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Legal Advice Helpline

CLS HELPline 1-800-405-1417 Community Legal Services (CLS) Helpline is an intake and attorney-staffed telephone advice, brief services, pro se, and referral system serving low income individuals, seniors, and other vulnerable people with civil legal issues throughout Central Florida. The attorneys who answer Helpline calls provide eligible clients with immediate brief…

Issues & Rights

Legal Help for Older Adults

Community Legal Services provides legal services at no-cost to people age 60 and over through funding from the Older Americans Act. These grants are intended to help keep central Florida older adults living healthy, independent lives. Community Legal Services also offers specialized legal services for people who are age 55…

Issues & Rights

Older Adults

Lending Discrimination

Your race, color, religion, gender, familial status, or national origin should never affect your ability to qualify for a mortgage — this concept is called “fair lending.” Fair lending is a right provided to you by the Federal Fair Housing Act, with equal protections offered by Florida’s Fair Housing Act.…

Family & Personal

Fair Housing | Housing

Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program was designed to encourage private investors to develop affordable housing through new construction, purchasing, and renovation of affordable rental housing for low-income households. The program offers tax credits to landlords, investors, and developers ― allowing them to pay less money in taxes to…

Family & Personal

Housing

Medicaid Unwinding

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, protections were put in place so that Medicaid recipients kept coverage even if they no longer qualified. This was done so people had access to COVID-19 testing and treatment. These special protections are coming to an end, and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) has…

Family & Personal

Health

Medical-Legal Partnerships

Health + Legal Care: Rx for Better Health Outcomes What is a Medical-Legal Partnership? A Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) places legal advocates side-by-side with healthcare professionals and their patients to address health-harming legal needs. In an MLP, legal advocates help healthcare professionals address the root causes of a patient’s poor health…

Military & Veterans

Veterans benefits are earned through military service in the United States Armed Forces. If you are not eligible for certain VA benefits, it may be because you have a less-than-honorable discharge and need a discharge upgrade. There are also benefits available to survivors of veterans who have passed away. A…

Family & Personal

Military & Veterans

Military Discharge Upgrades

Did something happen during your military service that caused you to receive a less-than-honorable discharge such as a General, Other than Honorable, Bad Conduct, or Dishonorable discharge? If there are mitigating factors, you may be able to upgrade your discharge certificate (DD Form 214) and become eligible for various veterans’…

Family & Personal

Military & Veterans

Mobile Home Issues

A Mobile Home is a residential structure, not originally sold as a recreational vehicle, and designed to be used as a house when connected to required utilities. Mobile Homes must have plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical throughout, and are generally 8 feet or more in width, and 35 feet…

Family & Personal

Housing

Mortgage Forbearance & Homebuyers Education

Don’t miss the opportunity of becoming a HOMEOWNER. Is homeownership for me? How do I stick with a budget and maintain my credit scores? What is the role of a realtor and a home inspector? How do I qualify for a loan? What is a home sale “Closing?” Being well-informed…

Financial Matters

Debt & Creditors