotiated an agreement with the landlord that allowed the couple to make monthly payments over a 1 year period to pay off the remainder of the past due rent.  Legal Aid also worked with APS to set up a payee account for future rent payments so the couple’s home will not be jeopardized in the future. Preventing Homelessness  One Client’s Story  Our client was a mildly mentally disabled Santa Barbara woman who had been ordered to vacate her apartment while plumbing repairs were being made.  Unable to afford a motel and unaware that the property manager was violating her rights, the woman took her pet cockatiels and started sleeping in the park. Preventing Homelessness  How Did Legal Aid Help?  Because the weather was exceptionally hot at the time, the woman’s pet birds began to suffer; when she sought help for the birds she was referred to Legal Aid.  Legal Aid informed the property manager that his actions were illegal.  Legal Aid called the police and arranged for officers to escort our client and her pet birds back to her apartment. Other Help with Housing  Fair Housing Advocacy  Rental property testing.  Health and Safety Code Enforcement  Working with code enforcement. Unmet Needs  Family Law  Contested divorces  Custody and property disputes  Guardianship applications  Consumer Law  Auto loan repossessions  Credit report corrections  Wage garnishments Volunteer Opportunities         Project Outreach Senior Outreach Legal Resource Centers DVRO Clinics Consumer Debt Clinic Internships Fundraising Committees Board of Directors How to Support Legal Aid         Special Event Sponsorship “Justice for All” Fund Monthly Pledge House Parties Cy Pres Awards Annual Auction Endowment Gift Bequest Budget Revenue Donations & Special Events Amount $170,000 Percent 23% Government Grants Foundation Grants Bar Grants Fees Total Revenue $235,750 $138,000 $146,400 $49,400 $739,175 31% 19% 20% 7% 100% Expenses Labor Professional Fees $548,704 $16,100 75% 2% Program Costs Fundraising Costs Total Expenses $144,790 $23,400 $732,995 20% 3% 100% Net $6,180 0.8% Revenue Revenue Sources Fees 7% Donations & Special Events 23% Bar Grants 20% Foundation Grants 19% Government Grants 31% Expenses Expenses by Category Fundraising Costs 3% Program Costs 20% Professional Fees 2% Labor 75% Attorneys & Advocates        Yvonne Cudney, Director of Litigation Ellen Goodstein, Program Director Alex Lambrous, Santa Barbara Robert Test, Lompoc (starts 1/4/06) Jane Wierda, Santa Barbara LRC Diamond Tran, Santa Maria LRC Elizabeth Diaz, DVRO Coordinator Support Staff       Claire Magee, Paralegal Corine Greensky, Intake Coordinator Maribel Aguilera, Intake Coordinator Mari Estrada, Office Manager Jennifer Ohlmacher, Development Audrie Krause, Executive Director Board of Directors  Officers      Philip Sinco, President Garry Tetalman, President-Elect David Thurber, Vice President Molora Vadnais, Secretary Barbara Tzur, Treasurer Board of Directors  Members       Tim Allison Yvette Andrade James Cordes Allan Ghitterman David Landecker Jennifer Raphael Where to Find Us  Offices  Santa Barbara:  301 E. Canon Perdido St.  Santa Maria:  301 S. Miller St., Ste. 116  Lompoc:  106 S. “C” St., Ste. A Where to Find Us  Legal Resource Centers  Santa Barbara Courthouse  McMahon Law Library  1100 Anapamu St.  Santa Maria Courthouse  Santa Maria Law Library  312-C E. Cook St. Where to Find Us  Project Outreach (weekly, drop-in)  Tuesday: Franklin Community Center, SB  Wednesday: Goleta Community Center  Thursday: Westside Community Center, SB  Senior Outreach (monthly, appointment)  Carpinteria Senior Center  Goleta Senior Center  Lompoc Senior Center Where to Find Us  Domestic Violence Clinics  Santa Barbara Office  Santa Maria Legal Resource Center  Consumer Debt Clinic  Santa Barbara Legal Resource Center Equal Access to Justice  The Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County  Thank You!