Press Releases – Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy

Pro Bono Go: North Carolina’s New One-Stop Shop for Pro Bono Opportunities

Posted on October 25, 2023

Visit ProBonoGo.org to browse pro bono opportunities and set up customized email alerts

North Carolina’s civil justice community is kicking off this year’s National Celebration of Pro Bono by launching Pro Bono Go, a statewide platform for legal professionals seeking pro bono service that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of North Carolinians in need.

Created by the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center in partnership with Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, Legal Aid of North Carolina and Pisgah Legal Services, Pro Bono Go is a new online clearinghouse of pro bono opportunities provided by the state’s leading civil legal aid and public-interest legal organizations.

Pro Bono Go allows legal professionals to visit one website to find pro bono opportunities from the state’s leading civil justice organizations. Volunteers can search and filter opportunities by keyword, location, practice area, type (ex: cases, clinics, etc.), and sponsor organization. Volunteers can also set up customized email alerts when new opportunities matching their preferences hit the site. Volunteers do not need to create an account and never have to remember a password.

Pro Bono Go uses the Pro Bono Matters software created by SavvySuit, a Florida-based software development company that builds access to justice software and products for the private bar.

About Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy provides those in need with information, advice and advocacy in consumer protection, home preservation, health care access and public benefits, immigration, tax assistance and more. Our mission is to pursue justice for those in need. Our vision is to build a just community, where all people are treated fairly and have access to legal representation to meet their basic human needs of safety, economic security, and stability. Learn more: charlottelegaladvocacy.org

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The Media Center Hub serves as a centralized platform to access our press releases and other relevant resources. It is designed to provide you with easy and convenient access to the information you need to create compelling stories about our organization. To explore the Media Center Hub, visit here.

Centro de Apoyo Legal de Charlotte ofrece ayuda gratuita en temas relacionados con el final de la vida a adultos mayores, con el inglés como segundo idioma

Posted on August 29, 2023

Charlotte, Carolina del Norte, Agosto 29 de 2023 – En el Centro de Apoyo Legal de Charlotte, creemos que cada persona tiene derecho a acceder a recursos legales esenciales, sin importar el idioma o su origen. En este nuevo año fiscal, queremos presentar nuestra iniciativa especial dentro del programa de Servicios Legales para Adultos Mayores, dedicada a personas mayores con inglés como segundo idioma (ESL – English as a Second Language) en la comunidad de Mecklenburg.

“El idioma nunca debería ser un obstáculo para asegurar el futuro y tomar decisiones informadas. Nuestro objetivo principal es extender nuestro apoyo a los adultos mayores con inglés como segundo idioma que podrían enfrentarse a barreras lingüísticas cuando se trata de planificar el final de sus vidas. Estamos comprometidos con trabajar para acercarnos, conectar y garantizar que esta comunidad reciba la ayuda que necesita”, mencionó Soreé Finley, Co-Directora de Servicios Legales para Adultos Mayores en el Centro de Apoyo Legal de Charlotte.

Entendemos que las complejidades de la vida a veces pueden ser abrumadoras, y por eso el Centro de Apoyo Legal de Charlotte puede asesorar gratuitamente a los adultos mayores de ESL con una planificación patrimonial sencilla. Desde redactar testamentos hasta poderes notariales y directivas anticipadas. Para beneficiarse de estos servicios, las personas deberán tener 60 años o más y residir en el Condado de Mecklenburg.

Si la comunidad desea conocer más información sobre los servicios que ofrecemos pueden comunicarse con nuestra línea directa de Servicios Legales para Adultos Mayores al 980-353-3734 o visitar nuestro sitio web charlottelegaladvocacy.org.

Acerca del Centro de Apoyo Legal de Charlotte

El Centro de Apoyo Legal de Charlotte brinda información a quienes necesitan asesoramiento y defensa en la protección del consumidor, preservación del hogar, acceso a atención médica y beneficios públicos, inmigración, asistencia tributaria y más. Nuestra misión es buscar justicia para quienes la necesitan. Nuestra visión es construir una comunidad justa, donde todas las personas sean tratadas con equidad y tengan acceso a representación legal para satisfacer sus necesidades humanas básicas de seguridad, protección y estabilidad económica. Conozca más información en: https://charlottelegaladvocacy.org/what-we-do/simple-estate-planning/.

