Iowa Legal Aid works on the United Way of Wapello County’s income indicator to help increase the percent of lower-income working families that are supported and can meet basic needs while increasing their financial education.
Iowa Legal Aid combines the United Way funds with other funding to ensure that low-income residents of Wapello County remain in their homes and/or prevent homelessness. This is accomplished by ensuring that individuals and families have sufficient income to afford their housing costs, they do not lose their income due to illegal garnishments, consumer fraud, or other schemes, they are not illegally evicted and they have an opportunity to save their homes from foreclosure.
Over the past twelve months, Iowa Legal Aid has:
• reduced or eliminated the debt of Wapello County residents, resulting in an estimated financial benefit of $8,824;
• obtained Medicare benefits, resulting in an estimated financial benefit of $1,500;
• prevented the loss of homes due to eviction or foreclosure or was instrumental in delaying the loss of homes which gave the client additional time to either renegotiate with the landlord or mortgage lender, or find alternative housing or living arrangements resulting in a financial benefit of $72,681; and
• obtained Social Security or unemployment benefits for clients, resulting in a financial gain of an estimated $4,624.
Iowa Legal Aid surpassed its projection to serve 200 unduplicated clients by serving 253 clients.
The following case narrative demonstrates the importance of Iowa Legal Aid’s work and how the lives of those served are improved as a result of the services they received.
“Marcus” contacted Iowa Legal Aid after he was denied unemployment benefits. His employer claimed that Marcus had voluntarily quit, claiming he had failed to call in to work to report that he would not be in on three separate occasions. What happened is that Marcus’ minor daughter broke her arm and required surgery so that it would heal properly. Marcus requested leave under the Family Medical Leave Act to be with her. His daughter lives outside of the United States and while he was visiting her, he came down with Malaria. He received medical care for the Malaria in Kansas City. Marcus stayed in contact with his employer the entire time he was gone to keep them abreast of what was happening. When he returned to work, he was told he was fired. Marcus filed for unemployment benefits, but was denied. Iowa Legal Aid accepted Marcus’ case and represented him before an Administrative Law Judge. Iowa Legal Aid was able to prove that two out of three absences cited by the employer had taken place during Marcus’ Family Medical Leave. The Administrative Law Judge determined that Marcus had not quit his employment and that he was entitled to unemployment benefits. Marcus is now receiving sufficient income to meet his basic needs until he finds employment.