For years Kristi’s husband, Daniel, beat her severely. He sexually assaulted her, ripped out her hair, and during the last beating, he gagged their young child. That night, the neighbors called 911. When the police arrived, Daniel told Kristi to pretend she was asleep and threatened to kill her if she opened the door. Despite…
Jeff was referred to Legal Aid by a community partner. His Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments had been suspended for an unknown reason. While his Legal Aid attorney was investigating his SSI benefits, she learned he also had an issue with his subsidized housing. One of Legal Aid’s housing team attorneys accepted the housing case.…
Cassie lives alone on a fixed income. One day, she got a phone call from someone claiming to be a debt collector who threatened her with arrest and foreclosure if she didn’t pay a debt from the early 2000s—a debt she had no knowledge of. The collector tricked Cassie into paying $2,800 on her credit…
Our first ever Smarty Party was so much fun!! The trivia competition was fierce, but it was Lily & The Lady Lawyers who emerged victorious, claiming the top spot. We want to give a huge shout-out and heartfelt thanks our amazing Smarty Party sponsors! Without their generous support, this event wouldn’t be possible. BON…
Legal Aid of Western Missouri’s Urban Homesteading Program FAQ Preguntas frecuentes sobre el programa Urban Homesteading de Legal Aid of Western Missouri What is the Urban Homesteading Program? ¿Qué es el Programa (Urban Homesteading)? A program for individuals who have the skills and resources available to rehabilitate an abandoned house through a partnership with…
Urban homesteading is a unique opportunity for individuals with construction skills and/or experience in home repair to acquire and rehab homes in poor condition. Eligible properties are truly abandoned and cannot be purchased or otherwise acquired. The houses must be 1. Vacant for at least six months continuously; 2. Delinquent on taxes for at least two…
CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO OPEN GALLERY This property is in the Indian Mound Neighborhood Association, one of our community partners. The neighborhood association chose a 60-year-old man with over two decades of construction experience to be the Urban Homesteader. He immigrated to this country from Cuba as a teenager and has been living here…
CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO OPEN GALLERY The current owner-occupant of this Neighbors United for Action property in Kansas City renovated it under the Urban Homesteader Project. The neighborhood association sought assistance from Legal Aid’s Adopt-A-Neighborhood Project in dealing with four vacant homes on the same block. Legal professionals from Kutak Rock law firm and…
One night, Ericka’s husband brutally attacked her with a crowbar. The police connected her with a domestic violence advocate who referred her to Legal Aid for help with an order of protection. Ericka wanted to ensure that she and her daughter were included on the order. Her daughter witnessed the attack and was afraid her…
Anita had worked retail and restaurant jobs her entire life. When she reached full retirement age, she began receiving her Social Security benefits. She could not live off of her retirement benefit alone, so she continued to work part-time at a local department store. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Anita’s doctor told her she should…
