Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County

It's the end of another month and rent is due for many tenants soon. Tenants who have lost income due to COVID-19 may be at risk of eviction when State protections expire at the end of June. It is important for tenants to take steps now! Rental and utility assistance is now available for eligible Santa Barbara County residents through the United Way of Santa Barbara County (including eligible residents of cities within the County). Hurry and apply today!

The staff at the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County stand in solidarity with survivors on Denim Day! We proudly provide civil legal services to survivors of sexual assault, rape, domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking. #DenimDay To learn more about Denim Day visit : denimdayinfo.org Standing Together to End Sexual Assault - STESA, Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County, North County Rape Crisis & Child Protection Center

This Friday, April 23rd @12pm! Join Legal Aid during your lunch break to learn more about Fair Housing. #lafsbc #fairhousingmonth https://www.zoom.us/join Zoom Meeting ID: 718 7476 3248 Passcode: 8SdAbk

Si ha sido victima de fraude de inmigracion, contactenos para ayudarle.

Starting soon! Today @12pm! Join Legal Aid to learn more about Fair Housing. #lafsbc #fairhousingmonth https://www.zoom.us/join Zoom Meeting ID: 718 7476 3248 Passcode: 8SdAbk

In honor of Fair Housing month, @lafsbc is providing a free, community presentation via #zoomvideoconferencing . Participants will receive an overview of what Fair Housing means, what discriminatory practices can look like, and where to turn for questions. . Join us Friday, April 23rd at 12 noon. The information will be presented in English, but the information can be transcribed into other languages if needed. Please reach out if you’d like more information or have questions... about this presentation. . En honor al mes de la Vivienda Justa, @lafsbc ofrece una presentación comunitaria gratuita a través de #zoomvideoconferencing. Los participantes recibirán una descripción general de lo que significa Vivienda Justa, cómo pueden verse las prácticas discriminatorias y a dónde acudir si tienen preguntas. . Únase a nosotros el viernes 23 de abril a las 12 del mediodía. La presentación se llevará a cabo en inglés, pero la información se puede transcribir a otros idiomas si es necesario. Comuníquese con nosotros si desea obtener más información o si tiene preguntas sobre esta presentación.

Repost from @nationalfairhousingalliance #OTD in 1968, the landmark #FairHousingAct was signed into law, banning discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, and national origin. The law was later amended to protect people on the basis of sex, disability, and familial status. Our fight to fully enforce the law’s provisions continues. #FHAct53 #FairHousingMonth

Did you know: April is Fair Housing Month? @lafsbc is committed to bringing you more information on this important topic through the month. What do you want to know? Stay tuned to learn more and join us for an interactive presentation via #zoomvideoconferencing at the end of the month. . ¿Sabías que abril es el mes de la vivienda justa? @lafsbc se compromete a brindarle más información sobre este importante tema a lo largo del mes. ¿Que quieres saber? Estén atentos para ...obtener más información y únase a nosotros para una presentación interactiva a través de #zoomvideoconferencing a fin de mes. . This year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s theme is Fair Housing: More Than Just Words reflecting the commitment to advancing equity in housing and the importance of increasing public awareness of everyone’s right to fair housing. . Unfortunately, housing discrimination still exists, from individuals and families being denied a place to call home because of the color of their skin or where they come from... said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. Read more at hud.gov #linkinbio . Este año, el tema del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de los EE. UU. (HUD) es "Vivienda justa: más que palabras", que refleja el compromiso de promover la equidad en la vivienda y la importancia de aumentar la conciencia pública sobre el derecho de todos a una vivienda justa. . Desafortunadamente, la discriminación en la vivienda todavía existe, debido a que a individuos y familias se les niega un lugar al que llamar hogar debido al color de su piel o de dónde vienen ..., dijo la Secretaria de HUD, Marcia L. Fudge. Leer más en hud.gov #linkinbio See more

Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County is a non-profit law firm that has provided free legal assistance to Santa Barbara County residents for over 60 years. . Our mission is to provide high-quality civil legal services to low-income and other vulnerable residents in order to ensure equal access to justice. . We change lives through direct representation, legal advice and information, and community education.... . La Fundación de Ayuda Legal del Condado de Santa Bárbara es una firma de abogados sin fines de lucro que ha brindado asistencia legal gratuita a los residentes del Condado de Santa Bárbara durante más de 60 años. . Nuestra misión es brindar servicios legales civiles de alta calidad a residentes de bajos ingresos y otros residentes vulnerables a fin de garantizar un acceso equitativo a la justicia. . Cambiamos vidas a través de la representación directa, el asesoramiento y la información legales y la educación comunitaria. .

