CENTRAL VIRGINIA LEGAL AID SOCIETY

Legal Aid provides free legal assistance in civil matters to low-income and elderly residents. They handle cases involving housing, divorce, custody, spousal, adoptions, consumer, public benefits/welfare, food stamps, Medicaid, social security, elderly, unemployment compensation, rights of the handicapped and wills. Their service area covers the cities of Richmond and Petersburg, and the counties of Charles City (elderly only), Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, Goochland and Powhatan.

Programs Supported by the Community Action Fund:

Domestic Violence Victim Advocacy Project provides free legal advice and representation to low-income victims of domestic violence in order to increase the health and safety of victims and their children. New clients are accepted five days a week. Prospective clients are screened for income eligibility over the telephone and, if eligible, referred to either a staff or pro bono attorney for services. Most of the cases handled involve protective orders, custody, and child and/or spousal support. By helping victims obtain protective orders against their abusers, custody of their children, and financial support, the program enables them to protect themselves and their children from future physical and mental harm.

Legal aid services for older adults concentrates in the areas of Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare issues, disability planning, guardianship, consumer and debt problems, estate issues, real property problems, and landlord-tenant law. The program offers telephone advice, in-person counseling with a staff attorney, emergency assistance, preparation of documents such as powers of attorney and deeds, and full representation before administrative agencies and in court. The program also conducts public education by preparing and distributing legal information pamphlets and providing an attorney to speak to senior citizen organizations about legal issues. 

Southside Homelessness Reduction Program provides legal assistance to low income individuals and families who are homeless, or at-risk of homelessness. Attorneys work with clients on income maintenance problems (ex. Social Security, SSI, Medicaid), domestic issues, foreclosure problems, and bankruptcies. In addition to these services, clients can receive legal advice pertaining to issues that could affect the stability of their housing situation.