Legal Assistance Corporation Of Central Massachusetts

Mission:
The mission of Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts is to protect and advance the legal rights of low-income, elderly and other disenfranchised people in order to secure access to basic needs and to challenge institutional barriers to social and economic justice.

Vision:
All low-income and elderly households in Central Massachusetts will have ready access to top quality legal assistance that will empower them in their struggle to meet their daily needs and maximize their opportunities to achieve self-sufficiency.

Description:
Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts(LACCM) is the state-funded civil legal aid program for Central Massachusetts. LACCM provides free civil legal assistance to low-income and elderly residents of Worcester County. With over twenty advocates, LACCM specializes in elder law, government benefits, eviction defense, housing and employment discrimination, and family law matters affecting domestic violence victims.

Over the last year we helped nearly 3300 clients remain in their homes, obtain benefits to meet their basic needs, and provide a safe environment in which to raise their children. In addition to these individual triumphs, our advocates strive to effectuate systemic change through our working groups, or directorates, and special projects, which allow advocates to work on large-scale projects in addition to their individual case work.

LACCM's Benefits and Employment Unit represents people with cases before the Social Security Administration, Department of Transitional Assistance, and Division of Unemployment Assistance concerning various benefits such as SSI, TAFDC, EAEDC, food stamps, MassHealth, and unemployment benefits. The unit also represents people who have wage or employment discrimination claims.

LACCM's Elder Unit provides legal services in all cases handled for persons 60 years of age and older, including housing cases; SSI and Social Security disability cases and other Social Security issues; health issues including Medicare; nursing home rights; Veterans Benefits; Food Stamps and other benefits; family law, including physical abuse; financial exploitation; and consumer rights issues.

LACCM's Families & Children Unit provides legal representation to victims of domestic violence primarily in the field of domestic relations law. Such cases involve disputes directly against the batterer, such as divorce, paternity, custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, property division and health insurance. Representation is also provided for relocation, including filing of name change petitions without notice to the abuser, in appropriate situations. The Families & Children Unit also works closely with SAFEPLAN advocates in the Worcester County courts to assist victims obtain 209A Abuse Prevention Orders. In complex cases, the Unit provides representation at 209A renewal hearings.

LACCM's General Law Unit provides legal services in the areas of landlord-tenant law, homelessness, and housing discrimination. The unit also assists battered immigrants adjust their immigration status under the federal Violence Against Women Act. With the exception of the housing cases for the elderly, this unit covers traditional housing cases including eviction defense and representation of individuals with rental assistance. It also runs a fair housing testing and enforcement program. In addition, the unit has a website, www.livejustice.org, which provides legal advice and information to consumers on a range of housing issues.

History:
LACCM grew out of the 1982 merger between the Legal Aid Society of Worcester and the Central Massachusetts Legal Services. LACCM and its predecessor agencies have been providing free civil legal services to low-income and elderly residents in Worcester County since the 1950s. Since its inception, the program has been providing a high volume of civil legal services to address a broad range of legal problems confronting the low-income community.

Contact people:

Jonathan Mannina, Executive Director, (508) 752-3718, (email) Sarah Loy, Assistant, (508) 752-3718, (email)

Office fax number: (508) 752-5918

Address:

405 Main Street Worcester, MA 01608 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.laccm.org

Directions:

Nearest Bus Stop: City Hall, 2 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Are any opportunities appropriate for youth ages 18 or under? If yes, what age range?
	Yes, teens with adult supervision

Last updated on May 19, 2009