Homeless veterans can get free legal assistance on Saturday, Sept. 26 in Compton. Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) attorneys and volunteer attorneys, along with students from Loyola Law School, will be the sole providers of legal services at the Stand Down.
“Veteran homelessness in Los Angeles County is still a major issue and it can’t be solved by housing advocacy alone,” said Nicole Perez, Directing Attorney of LAFLA’s Veterans Justice Center. “Veterans and their families need legal services to help them navigate complicated bureaucracies, so they can obtain vital income, food, and medical support, and remove employment barriers. We are proud to work alongside these Veterans.”
The legal issues LAFLA and its volunteers have handled in the past include Citation Defense and Drivers License Reinstatement, Accessing VA and other Public Benefits, and Prop 47 record expungement. At the 2014 Compton Stand Down, about 100 Veterans got help with civil legal issues. This is the sixth year that LAFLA and its volunteers have provided legal services.
At the Stand Down, homeless veterans can also receive health screenings, food, clothing, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals to other services. These collaborative events bring together the local Veterans Administration, other government agencies and community organizations to provide holistic help to homeless Veterans.
The Stand Down will be held at 600 N. Alameda Street in Compton from Sept. 26-27. Doors open at 6 a.m., actual legal services will begin at 9 a.m. To pre-register to participate, call: Charlie Lonon at VA Long Beach, 562-826-5373.
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