Nonproit Spotlight

Community Legal Aid Services knows it helps change lives.

The nonprofit law firm provides legal representation for low-income individuals and families in cases where economic stability is threatened, a home could be lost, or when individual safety or health is threatened.

“Too often the poor and elderly are preyed upon by those who know they have a limited ability to defend themselves,” said Sara E. Strattan, executive director. “Many of them are living on the edge of extreme poverty and living paycheck to paycheck.”

She said that when Leagal Aid can help these individuals avoid an improper wage garnishment or challenge a credit card error, “we are making a real difference in their lives.

“Our goal at Legal Aid is to use the law to help low-income people access the resources they need to provide for their basic needs, such as food, shelter and safety. Legal Aid’s staff, board and dedicated volunteers ensure that everyone has the opportunity to tell their story in court and challenge injustice.”

The most common legal problems Stark County applicants have been experiencing involve basic family law issues such as domestic violence and custody-child support (48 percent), housing law, including problems related to foreclosure or landlord-tenant issues (18 percent) and consumer law issues such as bankruptcy and collections (16 percent).

Since the economic downturn, requests for assistance have increased by 30 percent, Strattan said.

Cases are handled through Legal Aid’s Volunteer Legal Services Program. Private attorneys throughout the Akron, Canton, and Youngstown area provide free or reduced cost representation to clients. The agency also provides community education through classes such as one for homeowners facing foreclosure, or one for those being sued in credit card collection actions.

“When we can help a grandparent gain custody of a child so they can enroll them in school and make decisions on their behalf, or when we help a victim of domestic violence gain economic freedom from her abuser, we know that we are having a life changing impact on the life of that individual,” she said. “The law is powerful, and we use that power every day to improve the lives of people struggling in our communities.”





WHO: Community Legal Aid Services, Inc.

WHAT:  A nonprofit law firm which provides free legal representation for low income individuals and families.

 BOARD MEMBERS: Richard R. Kuhn of Canton, president; JoAnne Wright of Youngstown, vice president; Robert Christian of New Springfield, treasurer; David Ferrell of Canton, secretary; Kim Akins of Youngstown, Valerie Baity of Canton, Richard Benson of Wooster, Robert H. Cyperski of Canton, Thelma D’Antonio of Struthers, Stephen Funk of Akron, Nancy Grim of Kent, Neil Klingshirn of Akron, Geneva Reid of Warren, and Tammie Riley Jones of Boardman.

PROCEEDS: Provide legal services for low income people with nowhere else to turn, including victims of domestic violence who want to make a fresh start in a safe home, homeowners facing foreclosure, grandparents seeking court orders so that they can access medical care and enroll their grandchildren in school, working families and senior citizens who have been taken advantage of in consumer transactions, and many others.

DONATIONS:  www.communitylegalaid.org or send to Jane Clarke, Community Legal Aid, 306 North Market, Canton, Ohio 44702.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: New clients can call the Legal Aid Helpline at 800-998-9454.Ǽ