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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSan Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation HSG 2024-25 ApplicationHuman Services Grant Application 2024-25 Application Questions Part 1 Basic Information 1. Organization Name * San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation 2. Fiscal Agent (if different than above)* N/A 3. Project/Program Name * Senior Legal Services 4. Requested Amount * $20,000 5. Name of Person Completing Application * Donna Jones 6. Name of Person for Grant Communication and Contract for Grant Cycle (if different from above)* Donna Jones 7. Organization Mailing Address * 3232 S. Higuera St., Suite 101D, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 8. Phone * 805-548-0796 9. Email * donna@slolaf.org Part 2 Organizational Information 1. Purpose/Mission Statement * The mission of San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation (SLOLAF) is to provide legal services and resources to people in need. 2. Briefly describe your organization’s purpose, vision, primary activities, and operating structures * SLOLAF’s vision is legal access for all. SLOLAF administers programs in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County that provide free legal-aid services in 1) a variety of civil law areas for low-income individuals, including seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations, and 2) family law for survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Services, provided by trained attorneys and legal support staff, include advice & counsel, direct legal representation, educating clients for self-representation, and community outreach. SLOLAF’s key strategic goal is to evaluate and meet the most critical legal needs of San Luis Obispo County residents who would otherwise be denied access to justice without pro bono legal services. The impact SLOLAF aims to achieve is to provide free legal services to as many of our county ’s low-income residents as possible in a timely, compassionate, and professional manner, and if our organization is not able to serve their needs, to be able to refer them to another local organization that can. SLOLAF is currently staffed with 16 employees: 8 attorneys, 5 legal support staff, and 3 administrative/outreach staff members. Our Executive Director, reporting to the Board of Directors, oversees the entire organization. The Leadership team includes two Legal Directors (one each for our Civil Law and Family Law operations) and a Director of Community Engagement who oversees Outreach, Development, and Communications. 3. Name of Executive Director * Donna Jones 4. Name of Board President or Chair * Khouloud Pearson 5. Number of paid staff (full or part-time)* 16 6. Number of volunteers * 5 7. Describe the community(ies) your organization supports * SLOLAF’s Civil Law Services programs support indigent SLO County residents. This includes low-income residents (200% of the Federal Poverty Level or lower), seniors (60+), veterans, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable or underserved populations. Our Family Law Services program supports low-income survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Knowing how many of our county’s residents are Spanish speakers and the barriers those residents face, SLOLAF provides all services in English and Spanish (we have 7 bilingual employees). With the need for services in the spoken-only Mixteco language emerging as a rapidly growing need in our county, we have an MOU with the SLO County Office of Education for Mixteco translation specifically. All other languages are handled through translation services. SLOLAF’s offices are close to public transportation for those who cannot drive to us and are completely accessible for clients with disabilities. 8. Approximate Annual Budget * $2,000,000 for FY24-25 9. Major Sources of Funding * SLOLAF is approximately 90% grant funded. A large portion of our grants come from the judicial system, with funders including the State Bar of California, the California Judicial Council, and the California Access to Justice Commission. SLOLAF’s Senior Legal Services Program is funded by Area Agency on Aging (AAA) with Older Americans Act (OAA) funds, as well as with matching funds from the City of SLO and County of SLO and The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County. SLOLAF also partners with local agencies such as CAPSLO and Lumina Alliance on some of our programs. The remaining 10% of our funding is from fundraising