Empowering Charlotte’s Senior Population: the Advocacy Center and their Local Partners Wills Clinic Benefited 25 Clients in Estate Planning

Posted on June 28, 2023

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, in collaboration with Bank of America, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP and Mayer Brown hosted a highly successful Wills Clinic on June 27^th, 2023. This event aimed to support older individuals who may not have the resources to pay for legal services, providing assistance to Charlotte’s senior population in drafting simple wills and ensuring their legal affairs are in order. The event, held in Huntersville, witnessed an overwhelming response, with over 25 clients benefiting from this service.

“At the Advocacy Center, we firmly believe that everyone should have access to legal assistance, regardless of their financial resources,” said Soreé Finley, Legal Services for the Elderly Co-Director at Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy. “The Wills Clinic was an opportunity for older individuals to obtain the legal support they need, ensuring their wishes are respected and giving them a sense of empowerment and peace.”

Throughout the day, a team of attorneys and legal professionals volunteered their time and expertise to offer personalized guidance to each client. These dedicated professionals diligently worked alongside the elderly, ensuring that their unique needs and preferences were accurately reflected in their drafted wills. The event fostered an environment of justice, trust and compassion, allowing each participant to feel heard and empowered in making crucial decisions about their future.

The turnout and positive feedback from the clients reaffirmed the dire need for such services within our community. It served as a reminder that the Charlotte’s senior population often face significant challenges when it comes to accessing legal resources and understanding the intricacies of estate planning. The Advocacy Center and its partners remain committed to addressing this need and ensuring that no elderly individual in Charlotte is left without the necessary tools to secure their legacy.

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy would like to express sincere gratitude to our esteemed partners at Bank of America, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP and Mayer Brown for their unwavering support and commitment to improving the lives of our elderly population. We also extend our appreciation to the dedicated volunteers and legal professionals who generously contributed their time and expertise to make this event a resounding success.

For further information or if someone is interested in getting a simple will and other estate documents, please visit our website https://charlottelegaladvocacy.org/ or contact our Legal Services for the Elderly hotline at 980-353-3734.

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CLT Center for Legal Advocacy Offers Assistance to Migrants amid Ending of Title 42

Posted on May 11, 2023

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy announced its commitment to assisting migrants affected by the ending of Title 42, a provision that has been used to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States during times of public health emergencies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) implemented Title 42 in March 2020 as a measure to control the spread of COVID-19.

“With the ending of Title 42 today, the Advocacy Center recognizes the need for urgent support to migrants who may have been impacted by this provision. We are committed to the protection and support of our community and to defending all immigrants—both the newly—arrived and those who have been here longer—in removal proceedings”, affirms Sharon Dove, Director of the Advocacy Center’s Immigrant Justice Program.

The Pro Bono Room consultation empowers the individual to make an informed choice about whether to spend money on legal fees, which can be extraordinarily expensive. Immigrants are also provided with guidance on how to represent themselves pro se. Advocacy Center hours in the Pro Bono Room are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The Charlotte Immigration Court is located at 5701 Executive Center Drive, Charlotte, NC in the fourth-floor suite.

The ending of Title 42 comes at a time when the United States is facing a surge of migrants at the southern border. To stem the flow, the Biden administration will immediately enact a “transit ban” that will deny asylum to vulnerable migrants who do not first attempt to seek asylum in countries through which they transit on their way to the United States.

“For us the transit ban policy makes no sense given the political and economic disarray and rampant gang violence in the countries that immigrants pass through on their way from Latin America to the US. Those countries have difficulty protecting their own nationals–let alone newcomers. The transit ban is a thinly-veiled attempt to drastically reduce the number of individuals eligible for asylum by limiting asylum to Mexicans and Canadians.”

Many of these migrants are fleeing violence, poverty, and persecution in their home countries, and are seeking a better life in the United States. Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy recognizes the importance of providing support and assistance to these individuals and is committed to doing everything possible to ensure that their needs are met. “We believe that every person has the right to a safe and dignified life, regardless of where they come from,” said Sharon Dove.

