April 28, 2020

Rep. Trahan announces funding for local legal aid programs

BY Emma MurphyLowell Sun

LOWELL — Two legal aid organizations will receive a federal grant funding through the CARES Act.

Monday, U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan announced that Community Legal Aid and Northeast Legal Aid would receive $398,685 in funding, according to a press release from Trahan’s office. Both organizations provide legal assistance to low-income individuals and families in Massachusetts’ 3rd Congressional District, which Trahan represents.

Northeast Legal Aid, which has offices in Lawrence and Lowell, will receive $151,749. The remaining $246,936 will go to Community Legal Aid which has offices in Fitchburg, according to the release.

“COVID-19 has left so many of our most vulnerable residents in Northeast Massachusetts needing remote legal representation in evictions, domestic violence and unemployment cases – federal funding will allow us to work remotely at full capacity to meet the need,” Executive Director of Northeast Legal Aid George Weber said in the release.

The CARES Act provided $50 million for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) to help provide civil legal assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will help organizations develop and improve telework capacity, purchase new equipment and cover other costs. Grantees are also receiving technical assistance from LSC to provide remote services.

“This funding will allow Community Legal Aid and legal services programs around the country to provide immediate, meaningful legal assistance to some of the most vulnerable members of our communities affected by the coronavirus crisis, including our neighbors who are struggling to access unemployment and other government benefits, trying to support their children with special needs who are attending school remotely, and who need to access the courts for emergency matters. The funding will also allow us to expand our telework capacity so that our staff can continue helping clients while remaining safe,” Executive Director of Community Legal Aid Jonathan L. Mannina said in the release.

Mannina said Community Legal Aid is grateful to the Massachusetts congressional delegation, including Trahan, for “including funding for civil legal services in the CARES Act.”

“This pandemic does not discriminate based on how much an individual makes, but its impact on our community’s most vulnerable can be devastating. We know that COVID-19 has caused an increased demand for legal services for low-income individuals and families, meaning that organizations like Community Legal Aid and Northeast Legal Aid are now more important than ever. This federal investment will strengthen their ability to help families get through this unprecedented crisis,” Trahan said in the release.