June 14, 2019

Mayor DiNatale & Others Join Celebration to Welcome Community Legal Aid to Fitchburg

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Thomas Navin, Development Director
Community Legal Aid
June 13, 2019
Phone: (413) 727-7115
Email: tnavin@cla-ma.org

Mayor DiNatale & Others Join Celebration to Welcome Community Legal Aid to Fitchburg

On Wednesday, June 12, Community Legal Aid welcomed members of the community, representatives from state and local agencies, non-profit groups, and local attorneys to an Open House to celebrate its newly opened office at 515 Main Street in Fitchburg.  Speaking at the Open House, Fitchburg’s Mayor, Stephen L. DiNatale, applauded Community Legal Aid’s work on behalf of low-income and elderly residents, and presented an official citation of congratulations from the city to the organization.

Community Legal Aid (CLA) is a non-profit organization that offers free civil (non-criminal) legal services for low-income and elderly residents throughout central and western Massachusetts. Community Legal Aid works to assure fairness for all in the justice system, protecting homes, livelihoods, health and families. The Fitchburg office is one of five full time offices, the others are located in Pittsfield, Northampton, Springfield and Worcester.

Speaking at the event, local Attorney Charles Vander Linden, a former member of Community Legal Aid’s board, explained that this new office provides residents of Fitchburg, Leominster and surrounding communities of North Central Massachusetts greater access to vital free, civil legal services.

Weayonnoh Nelson-Davis, Managing Attorney for the Worcester and Fitchburg offices, spoke about the types of cases Community Legal Aid is already working on in North Central Massachusetts: advocating for an elderly client in Fitchburg to prevent her utilities being shut off; helping a child in Gardner with special needs to obtain special education services and supports at school; assisting a Vietnam Veteran in obtaining Veteran’s Benefits; and helping a blind client obtain disability benefits to which she is entitled.  Other cases Community Legal Aid may include assisting victims of domestic violence with divorce or child custody, or representing tenants who face unlawful eviction or discrimination. 

If you or someone your know has a civil legal problem and would like to apply for services, please call 855-252-5342. To learn more about Community Legal Aid, and the services it provides, visit communitylegal.org.