  |   ImmigrationThe CLSEPA Immigration Program provides legal assistance to immigrants in and around East Palo Alto, where two-thirds of the population is Latino or Pacific Islander. Our four full-time immigration attorneys help local residents navigate the federal government's complicated immigration processes. In an effort to teach local immigrants their rights and responsibilities, we give presentations at a number of venues in the area, including community health and social service agencies, immigrants' rights groups, churches, schools, women's shelters, and community events. We also sponsor legal clinics to assist community members with various immigration issues. For individual clients, we specialize in the following immigration issues:
Our immigration team also provides life-changing assistance to survivors of domestic violence and victims of other crimes who are without immigration papers, helping clients apply for and obtain relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and through U Visa relief. These programs help our clients secure a change in immigration status, enabling them to take important steps toward eliminating violence and fear for their lives and the lives of their children. Handouts in Spanish are available on a variety of topics. Most of our full-time staff members speak Spanish. To schedule an appointment, please call our office at 650-326-6440, or for more information, email us at info@clsepa.org. HousingThe CLSEPA Housing Program strives to safeguard decent and affordable housing by working with individual clients and their families to resolve specific housing problems. Our Housing Program also advocates with local and state agencies to protect homeowners both locally and state-wide. Our staff counsels and represents tenants in order to:
Education and empowerment are key elements of our housing project. We work with the local community to increase the capacity of individuals and groups to advocate on their own behalf. In those cases where a client lacks the capacity to represent him/herself, we attempt to secure outside counsel to represent the client on a pro bono basis. When there is no clear legal solution to a problem, we will explore with the client alternatives to legal action, such as direct negotiation with the client's landlord or referral to mediation and/or social service agencies. Low Income Housing Options Housing Investment Project (HIP) Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California Financial Resources Redwood City Fair Oaks Community Center To schedule an appointment, please call our office at 650-326-6440, or for more information, email us at info@clsepa.org. Home Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention and Anti-Predatory Lending ProgramHOME MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE PREVENTION The foreclosure crisis is not over. Over a million people are in foreclosure and threatened with losing their homes. Deceptive and illegal loans, as well as loan payments that are just too big, threaten the well-being of many low-income and minority families and elders. If you are at risk of foreclosure or are already in foreclosure, we can help. CLSEPA staff, pro bono attorneys and volunteer law students are prepared to assist homeowners threatened by foreclosure. We offer holistic advice and counseling for homeowners throughout the Bay Area trying to figure out their options. When loan modification is an appropriate alternative, we assist and advocate for homeowners at all stages of the loan modification process, from initial submission to appeal of a denial. We also serve homeowners in need of help related to loan modification scams, lender errors and abuses and unlawful detainers and other post-foreclosure issues. In 2012, the National Mortgage Settlement helped some homeowners through improved customer relations and even principal reduction. The California Homeowner Bill of Rights, signed into law in July 2012, went into effect on January 1, 2013 and offers increased protections for homeowners trying to save their homes. Most importantly, it will:
DON'T BE SCAMMED. Many people have paid money to businesses that have promised loan modifications or successful lawsuits but haven't delivered. In some cases, the business simply disappears and the homeowner is out thousands of dollars. To find out tips to avoid scams, visit the California Attorney General's website and the Federal Trade Commission's website. If you think you have been scammed, contact CLSEPA at the number below. FIND OUT ABOUT PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO HOMEOWNERS. CLSEPA clients have received assistance through several different government programs, including: NEWS ALERTS The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act has provided important tax relief to some homeowners who have gone through foreclosure, deed-in-lieu or short sale, or who have received principal reduction. The law has been extended another year.Resources for Homeowners and Tenants Facing Foreclosure Foreclosure Prevention Resource Guide Supervisor Rose Jacob Gibson's office, in conjunction with CLSEPA and other Bay Area non-profit homeowner protection agencies, produced a comprehensive Foreclosure Prevention Resource Guide. To view it in English, click here. Para Español, haga clic aquí. Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco California Reinvestment Coalition Center for Responsible Lending (ACCE) Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment HUD Certified Counselors You can just do a search for a local city or browse all locations. LOW-COST REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR HOMEOWNERS
Free assistance is available - DON'T WAIT - GET HELP NOW. CLSEPA offers comprehensive advice and effective advocacy on behalf of homeowners. To schedule an appointment, please call our office at 650-326-6440 x 314, or for more information, email us at info@clsepa.org. ANTI-PREDATORY LENDING "U-PAY-US: The Payday Lending Show" - where the dangers and high costs of payday loans are exposed. Thank you to everyone who joined us for the premiere! You can watch the video below or on our facebook page here: Bank on East Palo Alto You can find more information about local resources in the pamphlets here: English Español A Guide to Understanding Payday Loans & Information on Finding Alternatives Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson's office, in conjunction with CLSEPA and other local non-profit homeowner protection agencies, produced a comprehensive guide: English or Español.Find out about Secure Future$, a financial education and coaching program offered by Renaissance Center in collaboration with Nuestra Casa. To schedule an appointment, please call our office at 650-326-6440 x314, or for more information, email us at info@clsepa.org. Volunteer Attorney ProgramThrough our Volunteer Attorney Program, CLSEPA helps people with a wide range of legal problems, including consumer fraud, insurance, bankruptcy, car financing, contracts, and real estate issues. Under the direction of managing attorney Katrina Logan, volunteer attorneys, trained law school students, summer associates from local firms, and law firm associates assist our clients with a variety of legal issues. They conduct interviews, write legal memoranda, provide advice, and advocate as appropriate in each case. Clients with more intractable legal problems are referred to attorneys from local firms who provide their services free of charge. In addition, CLSEPA offers free bankruptcy and debtor's rights advice clinics on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Attendees learn about about filing for bankruptcy, dischargeable debt, non-dischargeable debt, exemptions, secured creditors, and debtor's rights. Space is limited; interested attendees should call CLSEPA's main office to reserve a space. To schedule an appointment, please call our office at 650-326-6440, or for more information, email us at info@clsepa.org. | |