We urgently need community support to ensure that our organization can continue to provide critical assistance to the many vulnerable migrants affected by the end of Title 42. Community donations will enable us to expand our services and support more individuals in need, including those who may have been impacted by the policy changes. To donate you can visit this link https://charlottelegaladvocacy.org/donate/ and help us ensure that no migrant is left without hope.

We are here to provide support to those who need it most, and we encourage everyone in need to reach out to us for free assistance: Client Helpline 704-376-1600, Outside Mecklenburg County: 800-438-1254. Línea de Ayuda en Español: 800-247-1931.

About Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy

N.C. Medicaid Redetermination Begins as the end of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Draws Near

Posted on April 19, 2023

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy shares rights and recourse for beneficiaries

Charlotte, N.C. – Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy has received calls and inquiries from clients who are concerned about Medicaid redetermination, a process the Department of Social Services (DSS) started earlier this month to verify those who receive Medicaid are still eligible.

Beneficiaries will be contacted by DSS through May 31, 2024, to determine eligibility; those who are no longer eligible will have their Medicaid coverage reduced or terminated. Medicaid redetermination dovetails with the end of pandemic-related relief in advance of the May 11, 2023, expiration of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency. More information is available on the Advocacy Center’s website.

“Since March 2020, Medicaid beneficiaries have had the peace of mind knowing that they would not lose health coverage in the midst of the pandemic,” explained Toussaint Romain, chief executive officer of the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy. “While we understand pandemic aid cannot last forever, challenges related to COVID-19 are still very present and real for those struggling to keep employment, health coverage and food on the table.”

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy urges clients to:

Contact their local DSS office to ensure contact information is up to date.
Watch for mail, texts or phone calls from DSS and respond promptly.
Create an enhanced e-PASS account to update information, upload documents and view benefits.

● Reach DSS by phone, including the right to leave a message instead of remaining on hold, and to have a call returned within a reasonable time.
● Request and receive help from DSS to obtain the information needed to redetermine eligibility.
● Have DSS accept a detailed statement about income, assets and most other facts needed to verify eligibility, in writing or verbally, without providing supporting documents.
● Not to be asked to verify information that DSS can obtain through electronic sources or to verify information that is not needed to redetermine eligibility.
● Have Medicaid eligibility considered under all categories, including an alleged disability, before Medicaid can be terminated or reduced.
● Receive written notice that states what action has been taken and the reason it has been taken before Medicaid is stopped or reduced.

Thanks to a lawsuit filed by Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy and the National Health Law Program, Medicaid beneficiaries are entitled to specific protections and rights during the redetermination process. These rights were defined as the result of a settlement reached on October 14, 2022, in Franklin v. Kinsley, (formerly known as Hawkins v. Cohen), which requires North Carolina Medicaid to change its procedures, forms and notices in redetermining Medicaid eligibility for the 2.8 million North Carolinians currently enrolled in Medicaid. Where Medicaid redetermination is concerned, beneficiaries have the right to:

If their Medicaid is terminated, Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy urges clients to:

● File an appeal during which beneficiaries:
○ Will have 60 days from the date of the notice to ask for an appeal.
○ Can request Medicaid benefits be continued while the appeal is reviewed, if the appeal is filed within 10 business days
● Investigate whether they are eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for Medicare or Health Insurance MarketplaceⓇ coverage
● Call Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy if they feel their coverage was wrongfully reduced or terminated (call 704-376-1600 and press 2).

About Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy Welcomes Partner Agency, Share Charlotte, as Tenant Organizations Offered Shared Vision at 2/23 Event

Posted on February 23, 2023

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy officially welcomed SHARE Charlotte as a new tenant of the Advocacy Center, at a special event held early today with CEO Toussaint Romain and SHARE’s Managing Director, Melissa Hovey. Both leaders discussed the importance of strengthening community-based solutions at a SHARE-a-latte event hosted at their shared space located at 5535 Albemarle Road in Charlotte. SHARE Charlotte connects and supports more than 600 local nonprofits with engagement opportunities, one of whom is The Advocacy Center which pursues justice for those in need. Learn more at charlottelegaladvocacy.org and sharecharlotte.org.

