June 6, 2019

Community Legal Aid opens new Fitchburg office

Leominster Champion
June 5, 2019

FITCHBURG — Community Legal Aid is proud to announce the opening of a new office at 515 Main St. in Fitchburg.

With this new office, CLA aims to increase access to vital legal assistance for residents of Fitchburg, Leominster and the other communities of North Central Massachusetts.

Community Legal Aid is the nonprofit civil legal aid program providing free civil (non-criminal) legal help for the low-income and elderly residents of Central and Western Massachusetts. CLA helps people access safe and stable housing; get unemployment, disability and other benefits to stabilize their income; break free from domestic violence and obtain needed services in school. Community Legal Aid works to assure fairness for all in the justice system, protecting homes, livelihoods, health and families.

Attorney Lauren De Oliveria, who specializes in family law; Attorney Eleanor Cashmore, a benefits specialist; Attorney Daniel Schneider, who focuses on housing law, and receptionist Raydi Soto will make up the initial Fitchburg team. The office will be managed by CLA Managing Attorney Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies. CLA is in the process of hiring other staff who will join the Fitchburg team in the coming months.

CLA, then known as Legal Assistance Corp. of Central Massachusetts, had an office in Fitchburg for many years. Unfortunately, in the mid-1990s, funding cuts forced that office to close. While CLA has continued serving the residents of North Worcester County, the organization had never given up hope of operating a full-service office in the community, and CLA is thrilled to open a Fitchburg office once again.

There will be an Open House Celebration at the office on Wednesday, June 12 from 4:30-7 p.m. so CLA can connect with neighbors and the North Worcester County community. Please RSVP to hblashfield@cla-ma.org or call (508) 425-2805 if you would like to attend.