SeniorLAW Center

Your support of SeniorLAW Center is a win-win! It allows us to fulfill our mission of being there for older people who may have nowhere else to turn. People like Beverly who’s landlord viciously threatened to evict her based on a notice that said this: Beverly has to leave due to construction I have going on in the premises, the construction workers will not enter the apartment due to Beverly’s health issues and she is on oxygen. Beverly’s landlord continues: Since she is ...on oxygen, they cannot turn off the electricity. In order to fully work on the apartment, it needs to be vacant. Beverly called us right away. Our staff attorney, Dan, represented Beverly in a Zoom trial just last week. Our expert representation found that Beverly’s landlord violated Philadelphia’s Good Cause ordinance. This ordinance prevents landlords from threatening their tenants like this. Because of generous donors like youthose who care about people like Beverlywe had the resources to fight for her. Andwe won! To support our work at SeniorLAW Center go to Https//www.seniorlawcenter.org

We just had our virtual office holiday party at SeniorLAW Center complete with ugly mug, best Dad jokes, coziest remote work space contests and more. Lunch was delivered by Grubhub. Our amazing ED Karen Buck led the way and the Co-Hosts of Ceremonies attorneys Janine Kiah and Sue Nolan made it a terrific party. Janine closed it out a cappella with Auld Lang Syne. Although the song was so beautiful - it brought me to tears, before that it was the most I have laughed all year! Thank you SeniorLAW Center and Happy Holidays Everyone.

https://www.inquirer.com//covid-19-nursing-home-regulation Advocates for Older Pennsylvanians: CARIE, SeniorLAW Center, Community Legal Services and others have scores of important recommendations to improve nursing homes but as the state makes revisions, advocates are being left in the dark. Read more:

SeniorLAW Center and other advocacy organizations support the latest COVID-19 mitigation efforts. SeniorLAW Center Executive Director Karen C. Buck: "The older Pennsylvanians we serve at SeniorLAW Center our grandparents, parents, older veterans have made enormous sacrifices throughout their lives for the benefit of all of us, through wars, the Great Depression, other health and national crises. They are most affected by this virus now, and need our sacrifice, which indeed benefits us all. We join the Governor in asking all Pennsylvanians to follow the mitigation protocols to come together to help end this crisis, for the sake of our kids, families, seniors, those hit hard by illness, financial strife or continuing racial disparities, all of us."

Through the efforts of our legal staff and volunteers like Beth Rubin, we assisted thousands of seniors with problems which affect their homes, health, independence, financial survival and quality of life. At SeniorLAW Center, we have many opportunities for volunteer attorneys to join our work and help provide legal services to older Pennsylvanians in need in areas of law in which they have experience or have attended training. To learn more, click here: https://seniorlawcenter.org/volunteer/s

Philadelphia Municipal Court has just ordered NO LOCKOUTS of Philadelphia Tenants through the end of the year. They had been scheduled to resume Monday, November 9. BUT there are some exceptions including landlords can petition the court to go ahead with service of these writs in limited circumstances so call SeniorLAW Center for more information or help at 215-988-1244. To see the Court Order click the link: https://www.courts.phila.gov//regs/2020/65-of-2020-PJ-ORDE.

Congress is finalizing its year end funding bill RIGHT NOW, and there are important provisions to include to prevent catastrophic cuts to Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants. VOCA grants are being cut every year, because VOCA’s non-taxpayer funded Crime Victims Fund is running out of money due to record low deposits of criminal fines and fees into the Fund. Congress can fix this by passing the ‘deposits fix’ before the end of the year to redirect money from criminal settlement...s into the Crime Victims Fund (more on the problem and the solution can be found here). Victim assistance grants may be cut as much as 81% compared to three years ago if Congress doesn’t act now! To get the deposits fix over the finish line, it’s important to educate House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy - by calling 202-225-2915. If you can’t get through on that number, call his District office at 661-327-3611. Then, AFTER CALLING, you could also Tweet at him (@GOPLeader), using the hashtags #Crisis4Victims and #VOCAFix:

We have had 2 outdoor signing events at Center in the Park and Philadelphia Corporation for Aging executing over 50 documents for older people in need of critical end of life planning documents. We continue to be creative in providing important legal services for older people during the COVID-19 pandemic. #legalservices #COVID19 #covid19response

