The future of justice begins with… Self-Advocacy
Client Testimonial NAME: Kae S. HOME: Springfield, Illinois GOAL: Maintain stable housing for her family
Kae received an eviction notice on February 25 from her landlord to be out of her unit the following week. While Kae had applied—and was approved—for emergency rental assistance, her landlord had yet to receive it. With a toddler at home and a full-time job, she knew she couldn’t pack, move, and find a safe place for her family to live in one week. She was really stressed. She took a deep breath and went to her local courthouse. There, the clerk told her about IllinoisLegalAid.org . Kae used ILAO’s step-by-step instructions to learn how to stand up for her rights, “It was clear and really helped. I learned a lot.” She completed her court papers using ILAO’s Easy Form app , that
works like TurboTax ® . “I loved the Easy Form—you answer the
questions and it puts your info in the right place on the paperwork.”
She got nervous preparing for the court hearing, and used ILAO’s Get Legal Help tool to apply for and obtain free legal advice about how to represent herself in court. Armed with her new knowledge and legal advice, she went to court. Not only was she able to dismiss the eviction, she negotiated a new lease with her landlord. “People are scared and discouraged. ILAO was a blessing. I now share it with others so they know they have legal rights and how to fight for them.”
“This assistance came right on time. As a mom that’s all you want is to keep a warm safe roof over the families heads. Thank you very much.”
KAE WAS ONE OF MORE THAN 33,000 ILLINOISANS THAT ILAO HELPED WITH EVICTION LAST FISCAL YEAR
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