and individual donations. Part 3 Project/Program Information 14. In the table below include a minimum of four (4) metrics or performance outcomes that relate to the implementation/success of the project. Examples include: # of SLO City residents served, # of referrals provided to individuals seeking social services. Methods of Evaluation Indicators of Success / Measurable Outcomes # of SLO City residents served FY24-25 100 # of referrals to other agencies for seniors 500 # of hours of legal services provided to seniors 2,500 % of positive responses to client satisfaction survey (sent out upon case closing) 95-100% 1. Please provide an executive summary of proposed project/program * One of SLOLAF’s original programs, our Senior Legal Services program (SLSP), is the only program in SLO County exclusively devoted to providing free legal services to residents aged 60+. SLSP sees clients out of its main office in SLO and at senior centers around the county, makes home visits to homebound and institutionalized clients, and provides community outreach and education throughout the County. SLSP prioritizes seniors who are in greatest economic or social need and are at risk of losing safety, housing, and independence. SLSP utilizes SLOLAF’s six Civil Law staff attorneys and four volunteer attorneys. Each year SLOLAF fields calls from approximately 2,000 SLO County residents in need of legal assistance or referrals to other resources, 700+ being seniors. SLSP’s resulting caseload of 250+ clients each year includes civil matters such as homelessness prevention, elder abuse, consumer finance, government benefits appeals, and preparing for incapacity/end-of-life. The need for senior legal services in our county is great, and SLSP continues to grow as a result. SLOLAF is seeking funding from the City of SLO to contribute to the funding for this vital program, which not only helps cover costs, but also supplies mandatory matching funds for our AAA funding. 2. Total Project Cost?* $275,325.00 3. Requested Project Amount * $20,000.00 4. Please provide a detailed description of proposed project/program * SLSP’s free legal services encompass advice and counsel, limited representation, and full representation. Services are carried out by our staff attorneys and legal assistants, three of which are bilingual. In addition to paid staff attorneys, we use volunteer attorneys (mostly retired) when we can. We provide the office space, malpractice insurance, supplies and administrative support, and they provide breadth of experience and hours of legal services. Collectively, our volunteer attorneys donated $34,875 last year (FY22-23) in professional services. We also regularly utilize Cal Poly pre-law students as interns to assist with case research and have them sit in on case appointments and hearings, providing them with valuable training in the pro bono legal field. SLSP has traditionally delivered our services as any law firm would – in person. In-person appointments allow us to gauge the senior client’s cognitive capabilities and ensure that they are not being unduly influenced by another. To that end, we offer appointments in our SLO office, in senior centers around the county, and will go to a client’s residence or care facility if necessary. The COVID-19 pandemic taught us how to deliver services via phone and Zoom appointments. Though not ideal for the reasons stated above, it allows us to serve those who cannot get to our office or a senior center due to transportation or medical issues SLOLAF has three bilingual employees in the Civil Law Services program division so we can better serve the Spanish-speaking community, as well as a Spanish speaking outreach coordinator. Having a bilingual attorney eliminates the need for a translator in client meetings, and our bilingual Supervising Legal Assistant provides support to all attorneys. Our bilingual Intake & Referral Coordinator, as the first point of contact for all clients, is able to communicate clearly with Spanish speaker and put them at ease, knowing that they will be understood. Spanish speakers are a large portion of the low-income clients we serve. We’ve seen the percentage of clients who identify as Hispanic increase from 9% just four years ago to 22% recently. It’s been a slow process, but building trust with the Hispanic community takes time, and we have the right employees now to do just that. With continued support from the City of San Luis Obispo, SLSP will be able to continue serving low-income seniors in need. We will continue our work in the