/ en /ray <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Ray: Dignity for Senior Veteran </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sierra-chacona…</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2026-02-02T10:34:09-05:00" title="Monday, February 2, 2026 - 10:34" class="datetime">Mon, 02/02/2026 - 10:34</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-summary field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item">Air Force vet Ray Haag lived a modest but secure life with his Social Security and veterans’ benefits. But when a serious illness forced him into a nursing home, he quickly found himself overwhelmed by debt.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-paragraph-types field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><div class="paragraph paragraph--text-and-image paragraph--text-and-image--default paragraph--type--text-and-image paragraph--view-mode--default align-left" id="meet-ray" data-title="Meet Ray"> <div class="paragraph--content"> <div class="paragraph--column"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div> <img src="/sites/default/files/styles/hero/public/2026-02/gettyimages-2203781382.jpg?itok=WEd4_EAG" width="500" height="500" alt="Ray" loading="lazy" class="image-style-hero"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph--column"> <h2>Meet Ray</h2> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-long-description field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Ray didn’t anticipate living the remainder of his life in a nursing home. But that’s the situation he found himself in after an unexpected medical event left him unable to care for himself. The sharp rise in medical costs left him with just $50 per month – not nearly enough to cover his credit card payments. When the credit card company sued Ray for over $20,000 in debt, Ray turned to Legal Aid of Western Ohio. His attorney stepped in, explained Ray’s circumstances, and worked with the creditor to resolve the case. The debt was waived, and the lawsuit was dismissed. With the financial burden lifted, Ray can now focus on his health and live with dignity.</p></div> </div> </div> <div class="text-respect fade-in-right"> <img src="themes/lsc/img/decor/respect.svg" alt> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--full-width-image-cta paragraph--full-width-image-cta--default paragraph--type--full-width-image-cta paragraph--view-mode--default" style="background-image: url('/sites/default/files/2026-02/gettyimages-522876102-170667a.jpg');" id="one-in-10-veterans-live-in-poverty-and-is-eligible-for-lsc-services." data-title="One in 10 veterans live in poverty and is eligible for ¿ìèÊÓƵ services." data-original-title="One in 10 veterans live in poverty and is eligible for ¿ìèÊÓƵ services."> <div class="paragraph--content"> <div class="full-width-image-cta__content"> <div class="field field--name-field-plain-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">One in 10 veterans live in poverty and is eligible for ¿ìèÊÓƵ services.</div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-long-description field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>More than 75% of low-income veteran households experienced at least one civil legal problem in the last 12 months.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-double-call-to-action field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--call-to-action paragraph--call-to-action--default paragraph--type--call-to-action paragraph--view-mode--default" id="call_to_action" data-title="call to action" data-original-title="call to action"> <div class="field field--name-field-call-to-action field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--link paragraph--link--default paragraph--type--link paragraph--view-mode--default" id="link" data-title="link" data-original-title="link"> <div class="field field--name-field-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="https://lsc-live.app.box.com/s/49bj9q5qj55fd5hknszo8haf66z85qqz">Learn more about ¿ìèÊÓƵ's commitment to our nation's veterans</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--double-cta paragraph--double-cta--default paragraph--type--double-cta paragraph--view-mode--default" id="learn-about-ohio" data-title="Learn About Ohio" data-original-title="Learn About Ohio"> <div class="paragraph--column"> <h2>Learn About Ohio</h2> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-long-description field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Learn about the civil legal needs impacting the state of Ohio.</p><img data-entity-uuid="851e933b-fac8-4659-a0f7-122d1d0fbc51" data-entity-type="file" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/ohio%20state.png" height="60" alt width="60" loading="lazy"></div> <div class="field field--name-field-call-to-action field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--call-to-action paragraph--call-to-action--default paragraph--type--call-to-action paragraph--view-mode--default" id="call_to_action" data-title="call to action" data-original-title="call to action"> <div class="field field--name-field-call-to-action field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--link paragraph--link--default paragraph--type--link paragraph--view-mode--default" id="link" data-title="link" data-original-title="link"> <div class="field field--name-field-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="/grants/our-grantees/ohio-state-profile">Learn About Ohio</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph--column"> <h2>Learn About Legal Aid of Western Ohio</h2> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-long-wysiwyg field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Learn about ¿ìèÊÓƵ grantee, Legal Aid of Western Ohio.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-secondary-cta field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--call-to-action paragraph--call-to-action--default paragraph--type--call-to-action paragraph--view-mode--default" id="call_to_action" data-title="call to action" data-original-title="call to action"> <div class="field field--name-field-call-to-action field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--link paragraph--link--default paragraph--type--link paragraph--view-mode--default" id="link" data-title="link" data-original-title="link"> <div class="field field--name-field-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="/grants/our-grantees/legal-aid-western-ohio-inc-program-profile">Learn About Legal Aid of Western Ohio</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-client-stories field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field field--name-field-client-stories field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items field__tags"> <a href="/taxonomy/term/192" hreflang="en">Veterans</a> <a href="/taxonomy/term/27" hreflang="en">Elder Law</a> </div> </div> Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:34:09 +0000 sierra-chacona@lsc.gov 4761 at /coleen <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Coleen: Widow Recovers Life’s Savings from Scammer </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sierra-chacona…</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2025-03-20T15:04:26-04:00" title="Thursday, March 20, 2025 - 15:04" class="datetime">Thu, 03/20/2025 - 15:04</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-summary