CLS and Philadelphia Water Department Propose Partial Settlement of Rate Case
CLS was appointed by the Philadelphia Water, Sewer, and Storm Water Rate Board to serve as Public Advocate in the…
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CLS’S 35th Annual Bar Campaign is Live
This year ushers in the 35th anniversary for Community Legal Services’ Bar Campaign. That’s 35 years where Philadelphia area law…
A Brief History of Criminal Record Clearing Work Performed By Community Legal Services
In 2018, Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania signed the Clean Slate Act. With its signing, Pennsylvania became the first state
Budget Billing Means More Predictable Utility Bills
What is budget billing? Usually, gas and electric costs vary month by month based on usage. For example, if you…
Affordable Utilities for Survivors of Domestic Violence
Información en Español. PECO (electric) and PGW (gas) must provide protections for survivors of domestic violence. To qualify for these…
Good News: Philadelphia Will No Longer Collect Bail Forfeiture Judgments Issued Before March 4, 2010!
How did that happen? On September 30, 2014, the Philadelphia courts issued an official order stating they will no longer…
Opening Doors: How Philadelphia Area Colleges Can Promote Access and Equity by “Banning the Box”
Young people of color across Pennsylvania are over-criminalized at staggering rates. The consequences for any contact with the juvenile or…
Barriers to Successful Reunification in Philadelphia
The Barriers to Successful Reunification in Philadelphia: Findings from the Perceptions of Birth Parents & Child Welfare Professionals project was…
DID YOU LOSE A JOB OR REDUCE YOUR HOURS BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS?
YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR FOOD STAMPS (SNAP), MEDICAID (MA), CASH ASSISTANCE (TANF) OR HEATING BILL ASSISTANCE (LIHEAP). If you…
CLS Releases Recommendations for the Biden-Harris Administration
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS), one of the largest and most respected legal services programs in the nation, congratulates…
Black Survival Is Black History
The following post was written by Kee Tobar, Director of Race Equity & Inclusion at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.…
Careless: How the Pennsylvania Department of Health Has Risked the Lives of Elderly and Disabled Nursing Home Residents
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has been failing in its job to protect nursing home residents. Over the past…
CLS Files Lawsuit to Challenge Pennsylvania’s Childline Registry
PHILADELPHIA, PA – On August 10 parents, caregivers, and community organizations filed suit in the case of A.W. v. Commonwealth…
The Childline Registry: A Poverty Trap for Children and Families
Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law authorizes the Department of Human Services to maintain a statewide database known as the Childline…
Report: Racial Disparities in Access to Supplemental Security Income Benefits for Children
SSI for children is crucial support for families in need. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides critical financial support to people…
Clean Slate: Changing Lives by Sealing Criminal Records
In 2018, Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania signed the Clean Slate Act. With its signing, Pennsylvania became the first state