following areas and beyond: SLSP Helps Seniors with Homelessness Prevention SLSP helps clients understand their rights as tenants and helps clients negotiate with landlords to obtain accommodations for their disabilities, such as parking, wheelchair accessibility and extended visiting hours for caregivers. This allows clients to live independently longer, often in their homes. In the case of habitability issues, SLOLAF helps clients with communications with the landlord to remediate the issue, and if not successful in bringing about the desired repairs, in pursuing options to keep our client safely housed and healthy. During the eviction process, SLSP negotiates with landlords for time beyond what the eviction process allows, so clients can stay in their home while they can find suitable alternative housing. SLSP represents tenants in court when they are being improperly evicted, advocating for the rights of our clients, and decreasing homelessness in these vulnerable populations. SLSP assists clients in long-term care facilities with appeals when their funding is wrongfully denied and they are going to be discharged, many times leaving them homeless and in need of urgent medical care. SLSP Helps Seniors with Government Benefits and Income Maintenance SLSP advises and represents clients who are having issues surrounding their Social Security, Medicare, MediCal/Medicaid and pension/retiree benefits. Dealing with governmental agencies can be intimidating for anyone, much less a senior who does not know how to best communicate with the appropriate governmental agency and doesn’t understand the communications they’ve received. As a result, many go without the benefits that they are entitled to, which can then contribute to further issues with creditors or landlords. SLSP represents seniors in communications, often reinstating benefits that have been revoked, eliminating erroneous back-pay situations, or obtaining benefits that were denied. Though some cases in this area are simple, most are very complex and require many hours on the part of our attorneys. SLSP Helps Seniors Deal with their Creditors SLSP advises and represents clients who are having problems with creditors. Often clients cannot afford rent and enough food because they use their social security benefits to pay creditors. SLSP advises the clients that their social security is exempt from creditors and advises how the clients can assert this and other exemptions. Many clients cannot decipher which communications from creditors are legitimate and which are scams. We help them with this issue, as well as a variety of other consumer-related problems. SLSP Helps Seniors Plan for Incapacity SLSP educates senior groups throughout SLO County about Powers of Attorney for Finances, Statutory Wills and Advance Health Care Directives, and prepares and customizes those documents for individual clients. These documents allow clients to name agents to act for them in the event they become unable to manage their property or to communicate their desires as to the type of medical treatment they receive. SLSP sends attorneys to subsidized housing developments for seniors so they can prepare these important documents and designate a person they trust to help them with the financial affairs and health care decisions when needed. Many seniors would not take care of these important documents if we did not bring them to their residences. The peace of mind these documents bring to seniors is invaluable. SLSP provides community outreach and education Through SLSP’s community outreach efforts and education programs, seniors and other community members have a better understanding of the laws affecting seniors and how to protect themselves from abusive tactics. SLSP has started a regular monthly schedule of “Planning for Incapacity” seminars at various locations around the County. SLOLAF is a regular participant in senior and veteran fairs and also routinely provides education to staff at other non-profit organizations and government agencies on topics pertaining to seniors. SLOLAF has made a point of authoring easy-to-understand, bilingual FAQs and other resources on all legal topics we cover. 5. Describe the community/population the project/program will support.