Impact Stories
Fighting discrimination in housing
In 2023, CLA’s Fair Housing team began investigating a large affordable housing complex where tenants with disabilities complained of being wrongly denied accommodations that would provide them equal access to their housing.
Alfred’s Story
Alfred*, had resided in his apartment for over 12 years. A disabled Veteran, Alfred had sustained a permanent injury as a…
Preventing homelessness when disaster strikes
A case from earlier this year highlights the hardship our low-income neighbors face when disaster strikes. A state representative from…
Isabella’s Story
Community Legal Aid (CLA) is deeply grateful for the Barr Foundation’s support of its education law work in Hampden County.…
Jessi’s Story
In one case handled by CLA’s CORI/Re-Entry Unit, Staff Attorney Annie Maurer was able to help a client, “Jessi,” a…
Jim’s Story
“Jim” is an elderly Veteran who served on active duty during the Vietnam war. He was referred to CLA by…
Matthew’s Story
Pictured: Matthew (Left) with Education Law, Staff Attorney Molly Jane Thoms (Right) Last winter, CLA Staff Attorney Molly Jane Thoms…
Sammy’s Story
CLA’s Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime (CLAVC) Initiative helps victims of crime with civil legal problems related to…
Edward’s Story
In one case handled by CLA’s CLAVC Unit, 83-year-old “Edward” had been the victim of a sophisticated scam in which…
Martin’s Story
Client case: Martin’s Story In one case, a doctor at UMass referred a patient, “Martin,” suffering from COPD, asthma, and cancer…
Joey’s Story
Client case: Joey’s Story One case DCF referred to CLA’s Family Preservation Project involved a 5-year-old boy, “Joey.” DCF told Joey’s…
Lynda & Ada’s Story
Lynda (left) and Ada (right) with fair housing Attorney Tanya Mamootil Client case: Lynda & Ada’s Story Lynda and Ada have…
Fighting Housing Discrimination
The Fair Housing team recently assisted a tenant, “Carol.” The housing authority which administers Carol’s Section 8 rental assistance sent…
Elizabeth’s Family
A week before Christmas, “Elizabeth” and her two young children were facing an eviction in housing court. Elizabeth had fallen…
Tony’s Story
Antonio Rivera, who goes by “Tony,” was referred to Community Legal Aid through our Worcester Medical-Legal Partnership* with UMass Memorial…
Offering Second Chances
Criminal records (known in Massachusetts as Criminal Offender Record Information, or “CORI”) can make it hard to find a job…
Hampden County Client Jorge Ortiz-Vazquez
In another powerful impact case, CLA Attorney Uri Strauss won an important victory for Massachusetts tenants in Morse v. Ortiz-Vazquez.…
Natasha’s Story
“When DUA stopped my unemployment benefits, I was under extreme pressure. Thanks to Community Legal Aid for aiding me in…
Dolores’s Story
“Dolores” was rushed to the emergency room by ambulance and hospitalized with acute pneumonia for more than a week. Despite…
Joy’s Home
Community Legal Aid represented “Joy,” a single mother of two young children living in Fitchburg. Joy’s apartment had several major…
Anna’s Story
“Anna” came to the United States from Poland after meeting her fiancé online. They were married almost immediately after her…
Crystal’s Story
When Crystal Wells’s name came to the top of the waitlist in Franklin County for a Housing Choice Voucher, she quickly submitted her application.
Sarah’s Story
Our expanded presence in northern Worcester County is enabling us to help local residents like “Sarah,” who came to CLA…
Jack’s Story
*Jack uses the gender neutral pronouns “they/them.” During Jack’s service in the U.S. Navy, they survived a number of traumatic…
Michelle’s Story
A single mother of two children, “Michelle” worked as a personal care assistant, a job that gave her flexibility to…
Michael
Community Legal Aid recently won an important case for a disabled worker. A graduate of Anna Maria College with a…
Sasha
Sasha came to CLA in early 2018. A single mother of three children, ages 11, 13, 15, she had recently…
Ted
The bank notified Ted that the check he was asked to deposit was fraudulent, his account was overdrawn, and he owed almost $2,000...
Manuel
CLA halted the foreclosure process until a decision could be made on Mr. Ramos' disability claim.
TracyLee
“My stomach dropped when I saw the eviction letter… We didn't do anything wrong, but an eviction just feels so personal. This is where my kids have grown up.” CLA helped TracyLee prevent an illegal eviction and stay in her home.
Mindy
When Mindy’s ex-partner was jailed for abuse, she thought she and her daughter could start afresh. But when he was released from jail two years later, he tracked her down and threatened further abuse. CLA helped Mindy protect her family from the abuser, permanently.
Laurie
Laurie was working two full-time jobs to support her children and make payments on her mortgage. When her home was illegally foreclosed on and sold at auction, she had 48 hours to leave. CLA helped Laurie to overturn the eviction and keep her home.
Joel
Joel had a medical insurance problem that was seriously impacting his quality of life. Feeling desperate and taken advantage of, he turned to CLA.
Giving
Spotlight
Antonio Rivera, who goes by “Tony,” was referred to Community Legal Aid through our Worcester …
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