April is Fair Housing Month! "Last year, HUD...received more than 7,700 complaints alleging discrimination based on one or more of the Fair Housing Act's seven protected classes: race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, and disability. During that period, the categories with the highest number of complaints were disability and race, respectively." We'll be sharing more information over the next few weeks regarding federal and state fair housing protections. If you are a low-income tenant seeking assistance regarding unlawful discrimination, contact Legal Aid for help. #fairhousing #legalaid #lafsbc #discrimination https://www.lafsbc.org/

The Legal Aid Foundation and the Legal Resource Centers will be closed on Wednesday, March 31st, in honor of the Cesar Chavez holiday. We will reopen on Thursday. Photo: Arthur Schatz/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

We are now open for IN-PERSON SERVICES! This month, our Legal Resource Attorneys resumed in-person services, outdoors at the Santa Barbara Courthouse Mondays and Wednesdays from 9-12pm. It’s been a great few weeks, and our attorneys are certain they have the best office in town (beautiful weather and what a view!). As a reminder, the LRC helps Santa Barbara County residents access self-service legal resources. The Legal Resource Center of Santa Barbara County is staffed by a ...California licensed attorney, and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Assistance is offered in the completion of legal and court documents for various civil matters and infractions, and in properly presenting your case to the court. Please note: outdoor, in-person services are only offered at our SB location 2 days/week. Lompoc and SM services will continue as phone service only. Stop by or call your nearest LRC today. Santa Barbara and Lompoc Phone: 805-568-3303 Santa Maria Phone: 805-691-2457 ¡Ahora estamos abiertos para SERVICIOS EN PERSONA! Este mes, nuestros abogados de recursos legales reanudaron los servicios en persona, al aire libre en el Palacio de Justicia de Santa Bárbara los lunes y miércoles de 9 a 12 pm. Han sido unas semanas maravillosas y nuestros abogados están seguros de que tienen la mejor oficina de la ciudad (¡clima hermoso y qué vista!). Como recordatorio, el LRC ayuda a los residentes del condado de Santa Bárbara a acceder a recursos legales de autoservicio. El Centro de Recursos Legales del Condado de Santa Bárbara cuenta con un abogado con licencia de California y está abierto al público por orden de llegada. Se ofrece asistencia para completar documentos legales y judiciales para diversos asuntos civiles e infracciones, y para presentar adecuadamente su caso ante el tribunal. Tenga en cuenta: los servicios al aire libre y en persona solo se ofrecen en nuestra ubicación de SB 2 días a la semana. Los servicios de Lompoc y SM continuarán como servicio telefónico únicamente. Pase por aquí o llame a su LRC más cercano hoy. Santa Bárbara y Lompoc Teléfono: 805-568-3303 Santa Maria Teléfono: 805-691-2457

More stimulus payments coming! From our friends at Justice In Aging: "The IRS began sending out payments by direct deposit on Friday, March 12. Additional batches of payments will be sent in the coming weeks by direct deposit and through the mail as a check or debit card." For more info, visit the link below.

Repost from @dvs.sb and @crisistextline We agree with @dvs.sb : We have zero tolerance for hate or violence of any kind. Period. . Original post from @crisistextline : The acts of violence that happened in Atlanta are horrific and traumatizing. To the AAPI community, we stand with you against anti-Asian racism and are here to support you. Text SHARE to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor for free, 24/7.... For resources specifically for the Asian community, try @asianmentalhealthcollective, @asianmentalhealthproject and @asiansformentalhealth.