SeniorLAW Center Statement on 2020 Vote: Justice is Non-Partisan: This Election in a pandemic has been challenging. By all accounts a record breaking number of votes has been cast, laying bare a sharp divide in our country. As the votes continue to be counted, SeniorLAW Center and its partners stand united in a commitment to justice for all https://seniorlawcenter.org//seniorlaw-center-continues-i/

On October 26, 2020, there was a 911 call to the 6100 block of Locust Street, where Walter Wallace, Jr. was suffering from a mental health crisis. Unfortunately, the incident ended in the fatal shooting of Mr. Walter Wallace, Jr. He was 27 years old. We at SeniorLAW Center will continue to work towards addressing potential implicit biases and advocate for access to mental health. We support the exercise of peaceful protest and first amendment rights. Let us be the voice for ...Mr. Wallace, Jr. and the far too many that have suffered the loss of their family and community members. Let’s fight together to ensure no more lives are lost. On behalf of SeniorLAW Center, we send our deepest condolences to the Wallace family and will do our part to bring healing to our City of Philadelphia. As always, Black Lives Matter. Every ballot counts. Thank you for voting and believing in justice. https://seniorlawcenter.org//seniorlaw-center-continues-t/

The moratorium on utility shutoffs in Philly ends November 9th. This means if you fail to pay your electric or gas ( but not water) bills you could face a shutoff. There are important exceptions and protections that you need to be aware of. You can always reach out to SeniorLAW Center 215-988-1244 for more information and help. https://www.inquirer.com//puc-peco-pgw-shutoff-protected-c

Today November 4th is the last day to apply for mortgage or rental CASH assistance under the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency relief program. You could receive money under the CARES act if COVID has impacted your income or ability to pay your rent or mortgage and if you qualify. Call 855-827-3466 or if you have questions reach out to us at SeniorLAW Center 215-988-1244. There are new incentives for landlords and lenders and new repayment options available if your rent is... above the threshold- apply at phfa.org. Apply for mortgage assistance online at https://pmap.phfa.org Rental assistance applications are managed by each Pennsylvania county. In Philadelphia, apply online at https://phlrentassist.org/. Statewide forms and links to each county’s instructions are at https://phfa.org/pacares/rent.aspx. See more

It is not to late to make a plan to vote tomorrow. Check in on older family and friends to make sure they know how they are voting, if they havent already. If they need a ride or have questions about polling places, information you need is below thanks to www.projecthome.org/2020

@KYWNewsradio News Break @newsbreakApp Simon Cowell's surgery recovery just took a turn for the worse Simon Cowell's surgery recovery just took a turn for the worse... newsbreak.com Promoted The UpSide @UpsideStories If your ability to pay rent or your mortgage has been impacted by COVID-19 reach out to SeniorLAW Center at 215-988-1244. This important story from #SpotlightPA and #PhiladelphiaInquirer lays bare the unequal justice system throughout PA that is denying people of housing protections to which they are entitled. Housing is health and should always be a fundamental right, but nevermore than in a Pandemic. 14m https://spotlightpa.org//pa-eviction-cdc-ban-loophole-ren/ T on See more

Our neighbors are facing unprecedented hardship-unemployment and sickness because of Covid-19. As we head into cold weather, it has never been more important to protect people's right to housing. Please sign this petition to extend the Emergency Housing Protection Act https://forms.gle/H9sojvovkqLk4xif9 #ProtectPhillyRenters

So thrilled to bring you this Facebook Live event with our partner Ralston House!

We are proud to be hosting virtual events! Yesterday's CLE was a virtual interactive training during National Pro Bono Week regarding common areas of law requested by Helpline callers, with a special focus on kinship rights, and the professional responsibility requirements of pro bono and helpline service led by Janine Dunlap Kiah, Esq. and Joanna Jarzebowska, Esq. #CLE #virtualtraining

Join SeniorLAW Center staff attorney Michele Cohen for an important conversation on housing and COVID-19. Details in the flyer below. Tomorrow! #covid19response #legalservices https://zoom.us/j/92157093414

Important Update to CARES ACT: There is cash assistance available and incentives for lenders to work with homeowners to make payments on their mortgage. But the deadline is fast approaching. If your income or ability to pay has been affected by #COVID-19 we can help with questions on who can apply Call SeniorLAW Center at 877-PA-SR-LAW. Please share with family and friends who are not on social media or the internet. The application and checklist is here: https://www.phfa.org//mortg/PMAP-Application-Checklist.pdf

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