Civil legal aid low, needs funding

BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) - Advocates from over 50 law firms gathered at the State House, asking lawmakers to increase funding for civil legal aid, which has suffered significant revenue losses since the recession and 2008 housing market crisis.

“It’s been pretty horrifying the decline we’ve seen,” said Community Legal Aid Executive Director Jonathan Mannina.  “There’s an appropriation that comes from the Legislature every year that had been close to $11 million dollars a few years back, it’s $9.5 million dollars now.”

Declining revenue means declining services for people like Natasha Torres.  Four years ago she was in trouble of losing her home under a fraudulent loan.  Community Lead Aid worked four years on her behalf to get her a loan modification.

“Well especially being a handicap person, I would have lost my home only a year after buying it,” said Torres.  “I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t get the help, honestly.”

Civil legal aid has been further threatened by plummeting interest rates.  Much of their revenue relies on interest from a Lawyers’ Trust Accounts program, which has since decreased by 78 percent since fiscal year 2008.  Governor Deval Patrick has proposed $12 million in funding, a $2.5 million increase from the current year.  Advocates are requesting $14.5 million.

“Certainly we appreciate the $12 million dollar line item that the governor put in his budget and at the very least we would hope that the Legislature would acknowledge that, affirm that, or even increase that,” said Massachusetts Legal Assistance Program Board Chairman Raahsaan Hall.

In light of declining aid, the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation said they’ve had to turn away low-income families dealing with unemployment appeals and foreclosure.  From 2009 to 2010, demand for their services was up by 11 percent, or 94,000 people.