http://housingiskey.com/ IMPORTANT! If you are a RENTER or LANDLORD and have been affected by COVID-related financial distress, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program opens today at 5pm! Find the link to the online application and application in our bio. #linkinbio . It’s important to note: funds will be distributed to landlords and tenants on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS. Reserve your place by going on the website tonight at 5pm. You can find more information on the we...bsite. . ¡IMPORTANTE! Si usted es un ARRENDATARIO o PROPIETARIO y se ha visto afectado por problemas financieros relacionados con COVID, ¡el Programa de Asistencia de Emergencia para el Alquiler abre hoy a las 5 pm! Encuentre el enlace a la solicitud en linea y la solicitud en nuestra biografia. #linkinbio . Es importante tener en cuenta: los fondos se distribuiran a los propietarios e inquilinos segun el PRIMER VENIDO, EL PRIMER SERVICIO. Reserve su lugar visitando el sitio web esta noche a las 5 pm. Puede encontrar mas informacion en el sitio web.

Are you seeking meaningful attorney work? Come join our team. We are recruiting for a Housing & Probate Attorney for our Santa Maria office. If you are passionate about community service and using your legal skills to advance our mission, apply today! Priority consideration will go to those who apply by January 15. Follow the link for details. https://www.lafsbc.org/employment

Actualización: Además de la asistencia para el alquiler y los servicios públicos a través de @unitedwaysb, los inquilinos y propietarios pueden solicitar asistencia para el alquiler a través del Programa de Asistencia de Emergencia para el Alquiler de California a través de www.housingiskey.com #linkinbio. . ¡Las solicitudes abren esta noche, 15 de marzo a las 5 pm! Inicie sesión para postularse. Repost from @unitedwaysb... Las solicitudes ya están abiertas para los pagos de asistencia de alquiler y servicios públicos ofrecidos por el Condado de Santa Bárbara a través de United Way. Todos los residentes del condado de Santa Bárbara que hayan experimentado una pérdida de ingresos debido a la pandemia de COVID-19 y cumplan con las pautas del programa pueden recibir hasta $ 6,000 durante 3 meses. Para obtener más información y postularse, visite: www.unitedwaysb.org/rent o siga el enlace en nuestra biografía. @countyofsb #LiveUnited #SantaBarbara #covid19

Update: In addition to the rental and utility assistance through @unitedwaysb , tenants and landlords may apply for rental assistance through California’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program via www.housingiskey.com #linkinbio . . Applications open tonight, March 15 @ 5pm! Log-on to apply. . Repost from @city_of_carpinteria... APPLICATIONS NOW ACCEPTED FOR RENTAL & UTILITY GRANTS The County of Santa Barbara is now offering Emergency Rental & Utility Assistance through United Way of Santa Barbara County to eligible County of Santa Barbara residents who have experienced a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic and can demonstrate the need for rental support. Upon application approval, recipients may qualify for up to $6,000 over three months toward rental and utility expenses. Applicants can re-apply every three months up to a maximum of 15 months. Assistance payments will be paid directly to landlord and/or utility providers on behalf of the applicant. There are strict eligibility requirements for this funding opportunity. To apply, the income of a household (all individuals on lease agreement, related or unrelated) must be at or below 80% AMI (area median income). This ranges from $66,750 for a one-person household to $125,800 for an eight-person household. For details on eligibility and to access an application, visit https://www.unitedwaysb.org/rent. For additional help or questions, call (805) 965-8591 or email [email protected]. See more

Today is the final day to make a tax-deductible gift for 2020. Will you give the gift of justice today? http://www.lafsbc.org/donate

Many people are anxiously awaiting to receive the next round of stimulus payments. Those who are eligible should receive payments by direct deposit or by mail in the first three weeks of January. We will share info as we learn more. https://www.cnet.com//second-stimulus-check-when-the-irs/.

"This year has been extremely stressful. Thank you for helping to lighten the load and for making such a positive impact in our lives. Legal Aid Client There is still time to gift the gift of justice before year end. It is thanks to people like you that we can provide critical legal services to those in need. Will you make a gift today? http://www.lafsbc.org/donate

The team at the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County would like to thank everyone for supporting our work this year. Your year-end gifts make a real difference in the lives of clients who are facing so much uncertainty this year. Give the gift of justice today! https://www.lafsbc.org/donate https://mailchi.mp/8b6c5ad79/give-the-gift-of-justice-today

Thanks to The New York Times for its recent podcast on the eviction crisis and notes the good work of legal aid attorneys in Georgia to keep a woman and her family sheltered for now. We already had an eviction crisis pre-covid, and the pandemic has made everything worse. https://www.nytimes.com//pandemic-evictions-federal-assist

We're joining the Santa Barbara Tenants Union tonight at 5:30pm to discuss evictions. Hope to "see" you there.