* The Senior Legal Services program supports senior (age 60+) residents of SLO County in need of legal assistance. The program focuses on low-income seniors, those with limited access to services, and those with barriers to services, including transportation and language barriers. Many of these seniors are experiencing issues with their current housing situation and need assistance to stay housed or have time to find suitable replacement housing. Others are having trouble with income maintenance, which then leads to instability in maintaining housing, food, and medical needs. Others have fallen prey to scams or are experiencing other consumer debt issues and need assistance to resolve the situation. Others are concerned about their care later in life and need to set up the necessary documents to ensure their wishes are carried out when they are incapacitated. 6. The HRC has identified homeless prevention including affordable and alternative housing, supportive services, and transitional housing as the main funding priority. Does your grant request meet this funding priority?* Yes No 7. Which other priority of the non-ranked HRC funding priorities does your request support? Please check the appropriate boxes:* Hunger and malnutrition prevention Supportive physical and mental health services for those in need Services for seniors and/or people with disabilities in need Supportive and developmental services for children and youth in need Services encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusivity in marginalized communities 8. Provide timeline for project * Because Senior Legal Services is an ongoing program of SLOLAF regardless of funding streams, funding is being requested for our fiscal year 7/1/24-6/30/25. 9. Identify any partnerships/collaborations that are supporting this project/program and their roles * SLOLAF has an MOU with the Long Term Care Ombudsman’s Office to receive referrals for legal cases and to provide training to their advocates. We work with Adult Protective Services on elder abuse cases they refer to us. Social workers from Hospice SLO and Wilshire Hospice contact us with questions regarding legal issues affecting their clients. SLOLAF provides education on senior legal issues at the various senior centers around the county and provides presentations to the staff of other local agencies so they can be aware of our services and better refer potential clients to SLOLAF. We particularly focus on presenting to organizations that serve a similar population, such as People’s Self-Help Housing, SLO Noor clinic, HASLO, CAPSLO, ECHO, Los Osos Cares, Etc. Staff members regularly participate in inter- agency group meetings that relate to our various programs. Meetings with Court Community Partners and the Adult Policy Services Council pertain to SLSP. 10. Describe your plan for sustainability beyond the City’s one-year award funding * As noted earlier, SLSP is an ongoing program of SLOLAF’s, one that will continue regardless of a particular year’s funding streams from any source. SLOLAF desires to have funding from the City of SLO because we are headquartered there and serve a large amount of SLO City residents. In addition, funding from SLO City is part of our matching funds requirement from our major funder, Area Agency on Aging. Any expenses in excess of funding confirmed for a year will be covered through donations and fundraising. If necessary due to funding cuts, SLOLAF will adjust the level of service we provide, decreasing the number of clients we see or moving certain services into one of our other programs that matches the need. 11. Describe the plan for promoting this project, program, or service within the City of San Luis Obispo * In addition to the presentations done for other agencies in SLO City and County, SLOLAF performs outreach in many ways. We have our SLSP-specific program card (English/Spanish) in all senior centers and at agencies that share similar clients. We make presentations at the SLO Senior Center. We contribute to local news articles and radio shows about legal areas we service, particularly housing. Our Bilingual Outreach Coordinator canvasses senior neighborhoods, particularly if we know there are issues there, leaving our program cards for residents so they are aware of their rights and our services. Lastly, we attend all outreach events that we can in the city, spreading the word about our services to all who attend. Though they might not need our services themselves, general knowledge of them is good because at some point, everyone will know someone who needs us. 12. Est. Number of people served through this project/program * 285 13. Est. Number of SLO City Residents served through this project/program * 100 Attachments Copy of Organization’s most recent complete fiscal year financial statement (for the previous year because it is the middle of the current fiscal year) including a statement of financial position/balance sheet, statement of revenue & expenses/income statement, profit & loss. Financial Statement * SLOLAF Financial Statements FY22-23.pdf 73.8KB 1-page Organization Chart * Organizational Chart updated 11-29-23.pdf 98.01KB Document Certifying Federal Tax-Exempt Status * 501(c)(3) letter + IRS name change.pdf 81.98KB 1-page detailed budget for the program including how the total requested amount of grant would be spent.   