Community Legal Services of Philadelphia and Morgan Lewis Obtain Settlement to Provide Emergency SNAP Benefits to Qualifying Pennsylvanians

Coronavirus, Public Benefits

BREAKING NEWS: CLS and superstar pro bono co-counsel Morgan Lewis just settled litigation that will deliver $712 million emergency SNAP (food stamp) benefits to approximately 650,000 of the neediest Pa households! In addition, the USDA will be changing their national policy so that approximately 12 million families nationwide will get additional SNAP benefits they are owed.…

Person washing hands

Report from CLS and PULP Reveals Energy Insecurity Among Black and Latinx Households in Pennsylvania

*Highlights, Utilities

Today, Community Legal Services and the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project released a report that reveals that Black and Latinx households in Pennsylvania are more likely to experience unaffordable utility costs and fall behind on their utility bills at a much higher rate than white households. Many of these same communities were hardest hit by COVID-19…

Brief: The Treasury Department Must Ensure Fair Access to Stimulus Payments for All

Consumer Rights, Coronavirus, Public Benefits

We are so excited that the American Rescue Plan has authorized a third round of stimulus payments–offering an essential lifeline to so many people struggling during the pandemic and their dependents.  We are hopeful that people, particularly non-filers, do not face the same significant obstacles getting the $1400 dependent payments like they did for the…

Report: Debt Collection in Philadelphia

Consumer Rights

Community Legal Services commissioned the following study by the Reinvestment Fund to learn about the impact of debt collection cases filed in Philadelphia’s “small claims” Municipal Court against people across the City, with a particular focus on race. The report includes statistics and maps related to case filings and top filers, service of process, case…

Testimony in Support of Improving the Unemployment Compensation System in Pennsylvania

Coronavirus, Employment

CLS Litigation Director  Sharon Dietrich submitted the following testimony before the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee on March 10, 2021. The testimony highlights problems with Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance programs that are preventing eligible applicants from receiving benefits, and proposes solutions to these problems. Download the full testimony with attachments Members…

Jude's hand holding a gavel

How To Participate in The 2021 Philadelphia Water Rate Case

Utilities

Join the 2021 Philadelphia Water Rate Case Public Hearings by Zoom or Phone: Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at 1:00 pm  Web: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88260160674 Phone: 929-205-6099 Meeting ID: 882 6016 0674 Thursday, March 18, 2021, at 1:00 pm  Web: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87914683516 Phone: 929-205-6099 Meeting ID: 879 1468 3516 Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at 6:00 pm  Web: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83121546904 Phone:…