Are you a homeowner and are you experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19? Know your rights. ¿Es propietario de una vivienda y está pasando por dificultades económicas debido al COVID-19? Conoce tus derechos.

Did you know that there's a federal bankruptcy court in Santa Barbara? In honor of Pro Bono week, we would like to thank all of our Pro Bono volunteers who staff the Consumer Debt & Bankruptcy Clinic for self-represented litigants. We truly could not do it without your dedicated support! Thanks to Chief Judge Maureen A. Tighe for issuing the honor roll recognition to this dedicated group. https://www.cacb.uscourts.gov/recognition-pro-bono-voluntee

Tonight! Join us at 5:30pm for a Holiday Happy Hour & Fundraiser. Looking forward to seeing you there. This is a free event but registration is required: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_-dKD0WhHSz2iZpE4Nv2Pcw

Chowder Fest 2020 is canceled, but you can still keep the spirit of Chowder Fest alive.

We're hiring! The Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County has immediate openings for two positions in our Santa Maria office: a Managing Attorney position and a part-time, bilingual Intake Coordinator. If you have a passion for our mission, come join our team. Apply today! http://www.lafsbc.org/employment

How do civil Domestic Violence restraining orders make a difference in the lives of our clients? These orders prevent future abuse against survivors and their children. Criminal courts do not handle child custody matters. A judge may order the restrained person to: - Not contact or go near you, your children, or other relatives - Stay away from your home, work, or your children’s schools - Not have a gun - Follow child custody and visitation orders... and more. Once the judge makes the order, the info is entered into a database accessible by law enforcement. https://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-domesticviolence.htm See more

Legal Aid and the Legal Recource Centers are closed Monday, October 12. We will reopen tomorrow.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. What is Legal Aid's role in violence prevention? The Family Violence Prevention attorneys provide critical legal services on behalf of survivors and any impacted children by advocating for temporary and/or permanent civil restraining orders. https://ncadv.org/statistics

Tomorrow is the start of Domestic Violence Awareness month. The Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County is the only provider of free civil legal services to survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault in the county. We'll be joining Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County and other community partners tomorrow for a virtual gathering to kick off this important month. Registration required. #ValiantVoices https://dvsolutions.org/valiantvoices/

People who do not generally file taxes due to being low-income may still be eligible for an IRS COVID-19 stimulus check. Non-filers must fill out an online form online by 10/15 to get the payment. https://www.irs.gov/coro/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here https://www.nbcnews.com//still-waiting-your-stimulus-check

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a feminist icon and champion of women's rights. She is a true inspiration to many in the legal profession today. Our sincere condolences to her family and colleagues. "Architect of the legal fight for women's rights in the 1970s, Ginsburg subsequently served 27 years on the nation's highest court, becoming its most prominent member." https://www.npr.org//justice-ruth-bader-ginsburg-champion-

Tonight at 5:30pm! Are you a tenant with questions regarding your rights during COVID? Join Legal Aid and the Santa Barbara Tenants Council for office hours tonight at 5:30pm.

Update on Rental Assitance: Legal Aid has been a proud partner with the County of Santa Barbara and other local cities to facilitate the application process for rental assistance. Due to high demand and limited funding, applications are now CLOSED for the cities of Goleta, Santa Maria, Carpinteria, Buellton, Solvang, and Guadalupe. We are so grateful to these cities for providing assistance to needy families! Unincorporated Santa Barbara County: Residents with income up to ...80% AMI may continue to apply for up to 3 months rent assistance, maximum $3,000. https://www.unitedwaysb.org/rental-assistance The team at Legal Aid is still available to provide legal advice and assistance to low-income tenants impacted by COVID-19. https://www.kcbx.org//santa-maria-among-cities-counties-he

Thanks to our friends at Legal Services of Northern California for sharing this helpful video.