Budget * SLSP Budget FY24-25.pdf 17.02KB 1-page DEI statement that includes: Applicants’ understanding and application of DEI Affirming language that creates access and a sense of belonging in our community apart from grant Explain how this project will advance DEI in the City of SLO DEI Statement * SLOLAF DEI Statement.pdf 94.28KB Supervising Legal Assistant Staff Attorneys (4) Volunteer Attorneys Legal Director of Civil Law Services Executive Director Board of Directors Civil Law Interns (volunteer) San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation Organizational Chart Board Secretary Board Treasurer Board President Nominating Committee Executive Committee Audit Committee Finance Committee HR Committee Communications & Development Committee Legal Assistant Bilingual Outreach Coordinator Administrative Assistant (vacant) Intake & Referral Coordinator Legal Director of Family Law Services Family Law Staff Attorney Bilingual Legal Advocate Bilingual Intake& Referral Coordinator Senior Staff Attorney Director of Community Engagement Jun 30, 23 ASSETS Current Assets Checking/Savings 1012 · Pacific Western Checking 694.23 1014 · Pacific Western CD 100,000.00 1015 · Pacific Western High-Yield Savi 146,588.12 1016 · Pacific Premier Money Market 96,786.15 1018 · Edward Jones CDs 400,043.84 Total Checking/Savings 744,112.34 Accounts Receivable 1100 · *Accounts Receivable 232,060.01 Total Accounts Receivable 232,060.01 Other Current Assets 1070 · Petty Cash 40.00 1450 · Prepaid Expenses 9,768.57 1550 · Other Receivables 18,333.18 1600 · Security Deposits 12,139.02 Total Other Current Assets 40,280.77 Total Current Assets 1,016,453.12 Fixed Assets 1700 · Furniture and Equipment 34,320.80 1750 · Accumulated Depreciation -12,650.14 Total Fixed Assets 21,670.66 TOTAL ASSETS 1,038,123.78 LIABILITIES & EQUITY Liabilities Current Liabilities Credit Cards 2001 · Mastercard 1,979.27 Total Credit Cards 1,979.27 Other Current Liabilities 2100 · Payroll Liabilities 3,861.56 2150 · Accrued Liabilities 60,077.33 2200 · Accrued Payroll 39,121.92 2250 · Accrued Vacation 29,862.47 Total Other Current Liabilities 132,923.28 Total Current Liabilities 134,902.55 Total Liabilities 134,902.55 Equity 3000 · Retained Earnings 278,714.19 Net Income 624,507.04 Total Equity 903,221.23 TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY 1,038,123.78 2:56 PM San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation 03/01/24 Balance Sheet Accrual Basis As of June 30, 2023 Page 1 Jul '22 - Jun 23 Ordinary Income/Expense Income 4000 · Grant Income 4001 · AAA 65,156.00 4002 · EAF 97,552.14 4003 · IOLTA 67,235.00 4004 · City of SLO 10,000.00 4005 · SLO County 25,000.00 4006 · SSVF 36,000.00 4007 · VAWA 0.00 4008 · Community Foundation 5,000.00 4010 · Bank Grant SubAward 12,154.93 4012 · Shriver Grant 282,134.96 4014 · Partnership Grant 7,162.10 4015 · EAF HP 2 Income 16,667.00 4016 · CAPSLO CARES Act 2,581.50 4017 · CRLA Foundation 550.97 4018 · CA Access to Justice Comm 107,912.29 4019 · EAF HP #3 Formula 92,869.49 4020 · EAF HP #3 RFP 379,181.91 4021 · Lumina Alliance Subcontract 190,267.94 4024 · Consumer Debt Grant Income 107,650.00 Total 4000 · Grant Income 1,505,076.23 4050 · Program Related Income 4026 · Program Income (SLSP Donations)810.00 Total 4050 · Program Related Income 810.00 4100 · Fundraising Income 4110 · Annual Event Income 204,060.50 4130 · Annual Appeal Income 7,455.00 4140 · Donations 5,063.27 Total 4100 · Fundraising Income 216,578.77 Total Income 1,722,465.00 Expense 5200 · Program Related Expenses 5272 · Contract Services 847.40 5280 · Program Exp - Filing Fees 55.63 6020 · Staff Travel/Mileage 11,898.58 6025 · Staff Training 2,464.17 6026 · Outreach Expense 3,793.75 6034 · Legal Library 2,781.76 6550 · Volunteer Expense 269.48 Total 5200 · Program Related Expenses 22,110.77 5300 · Fundraising Expenses 5310 · Annual Event Expenses 126,330.18 5320 · Annual Appeal Expense 1,375.97 5325 · Donor Management Software 964.18 5330 · Donor Cultivation Expense 6,155.61 Total 5300 · Fundraising Expenses 134,825.94 