Sharing space in The Advocacy Center’s new east Charlotte location will increase SHARE Charlotte’s visibility in a diverse and growing part of Charlotte that is highly accessible. Likewise The Advocacy Center will benefit from increased awareness among SHARE Charlotte’s vast network of nonprofit partners which have the potential to create partnerships and synergy for the benefit of The Advocacy Center’s client base. Both organizations are committed to fostering a
spirit of networking and relationship building with the Charlotte community in mind.

“The vision of Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy is to build a just community where all people are treated fairly and have access to legal representation to meet their basic human needs. We
cannot achieve that vision alone,” said Romain. “SHARE supports like minded nonprofit organizations in Charlotte and beyond with opportunities to connect, grow and thrive.” “The need in our community is so great. In order to empower Charlotte neighbors to achieve safety, security and stability, it takes every agency and organization working closely together,” said Hovey. “We are excited about the natural intersections that will occur from sharing space.”

Volunteers are cornerstone for both The Advocacy Center and SHARE Charlotte, which thrive due to the involvement of the Charlotte public, once ranked eleventh in the nation for volunteerism. In 2022, The Advocacy Center coordinated over 6,000 pro bono hours from attorneys and law firms to help clients with issues ranging from asylum and immigration support, to criminal record expunction and estate planning. That same year, SHARE coordinated 4,200 volunteer opportunities for nonprofit organizations like Classroom Central and Roof Above.

SHARE Charlotte started as a single platform built for Charlotteans to find and connect with local nonprofits who need support and volunteers. In December 2012, that platform went live with 87 nonprofit partners. In ten years, the platform has grown to 624 nonprofit partners, representing approximately 85% of all active 501c3 organizations in Mecklenburg County. SHARE’s community-wide giving campaigns and events have influenced $42M in financial support to local nonprofits and 22,000 volunteer opportunities.

Since 1967, The Advocacy Center’s staff and pro bono attorneys have provided comprehensive civil legal services for the region’s low-income residents. In 2022 alone, the organization served
5,300 clients, more than 900 of whom were non-English speakers. (This number includes legal assistance provided to 170 veterans, 513 seniors and 196 unaccompanied migrant children.) The organization obtained $11.6M in financial benefits for clients, supporting their health and economic security.

About Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy

About SHARE Charlotte

SHARE Charlotte is Powering Social Good in Charlotte by offering simple ways for neighbors, nonprofits and businesses to come together through good to support our local community. We do this by providing a one-stop shop to engage with more than 600+ Mecklenburg County nonprofits at sharecharlotte.org, and by connecting our nonprofit partners to valuable local resources and opportunities. We envision a Charlotte united through GOOD! Learn more on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Emergency Food Stamp Allotments End This Month Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy Shares Four Steps for Those Impacted

Posted on February 22, 2023

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy is raising awareness of a sudden pandemic-related public benefit decrease that will impact many low-income families. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service announced that the temporary increase in SNAP benefits (known as food stamps) put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic will end this February. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 law recently passed by Congress ends the emergency allotment of an additional $95 per month or more that families have received since March 2020. There will be no emergency allotment included in families’ March 2023 benefit. More information is available on the USDA’s website; easy to understand resources for families affected can be found on the Advocacy Center’s website.

The Advocacy Center has four recommendations for North Carolina residents:

Review current SNAP benefits through www.ebtedge.com, the EBTEdge mobile app or by calling the North Carolina EBT Call Center at 1-888-622-7328.
Compare. Those not already receiving the maximum monthly benefit may be able to increase benefits by reporting changes, including certain income and expenses.
Contact DSS to report changes.
a. There are several circumstances that may result in increased benefits such as: decreased income, increases in rent, mortgage or property taxes, and added expenses of caring for a child or disabled adult.
b. The Advocacy Center also encourages heads of households to ensure the Department of Social Services has their current address.
Call an advocate if something goes wrong. Those who have taken the above steps and still think something is wrong with their food stamps should contact a legal advocate for assistance. The Advocacy Center helps those in Mecklenburg County, and Legal Aid of North Carolina and Pisgah Legal Services provide support for those in surrounding areas.

About Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy