Philadelphia just released new property assessments, which are used to calculate property tax bills. If your assessed value went up, your property taxes will, too. If you think your home’s assessment is too high, you should appeal right away. You can do that by requesting a “First Level Review” with the Office of Property Assessment…
New Report Shows Unintentional, Systemic Bias in Philadelphia Property Assessments Today, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS) announced the publication of a new report, “Examining the Accuracy, Uniformity & Equity of Philadelphia’s 2023 Real Estate Tax Assessments.” The report, commissioned by CLS, and researched and authored by the Reinvestment Fund, in partnership with CLS and…
This year ushers in the 35th anniversary for Community Legal Services’ Bar Campaign. That’s 35 years where Philadelphia area law firms have stood together to advance access to justice for our neighbors who are struggling to get by. 35 years is more than just a number; it’s an important milestone that demonstrates that Philadelphia’s entire…
“It makes you feel defeated and hopeless. It’s like you feel stuck. You have no help and nowhere to turn to all because of something that happened years ago,” said Jennifer Lee, a mother of two who was evicted in 2015. Since the start of the pandemic, Pennsylvania landlords have filed more than 280,000 evictions.…
None of us can afford climate change, but the costs are even higher for Black and Brown people, cities, rural communities, and low-income families. PA must allocate permanent state supplemental funding to make LIHEAP available year round. Summer of 2022 was one of the hottest summers on record in Pennsylvania’s history, and temperatures will only…
Following the success of initial rollout, low-income tenants in 19134 and 19144 zip codes are now guaranteed legal representation when facing eviction PHILADELPHIA – Starting February 1, 2023, low-income renters in Philadelphia zip codes 19134 and 19144 are entitled to free legal representation if they are facing eviction. Legislation providing for guaranteed legal representation, known…
This video gives you a glimpse into the work CLS’s staff attorneys, paralegals, social workers, and other advocates do every day so that people and their families in Philadelphia can access fundamental needs like housing, food, and employment. Hear from CLS advocates and clients about the lasting impact that CLS has had on them and…
Pennsylvania’s UC System No Longer Can Be Relied Upon to Serve Unemployed Workers. Traditionally, Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation (UC) system was simple and effective. An unemployed worker went to an “unemployment office,” filed a claim, and got about the business of finding a new job. As a result of declining administrative funding, that system started to…
We want to say a big thank you to our generous donors from the 2022 Bar Campaign! Over 100 law firms contribute annually to CLS as part of this campaign, providing a huge amount of funding for the legal assistance we offer to low-income Philadelphians. This year’s campaign raised over $500,000! We greatly appreciate all…
During the height of the pandemic in 2020, the Pennsylvania General Assembly made a priority of approving Act 53, known as the occupational licensing reform bill. The bill was guided to passage by bipartisan lead sponsors and supported by both conservative and liberal advocates, including the PA Chamber. The goal of all concerned was obvious:…
