Beth Ann, 28, grew up in a home where being a female was of little value. Her father and brother spent years telling her she was insignificant. To keep her in her place, Beth Ann’s father would often beat her. One time he beat her in the backyard where a neighbor saw what was happening…
Toni came to Legal Aid seeking help with a mortgage loan that was at risk of foreclosure. Years ago, Toni and her husband purchased their home together. Shortly before his death, and unbeknownst to Toni, her husband had taken out a mortgage on their home solely in his name. It had been his intention to…
Arturo, who is legally blind and cannot work, struggled to get by on meager monthly payments he received under the Supplemental Aid to the Blind program. He contacted Legal Aid after receiving a notice from the Missouri Family Support Division that his Supplemental Aid to the Blind benefits were being terminated and he had been…
Although Roger served in the National Guard for five years, his service did not qualify him to receive medical care or benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Roger has ongoing mental health problems, some of which stemmed from being homeless for over 20 years. Roger was unable to obtain medical treatment because of his…
Joanna was tricked into buying the mortgage on a vacant and blighted home in Kansas City’s urban core by an investor who had purchased the property upon a prior foreclosure. Joanna is low-income but she was promised the investor would rent out the home and repay the mortgage with the revenue made by renting the…
Every year, Legal Aid of Western Missouri provides free legal assistance and representation on civil (noncriminal) matters to thousands of your neediest neighbors in our 40-county service area. When they have nowhere else to turn, low-income families and individuals, elders, and people with disabilities look to Legal Aid for help to secure the most basic necessities…
At the Tenant Legal Help Clinic, a Legal Aid attorney met with Meg, who was being evicted for allegedly not paying her rent. Meg maintained she had in fact paid all her rent, including late fees. The attorney explained to Meg what evidence she would need to submit to the Court in order to win…
Fred 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 was also having an issue with his subsidized housing. One of Legal Aid’s housing team attorneys accepted the housing…
Weldon is a disabled man living on a small fixed income. He contacted Legal Aid after his home was foreclosed on and he faced imminent eviction. Due to his poor health, Weldon was unable to find appropriate housing quickly and needed to delay his eviction. In reviewing Weldon’s case, his Legal Aid attorney realized that…
The Municipal Court Defense Unit of Legal Aid began representing Mary in April. Mary had a driving while suspended case as well as several other driving charges. Her Legal Aid attorney advised Mary on how to get back her driver’s license and she followed the instructions. Due to Mary’s hard work and her attorney’s advocacy,…
