All You Need to Know about Southeast Ohio Legal Services
Southeast Ohio Legal Services is the major regional non-profit provider of civil legal aid for low-income people in Athens, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Noble, Perry, Vinton and Washington counties. Its mission is to help secure for low-income and vulnerable people the basic resources essential for their health and stability—resources such as a decent income, adequate housing , essential medical care and protection from abusive relationships. Southeast Ohio Legal Services also believes that it is important to protect the civil legal rights of entire vulnerable communities subjected to systemic public and private discrimination. The organization strives to strengthen the capacity and self-determination of the communities it serves.
For more than 40 years, Southeast Ohio Legal Services has represented thousands of clients each year in an array of legal areas, including: housing, safety and health families by enforcing and protecting their legal rights. Southeast Ohio Legal Services is part of the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation.
Types of Legal Help Available
Southeast Ohio Legal Services provides a variety of services to the people they serve, including representation in family law cases involving divorced couples and single parents with children. They can help modify child custody and visitation rights, enforce support orders, and obtain court-ordered paternity declarations. They deal with issues such as failure to pay, medical expenses or educational payment problems, and violation of parenting time agreements. Housing law is another area Southeast Ohio Legal Services concentrates on. They can assist with landlord evictions, including preventing unlawful evictions, obtaining refunds on deposits and preventing illegal discrimination. Housing law includes addressing unsafe or unhealthy living conditions, assisting with Title III of the Americans With Disabilities Act, and dealing with predatory lending practices. Their work in public benefits involves helping applicants receive the benefits they are entitled to, including public assistance, food stamps, Social Security and disability benefits. They can help with overpayment assessments, denials of benefits and benefit terminations. Consumer law involves helping clients assess whether or not to file bankruptcy, obtaining debt and payment relief, defending creditor lawsuits in municipal, common pleas and bankruptcy courts, and stopping automobile and home repossessions. Their advocacy for clients seeking loan modifications has made a significant difference in people’s lives. The program also provides assistance with unemployment compensation, lender liability violations and federal and state tax problems. Ultimately, the services that Southeast Ohio Legal Services provides are focused on helping resolve issues that prevent clients from finding stable employment, attending school, and attaining and keeping decent affordable housing.
Who Can Use Southeast Ohio Legal Services?
Eligible individuals and families may receive free legal assistance with issues related to family law, family access to medical records, home ownership and foreclosure, juvenile criminal charges, landlord-tenant disputes, child support, guardianships, community and neighborhood disputes, mediation, and public utilities.
In addition to free civil legal services for individuals and families, Southeast Ohio Legal Services may also advise, educate, and advocate for policy improvements in economic development, health care, housing, and other areas impacting the residents of southern and eastern Ohio counties they serve.
There are a few income guidelines and eligibility requirements. For example, all clients must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, which includes income from all sources such as overtime and unemployment. While individual circumstances may vary, people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance payments, Supplemental Security Income, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or food stamps are usually likely to meet the income guidelines. Those interested in receiving legal services must complete an online application. From there, Southeast Ohio Legal Services will contact the applicant for further qualification purposes.
How to Get Southeast Ohio Legal Services
Clients seeking to access services in the Southeast Ohio area can do so in a number of ways. First, all potential clients will need to determine what type of legal issue they are encountering, be it family law, domestic violence, landlord/tenant, consumer law or housing. Once they know the nature of their legal issue they can go to either of the two available legal aid groups in the area; Pro Bono Legal Aid Services and Southeastern Ohio Legal Services. SPSG will handle most family law and domestic violence issues while Pro Bono is used to assist low income families with landlord/tenant issues and housing. For individuals who have a lower income and require assistance in other areas , they can call the Legal Aid Society of Columbus to request a free attorney through the Columbus Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project. Clients will be put on a waiting list and be contacted by a volunteer attorney within 10 business days for an initial interview. The Volunteer Lawyers Project helps people with family law, consumer law, bankruptcy, public benefits, employment law, private landlord/tenant, immigration, and simple will issues as well as unemployment compensation.
The Impact and Success of Southeast Ohio Legal Services
Southeast Ohio Legal Services (SEOLS) is more than just a legal service; it is a beacon of hope for many in Southern Ohio, effecting real, positive changes in the lives of its clients and the broader community. Founded on the belief that all people have a right to equal access to justice, SEOLS has been a transformative force in the southeast region’s legal landscape.
One of the ways SEOLS has made an impact is in the realm of housing. In 2017, through its advocacy, the organization helped 33 domestic violence survivors obtain protection from abuse, secure safe housing, and expunge criminal records to enhance their employment opportunities. These victories demonstrate the interconnectedness of housing, safety and economic stability, and the role of quality legal counsel in bridging these areas.
We also spoke with local resident, Sarah, who was helped by the Domestic Relations division of SEOLS. Sarah’s ex-husband was physically abusive, and after three years, she was finally able to escape the relationship with her two young children in tow. She quickly made the decision to file for child support, which seemed like an easy process on the surface. However, once she found herself embroiled in the legal system, the complexity quickly escalated. "I was nervous, scared, and mostly lost," Sarah shared. "I didn’t even know where to begin." After a month of trying to navigate the court system herself, a friend suggested contacting SEOLS. "It took all of ten minutes to get through to someone at SEOLS who would listen to me," recalled Sarah. A few months later, she was on the receiving end of an $800 check sent directly to her for child support.
Rita, a single mother of three, tells of a similarly heartwarming story, this time concerning loan debt. After several emergency medical incidents, she found herself struggling to pay rent, groceries, and the car payment on a vehicle she depended on for both work and childcare. To make matters worse, she was then contacted by an aggressive creditor seeking repayment of substantial loan money from her late mother.
"They were coming after me to take money from my paychecks, but I couldn’t afford to eat, let alone repay a loan. They said they would just take it directly from my paycheck, and I didn’t know what to do. I was terrified," Rita shares. With SEOLS’ assistance, they were able to reduce her loan payment by over 80%. "I never thought that would ever happen!" Rita exclaimed, "But my attorney fought for me every step of the way and proved that I was not liable for this loan."
These stories are just a glimpse into the larger picture of how SEOLS plays a crucial role in Southeast Ohio. Beyond specific cases, SEOLS serves a community equipped to dispense over 4,500 free legal services yearly and stands on the front lines protecting the rights and future of the vulnerable. Time and time again, SEOLS proves that access to justice is not just a legal nicety, but a necessary foundation upon which individuals and communities can build better lives.
Help and Volunteer Information
To stay connected with the South East Ohio Legal Services (SEOLS), You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or their website.
SEOLS welcomes volunteers who can assist in a variety of ways. Lawyers may volunteer their time for a couple of hours or more per month on cases assigned by SEOLS. Non-lawyers may volunteer for office support or help with special projects. Volunteers take part in small piece cases, research and writing assignments, or large-scale pro bono training and fundraising events.
Southeast Ohio Legal Services values your support! Any gift is appreciated, no matter the size. Your gift enables SEOLS to continue its mission of providing high quality civil legal aid to the poor . Please consider making a gift today. There are many ways to make a gift to SEOLS. Individual donors or corporations or groups can choose to make a donation in the form of a one-time gift, or a monthly gift. Or you may choose to donate through your workplace. The options to give are endless!
SEOLS organizes several events each year that benefit the organization and the community. SEOLS hosts an Annual Campaign Kick-Off, Pro Bono Seminars, the OSBA in Southeast Ohio Mini-Conference, Southeast Ohio Elder Law Day, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), SEOLS Day of Service, and other stewardship events to provide informational assistance to the community. SEOLS relies on volunteers and sponsors to help support these programs.