email : Webview : BT Now | Nov 2023: The Season of Giving

Dear Friends,

We wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Thanksgiving this Thursday! The season of gratitude and of giving back is officially upon us. While celebrating the holidays with friends and family through the end of the year, we also look to the nonprofit organizations that are making a difference for our communities. At Bet Tzedek, we appreciate this season of generosity.

With your help this past year, we’ve provided free legal aid and advocacy in four key areas, securing justice for seniors and dependent adults; justice for tenants, homeowners, and unhoused individuals; justice for children and families; and justice for workers, taxpayers, and small business owners. Whether we are helping nontraditional families access food, housing, and medical care, or we are fighting for fair wages and safe working conditions, the legal services that Bet Tzedek provides have transformed lives across Los Angeles County and the state.

We feel enormous gratitude for our generous donors and the incredible volunteers who make it possible for us to assist over 85,000 individuals and families every year. This month, BT Now highlights one of our donors who is making a difference and some of the clients whose lives were improved thanks to our Bet Tzedek family.

We hope that you will support our efforts this month on the 28th for Giving Tuesday, the largest single day of charitable donations globally — and through the end of the year. We cannot do the work we do without you, so thank you for your vital contributions!

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A GIFT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Mayor Bass Calls on Pro Bono Volunteers to Help Keep Angelenos Housed

From KTLA Article (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

KTLA reported that L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and the nonprofit Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles are calling on legal professionals to donate their time towards the prevention of evictions in L.A. as part of the city’s We Are L.A. campaign. Looking to stop the spread of homelessness in the city, the Fund is working with Bet Tzedek and three other legal aid organizations (Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Inner City Law Center, and Neighborhood Legal Services) to connect pro bono lawyers with individuals at risk of eviction.

“We must continue to do all that we can to prevent Angelenos from getting evicted and falling into homelessness,” Mayor Bass said. “Everyone has to have skin in the game as we work towards solutions that prevent Angelenos from falling into homelessness in the first place.”

The We Are L.A. hotline, which assists those at risk of losing their homes, can be reached by calling 213-584-1808.

With homelessness as such a dire problem in L.A., we urge you to be part of the solution! Bet Tzedek is expanding its pro bono eviction defense program thanks to generous support from the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles. This new "We Are L.A. Pro Bono Program" is seeking pro bono attorneys to help prevent the unjust evictions of low-income tenants and their families.

We are developing a roster of limited-scope clinics and full-scope case opportunities in partnership with our peer agencies. Bet Tzedek encourages pro bono volunteers to sign up for an upcoming training and clinic to assist an in pro per client at imminent risk of eviction. We have a large volume of cases of clients in need of full legal representation and we ask pro bono attorneys to consider taking on a case with Bet Tzedek co-counsel — work that will be life-changing for our clients and an incredibly meaningful pro bono experience. If interested, contact Director of Pro Bono Programs, Sara Levine, at slevine@bettzedek.org.

Starting in 2024, More People Will Qualify for Medi-Cal and IHSS

Starting January 2024, there will no longer be an asset limit for Medi-Cal eligibility. This change has significant implications, as it means that more individuals can now qualify for Medi-Cal and access home care services through the In-Home Supportive Services Program.

To help you stay informed about this monumental change, the Department of Health Care Services is organizing an Advocate Training session. During this training, you'll have the opportunity to dive into the details of this important transformation.

Here is a link to find more information about the Asset Limit Changes and to register for a webinar on Wednesday, November 29th.

The training will provide valuable insights and guidance on navigating these new developments and will be essential in assisting those who may now qualify for Medi-Cal and related services.

How to Stop Medi-Cal Terminations with BT Medi-Cal Policy Specialist Kim Selfon

Help a Senior Create an Estate Plan to Protect her Beneficiary’s Medi-Cal Benefits

Case Description: Ms. S is a retired senior renting an apartment in Burbank. She moved to California from the Midwest to be closer to her adult son who was permanently disabled in a motorcycle accident. Ms. S is living on a fixed income and would like to leave her life savings to her three children (her disabled son and two adult daughters). The client does not currently have a will or any estate planning documents. Ms. S’ children are all designated beneficiaries on the client’s financial accounts, but she is worried that if the disabled son receives money when Ms. S passes, this may negatively impact his eligibility for Medi-Cal. The son currently receives Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, Medicare, and Medi-Cal.

Work Required & Deadlines: Meet with Ms. S and prepare estate planning documents that meet her wants and needs.

Staffing: This case is best suited for an experienced estate planning attorney.

If interested, contact Director of Pro Bono Programs, Sara Levine, at slevine@bettzedek.org.

BT General Services Presentation: December 12th

Bet Tzedek offers a General Services presentation every second Tuesday of each month, with the next one happening December 12th. Share the link with anyone who may need it and REGISTER HERE by selecting the language and month for which you wish to attend.

Join the Bet Tzedek Team!

Have a passion for helping underserved residents in the community? Want to work alongside dedicated staff and volunteers who help upwards of 100,000 people per year?

Here are some critical positions we need to fill, plus more (see button below):

DIRECTING ATTORNEY: INTEGRATED COMMUNITY & HOLOCAUST SERVICES

DIRECTING ATTORNEY: SELF-HELP CLINICS

Apply to Work with Us Here

Please Donate

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