Virginia Poverty Law Center News
Legal Aid to help in foreclosure process
SWVAToday.com, July 15, 2008
Amid news items about the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department planning a rescue for troubled mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the larger news of tanking housing markets around the country, Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society began a counseling project to help homeowners here through the foreclosure process or to avoid it altogether.
Food Stamp Use Increases Due to Struggling Economy
WCAV, July 14, 2008
The Virginia State Social Services says there has been a 6.81% increase in participation from June 2007 to June 2008.
Legality of school fees gets board's attention
OurValley.org, July 9, 2008
"Fees for instruction, materials and services that are required for students to benefit from instruction during the school day are and always have been unlawful. I think Roanoke County should be commended for addressing the issue of school fees head on. I hope other school divisions across the state follow their lead," Angelica Ciolfi, Legal Aid Justice Center attorney, said.
Health Care for America NOW kicks off grassroots movement
WDBJ, July 8, 2008
Members of the coalition believe the state's Medicaid program is too restrictive. They say even people with insurance are struggling with higher co-pays and deductibles. "They've postponed needed treatment, skipped recommended tests, cut pills in half, or skipped doses of a medicine. So the United States has an enormous problem," said Jill Hanken, with Virginia Poverty Law Center.
Voices for Change is an opportunity for foster youth to creatively express their thoughts about foster care
Virginia Poverty Law Center, July 3, 2008
Youth between the ages of 12 and 21 who are presently in foster care in Virginia or who were adopted out of Virginia's foster care system after August 15, 2007 are invited to submit an original essay, poem, painting, drawing or photograph that describes their experiences in foster care or their ideas for change.
Hearing looks at those who immigrate
The Roanoke Times, June 19, 2008
There are between 250,000 and 300,000 undocumented immigrants in Virginia, who contribute between $260 million and $311 million in taxes, according to a recent study by The Commonwealth Institute. Their contributions should entitle them to more state services, advocates said. Rachel MacKnight, a lawyer for the Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley, said Virginia should extend Medicaid benefits to immigrants, which would make them less likely to go to emergency rooms for basic medical care.
Kaine approves bills boosting protection for violence victims
The Virginian-Pilot, June 3, 2008
Calling sexual violence "a crime that has been shrouded for way too long," Kristine Hall of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance said the measures will give victims greater faith in the system and reduce barriers to services.
Kids pay for public school
C-Ville, May 21, 2008
Angela Ciolfi, author of the report, says that not only is this burdensome for low-income families and those with multiple kids, but it's unconstitutional.
State to hold clinics to prevent foreclosure
Virginia Business Magazine, May 20, 2008
"If you have concerns about the health of your mortgage, I encourage you to sign up for one of these free mortgage clinics," Kaine said a in a statement. "Whether you are just beginning to have trouble making your mortgage payments, or you are already in foreclosure, our hope is that the information you receive at the clinics will help you keep your home."
Jobless Claims Jump 25 Percent From '07 in N.Va.s
The Washington Post, May 18, 2008
"At this time, with the economy the way it is, do we really want to be 13th-worst?" said Ty Jones, a staff lawyer for the Virginia Poverty Law Center, which advocates for expanding laws so that more jobless Virginians can be eligible for benefits.
Kaine seeks advice on reforming health services
Danville News, May 16, 2008
Beyond the legislative and budgetary changes, Tavenner wants the consultant to look at how other states have found successes in areas such as foster care, and to review programs that may no longer be needed or could be delivered differently.
Low-wage workers' incomes said to lag
Richmond Times-Dispatch, May 11, 2008
"In particular," Cassidy said, "despite growing worker productivity in Virginia, we have seen declining median wages in recent years, which means workers are not being rewarded for the work . . . which has led to growth in our economy."
Foreclosures increase substantially in state and Richmond area
Richmond Times-Dispatch, May 1, 2008
One in every 246 households in Virginia -- or a total of 13,151 -- received notices of default, auction sales and bank repossessions from January through March, up 526 percent from the same period a year ago.
Holton: State helped children despite financial struggles
The Northern Virginia Daily, April 26, 2008
Low reimbursements made it harder for foster parents to "take in that second child, or to take in another child when the first one leaves," Holton said. "Over the course of three years we will have raised those reimbursements 40 percent."
Virginia ranks low in funding of home care
The Roanoke Times, April 20, 2008
Because Virginia's reimbursement rate for home care doesn't cover all the costs of providing it, many home-care companies opt out of accepting Medicaid patients altogether. The companies that do accept Medicaid are plagued by worker shortages.
Reacting to Undocumented
Centre View Northern Edition, April 9, 2008
"It's nice to see a community with this [inclusive] approach to immigrants," [Freilich] said during the group's March 27 meeting. "I wish more communities were like this."
Legal Aid to give free advice sessions
The Daily Progress, April 5, 2008
The center is hosting its fourth annual Java for Justice series from noon to 1 p.m. every Tuesday this month. The free series, which includes lunch, will be held at the center's Charlottesville office at 1000 Preston Ave., Suite A.
Some immigrant children eligible for in-state tuition
The News & Advance, April 3, 2008
The ACLU of Virginia has taken aim at the interpretation, sending a letter to the presidents of state public universities stating "it is unconstitutional to deny a student in-state tuition based solely on the immigration status of his parents."
Why must Virginia's elderly be in nursing homes to get Medicaid support?
The Free Lance-Star, April 3, 2008
The issue, of course, is funding. Asking the feds for Medicaid waivers for residents in assisted-living facilities would oblige the state to pay for another new category of people.
Va. health care gets average grade in national ranking
Richmond Times-Dispatch, April 1, 2008
The rankings are in a federal government analysis of health care data for each state. The 2007 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports was compiled by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
UVA law students help veterans
WSLS, March 28, 2008
A group, made up of attorneys and law students, is helping veterans get their claims heard in the Veterans Administration. The project is sponsored by the law school, the student-run Virginia Law Veterans and the Charlottesville/Albemarle Bar Association.
Virginia Shouldn't Provide Worst Foster Care
Richmond Times-Dispatch, March 23, 2008
Change is hard. The system is complex. But Virginia cannot continue to have the worst outcomes in the country for youth in foster care. We can do better, and the recently passed reform package moves us toward the day when rhetoric becomes reality -- when all of our children in foster care find permanent and loving homes in caring communities.
Illegal Immigration Issues Attract Little Interest Outside N.Va.
The Washington Post, March 15, 2008
"Bills dealing with behaviors that threaten public safety ought to be taken very seriously," [Governor] Kaine said. "Beyond that, you've got to be very careful."
Compromise doesn't withdraw Virginia from No Child Left Behind
The Virginian-Pilot, March 7, 2008
Instead, the governor will likely get a bill that leaves it to the Virginia Board of Education to recommend what to do if federal officials don't grant the state waivers from the landmark education law.
A bushel of immigration bills met with mixed reviews
The Virginian-Pilot, March 6, 2008
"When local police are seen as immigration agents, it destroys community policing efforts and undermines the trust between law enforcement and the immigrant communities of Virginia," said Tim Freilich, legal director of the Legal Aid Justice Center's Immigrant Advocacy Program.