New Report: Sealing Eviction Records for Housing Stability and Economic Prosperity
“It makes you feel defeated and hopeless. It’s like you feel stuck. You have no help and nowhere to turn…
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Did Your Property Taxes Go Up? Here’s How to Make Your Tax Bill More Affordable
Last year, Philadelphia released new “assessments” of property values, which are used to calculate property tax bills. If your assessed…
Two Philadelphia Workers File Lawsuit to Overturn Private Detective Act
In Pennsylvania, a 70-year-old law is exacerbating barriers to employment for people with criminal histories. The Private Detective Act imposes…
New Report: As Temperatures Rise, PA Must Expand LIHEAP to Cover Cooling Needs
None of us can afford climate change, but the costs are even higher for Black and Brown people, cities, rural…
PA House Passes Clean Slate Expansion!
PA House Votes 189-14 to Expand Clean Slate to Felony Records! On June 5, 2023, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives…
Pennsylvania Needs Clean Slate Expansion
On April 26, 2023, CLS and a bipartisan coalition of criminal justice advocates and state lawmakers went to Harrisburg to…
You Must Take Action to Keep Your Medical Assistance in 2023!
There have been special COVID rules for Medical Assistance (MA) since March 2020. Under the COVID rules, MA stayed on…
How To Participate in The 2023 Philadelphia Water Rate Case
The four 2023 Philadelphia Water Rate Case Public Hearings will by held at the following times by Zoom and Phone:…
Information for Homeowners When Construction Starts Next Door
Information for homeowners when new construction begins next door In neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia, residents’ homes are being affected by nearby…
Philadelphia Water Department proposing to Raise Rates by $240 Million
Last week, Community Legal Services learned that the Philadelphia Water Department is proposing to increase water rates by $240 million…
City Expands Right to Counsel for Eligible Philadelphia Tenants into Two Additional Zip Codes
Following the success of initial rollout, low-income tenants in 19134 and 19144 zip codes are now guaranteed legal representation when…
Extra SNAP is Ending: What You Need to Know
What Is Changing? The extra SNAP payment, officially called Emergency Allotments, has ended. Starting in March 2023, you will only…
Did You Get Unemployment Compensation During the Pandemic? Tips for Filing a New UC Application.
If you received Unemployment Compensation (UC) during the pandemic and now need to apply again because you lost your job,…
Why We’re Proud: New Video from CLS
This video gives you a glimpse into the work CLS’s staff attorneys, paralegals, social workers, and other advocates do every…
Transition Paper: PA’s UC System Remains in Disarray and Is Not Prepared for a Recession.
Pennsylvania’s UC System No Longer Can Be Relied Upon to Serve Unemployed Workers. Traditionally, Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation (UC) system was…
New CLS Report Uncovers Glaring Inequities in the SSA System
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are critical lifelines for millions of people with disabilities. However,…