2:54 PM San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation 03/01/24 Profit & Loss Accrual Basis July 2022 through June 2023 Page 1 Jul '22 - Jun 23 6600 · Personnel Expenses 6610 · Salaries & Wages 778,424.13 6615 · Vacation Expense 9,175.99 6620 · Payroll Taxes 62,388.73 6630 · Health, Life & LTD Insurance 70,526.63 6635 · Retirement Plan Exp 13,975.81 6640 · Workers' Comp Insurance 2,946.74 6650 · HR Exp - Recruiting/Legal 12,635.80 6690 · Benefits Allocation 0.00 Total 6600 · Personnel Expenses 950,073.83 6200 · Common Expenses 6043 · Rent/Janitorial 93,756.27 6015 · Computer Maint & Software 27,193.01 6041 · Postage 585.61 6045 · Dues, Memberships & Subscrip.9,648.06 6046 · Copier Rental/Fees 2,530.63 6120 · Insurance 14,044.33 6410 · Office Supplies/Expenses 7,282.29 6540 · Telephone/DSL 12,002.42 8020 · Depreciation Expense 5,328.46 Total 6200 · Common Expenses 172,371.08 6000 · Administrative Expenses 6035 · Meetings 3,146.67 6044 · Marketing/Website 14,689.64 6118 · Repairs & Maintenance 6,600.11 6250 · Bookkeeping/Payroll Processing 2,600.00 6260 · Audit 13,700.00 6560 · Bank, CC & Paypal Fees 109.88 6570 · Taxes, Licenses & Fees 25.00 6700 · Board of Director Expenses 2,096.66 6910 · Miscellaneous 5,521.45 Total 6000 · Administrative Expenses 48,489.41 9010 · Administrative Allocation 0.00 Total Expense 1,327,871.03 Net Ordinary Income 394,593.97 Other Income/Expense Other Income 7010 · Vol. Attorney Time - In Kind 34,875.00 7020 · Interest Income 4,877.10 7040 · Other Income 225,035.97 Total Other Income 264,788.07 Other Expense 8010 · Vol Attorney Time 34,875.00 Total Other Expense 34,875.00 Net Other Income 229,913.07 Net Income 624,507.04 2:54 PM San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation 03/01/24 Profit & Loss Accrual Basis July 2022 through June 2023 Page 2 Budget - Senior Legal Services Project FY24-25 Income Grant Income Area Agency on Aging 110,000 SLO City 20,000 SLO County 30,000 The Community Foundation SLO County 20,000 State Bar Homelessness Prevention 63,825 Total Grant Income 243,825 Program-Related Income Client Donations 1,500 Total Program Income 1,500 Volunteer Time - In Kind 30,000 Total Income 275,325 Expense Salaries & Wages 154,750 Volunteer Time - In Kind 30,000 Payroll Taxes 14,000 Benefits 26,750 Workers' Comp Insurance 575 Program/Outreach Expenses 1,000 Staff Travel/Mileage/Parking 3,600 Staff Training 700 Volunteer Expense 500 Rent/Janitorial 11,150 Computer Maintenance & Support 5,400 Postage 100 Dues, Memberships & Subscriptions 1,425 Copier Costs 550 Insurance 2,675 Office Supplies 325 Telephone/DSL Expense 600 Depreciation Expense 800 Administrative Allocation 20,425 Total Expense 275,325 Net Income - Any funding from the City of San Luis Obispo will be used to fund the SLSP program as a whole, not toward any one particular budget line item. Funds will be spread throughout the fiscal year and will be combined with other funding to completely cover project costs. Organization Statement on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) At SLOLAF, a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace is one where all clients, employees and volunteers feel valued and respected, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, sexual orientation or identity, education, or disability. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provide equal opportunity for employment and advancement in all our departments and programs. Our employees are diverse themselves, bringing lived experience to the table when serving our clients. Without the diversity of our staff, we would have far less to offer our clients. The clients we serve are also very diverse, representing all of the areas mentioned above. We are proud to focus on serving those who are traditionally underserved, including those with language barriers, disabilities, and those whose financial situation prevents them from affording traditional legal remedies. We do not screen for immigration status – all are welcome. We strive to communicate well by meeting with clients in the language they are most comf ortable with and understand best. We strive to provide culturally competent services in all cases, and trauma- informed services when appropriate. Our vision is legal access for all, and we mean it. Our work advances DEI in the City of SLO by working with the underserved right here, in the City of SLO. We create a sense of belonging for them, so they feel cared for regardless of the issue they are having. And we do it for free for those who need it most.