Dennis Harrison, Author at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc.

JALA’s Fair Housing Unit helps immunocompromised client break lease on rat-infested home

JALA’s Fair Housing Unit helps immunocompromised client break lease on rat-infested home

“Lashawn,” who participates in the Housing Choice Voucher Program, came to JALA for help when her rental home became uninhabitable and her property manager refused to allow her to break her lease so that she could relocate. The conditions in the home, which included holes in the floors that allowed rats to enter, were adversely affecting her health, which was already compromised by kidney disease requiring dialysis.

Dennis Harrison2022-01-06T14:19:15-05:00January 6th, 2022|Client Stories, Fair Housing|

15th Annual Wine Reception Benefitting JALA Exceeds Fundraising Goal

15th Annual Wine Reception Benefitting JALA Exceeds Fundraising Goal

Last month marked the successful return of our 15th Annual Jacksonville Wine Reception, benefiting Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. (JALA). Thanks to your generous support, we were able to surpass our JALA Wine Reception fundraising goal this year and raised a record $36,150! JALA assists low-income local community members experiencing civil legal issues. With only 30 attorneys and a 30-year history of providing high-quality legal presentations in a variety of service areas, JALA is an integral part of the Jacksonville legal community.

Dennis Harrison2022-01-12T15:34:36-05:00December 20th, 2021|News|

Pro Bono: Attorneys help family move and recover its security deposit

Pro Bono: Attorneys help family move and recover its security deposit

Now in its fourth year, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s Eviction Defense Self Help Project focuses on assisting tenants facing an eviction or dealing with unsafe conditions in a rental residence owned by a private landlord. Stable housing often is the foundation for steady employment, educational achievement, good mental and physical health and economic autonomy. The project originated from a collaboration with Smith, Gambrell & Russell and the law firm continues to support the effort with several attorneys volunteering each month.

Dennis Harrison2021-12-02T11:38:08-05:00December 2nd, 2021|Family Law, News, Pro Bono|

HUD Sending $2.4 Million to Jacksonville Area Legal Aid

HUD Sending $2.4 Million to Jacksonville Area Legal Aid

Last week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced $20 million in inaugural grants from its Eviction Protection Grant Program, the first of its kind for the department. These grants will be awarded to legal service providers to assist in providing legal assistance to low-income tenants at risk of or subject to eviction. The Eviction Protection Grant Program is part of HUD’s continued work, as part of a whole of government approach, to support families recovering from the public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dennis Harrison2021-11-30T10:16:31-05:00November 30th, 2021|News|

Freed to Run $2.25 million multi-marathon fundraiser to begin Monday at Florida Supreme Court, end Saturday at Duval County Courthouse

Freed to Run $2.25 million multi-marathon fundraiser to begin Monday at Florida Supreme Court, end Saturday at Duval County Courthouse

Freed to Run $2.25 million multi-marathon fundraiser to begin Monday at Florida Supreme Court, end Saturday at Duval County Courthouse Proceeds to

Dennis Harrison2021-11-10T09:05:52-05:00November 10th, 2021|Freed To Run, News|

The 4th Judicial Circuit and Jacksonville Bar Association honor lawyers who volunteer to help those who can’t afford civil representation.

The 4th Judicial Circuit and Jacksonville Bar Association honor lawyers who volunteer to help those who can’t afford civil representation.

While the past months changed so many parts of our lives, the need for pro bono civil legal assistance has not diminished and in many cases has increased. Our community is lucky to have so many attorneys who are willing to meet this challenge and volunteer their time and expertise to assist those in need. Each year, the 4th Judicial Circuit and the Jacksonville Bar Association pro bono committees celebrate local attorneys who provided at least 20 hours of volunteer civil legal service in the previous calendar year at an appreciation ceremony. For the second year, the William A. Van Nortwick Jr. Presentation of the Pins Pro Bono Awards Ceremony was a virtual webinar event open to the legal community.

Dennis Harrison2021-11-07T11:45:15-05:00November 7th, 2021|News, Pro Bono|

JALA protects senior and an adult son with disabilities from eviction

JALA protects senior and an adult son with disabilities from eviction

“Louise,” 80, lives with her son in an apartment partially subsidized with a Housing Choice Voucher. She and her son, who has a disability, both receive Social Security benefits, which they depend on to pay the rent. Because the rent is due by the 15th of each month and the Social Security checks do not arrive until the fourth Thursday of the month, Louise has struggled to pay the rent on time.

Dennis Harrison2021-09-07T12:49:06-04:00September 7th, 2021|Client Stories, Fair Housing|

Jacksonville attorney: Volunteer lawyers needed nationwide to help COVID eviction tsunami

Jacksonville attorney: Volunteer lawyers needed nationwide to help COVID eviction tsunami

Jacksonville attorney Mike Freed has left his mark locally cultivating an annual series of marathons raising money for Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. Now he’s asking lawyers around the country to donate their time to help to help prevent a deluge of evictions rooted in the pandemic’s effect on jobs and incomes. “Sometimes you have to give up your time without compensation for the greater good,” said Freed, who is president of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, an organization involving Bar associations in 53 states and U.S. territories.

Dennis Harrison2021-09-07T11:55:06-04:00September 7th, 2021|Fair Housing, Freed To Run, News|

Cheers to Intuition Ale Works and the Sing Out Loud Festival for supporting legal aid

Cheers to Intuition Ale Works and the Sing Out Loud Festival for supporting legal aid

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid has garnered support from many business sectors over the years, but in a true first, JALA will receive a portion of the proceeds of a craft-brewed IPA from Intuition Ale Works that will be sold in select stores, on draft in the company’s taproom, and at this September’s St. Johns County Sing Out Loud Festival. “What’s not to love about this partnership?” asked JALA CEO Jim Kowalski. “We are so grateful, and so very thirsty, for this one-of-a-kind support. This is the coolest thing ever.”

Dennis Harrison2021-08-27T10:52:59-04:00August 27th, 2021|News|

Jacksonville evictions displace many as renters, landlords face problems during pandemic

Jacksonville evictions displace many as renters, landlords face problems during pandemic

As COVID-19 cases have surged across Northeast Florida, thousands of people have continued being evicted from local homes despite federal rules written to prevent that during the pandemic. Duval County judges issued 1,991 orders for police to evict tenants during the first seven months of this year, when landlords filed 4,716 lawsuits to take back rental homes, the Duval County clerk of courts office reported.

Dennis Harrison2021-08-26T10:12:15-04:00August 26th, 2021|Fair Housing, News|

Dennis.Harrison@jaxlegalaid.org

About Dennis Harrison