field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item">After Hurricane Harvey destroyed her home in 2017, a senior in Texas faced numerous challenges in rebuilding. With the help of ¿ìèÊÓƵ-funded legal aid, she was able to get her application for disaster relief approved and begin building her new home, providing her with stable housing for the first time in years. </div> <div class="field field--name-field-paragraph-types field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><div class="paragraph paragraph--text-and-image paragraph--text-and-image--default paragraph--type--text-and-image paragraph--view-mode--default align-right" id="meet-coleen" data-title="Meet Coleen"> <div class="paragraph--content"> <div class="paragraph--column"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-oembed-video field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><iframe src="/media/oembed?url=https%3A//youtu.be/zCcqC7PamRg&amp;max_width=0&amp;max_height=0&amp;hash=W50zZymxDTdQ-ZhHYR5juBktlBgjA88SVx4Y8OBD3FE" width="200" height="113" class="media-oembed-content" loading="eager" title="FRLS Helps Widow Elder Woman in North Fort Myers Resolve $10,000 Roofing Dispute after Hurricane Ian"></iframe> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph--column"> <h2>Meet Coleen</h2> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-long-description field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span class="TextRun SCXW29159447 BCX0 NormalTextRun" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent;-webkit-user-drag:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;user-select:text;" data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US">Coleen, a widow, hired a roofing company to perform repairs on her home following a hurricane. The company took her $10,300 deposit but did not complete the work as promised. After several delays, Coleen contacted </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW29159447 BCX0" href="/node/3530" segoe ui target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW29159447 BCX0 NormalTextRun" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent;-webkit-user-drag:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;user-select:text;" data-contrast="none" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">Florida Rural Legal Services</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW29159447 BCX0 NormalTextRun" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent;-webkit-user-drag:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;user-select:text;" data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US">, which helped her get a partial refund from the company. Coleen's story emphasizes the importance of seeking help from legal aid organizations that can assist low-income individuals when they encounter issues with unethical companies, especially those who take advantage of people when disaster strikes.</span><span class="EOP SCXW29159447 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-call-to-action field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--call-to-action paragraph--call-to-action--default paragraph--type--call-to-action paragraph--view-mode--default" id="call_to_action" data-title="call to action" data-original-title="call to action"> <div class="field field--name-field-call-to-action field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--link paragraph--link--default paragraph--type--link paragraph--view-mode--default" id="link" data-title="link" data-original-title="link"> <div class="field field--name-field-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="https://youtu.be/zCcqC7PamRg">Watch on YouTube</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="text-respect fade-in-right"> <img src="themes/lsc/img/decor/respect.svg" alt> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--full-width-image-cta paragraph--full-width-image-cta--default paragraph--type--full-width-image-cta paragraph--view-mode--default" style="background-image: url('/sites/default/files/2025-03/gettyimages-1344686305.jpg');" id="so-far-in-2025,-disasters-have-caused-$182.7-billion-in-damages." data-title="So far in 2025, disasters have caused $182.7 billion in damages." data-original-title="So far in 2025, disasters have caused $182.7 billion in damages."> <div class="paragraph--content"> <div class="full-width-image-cta__content"> <div class="field field--name-field-plain-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">So far in 2025, disasters have caused $182.7 billion in damages.</div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-long-description field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span class="TextRun SCXW118320377 BCX0 NormalTextRun" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent;-webkit-user-drag:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;user-select:text;" data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US">Civil legal challenges can haunt disaster survivors for years as they face contractor scams while struggling to rebuild their homes. ¿ìèÊÓƵ grantee programs support low-income Americans with disaster preparedness and legal expertise during recovery.  </span><span class="EOP SCXW118320377 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{}">&nbsp;</span></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-double-call-to-action field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--call-to-action paragraph--call-to-action--default paragraph--type--call-to-action paragraph--view-mode--default" id="call_to_action" data-title="call to action" data-original-title="call to action"> <div class="field field--name-field-call-to-action field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--link paragraph--link--default paragraph--type--link paragraph--view-mode--default" id="link" data-title="link" data-original-title="link"> <div class="field field--name-field-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="/media/highlights/issue-spotlights/disaster-legal-services-supporting-survivors-strengthening-communities">Learn More About Disaster Legal Services</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--double-cta paragraph--double-cta--default paragraph--type--double-cta paragraph--view-mode--default" id="learn-about-florida" data-title="Learn About Florida" data-original-title="Learn About Florida"> <div class="paragraph--column"> <h2>Learn About Florida</h2> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-long-description field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span>Explore the civil legal needs impacting the state of Florida.</span></p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Florida%20state%20icon.png" data-entity-uuid="d6cc1599-2a10-482c-93fe-a2c313ce16d5" data-entity-type="file" alt="florida state map" width="150" height="150" class="align-center" loading="lazy"></div> <div class="field field--name-field-call-to-action field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--call-to-action paragraph--call-to-action--default paragraph--type--call-to-action paragraph--view-mode--default" id="call_to_action" data-title="call to action" data-original-title="call to action"> <div class="field field--name-field-call-to-action field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--link paragraph--link--default paragraph--type--link paragraph--view-mode--default" id="link" data-title="link" data-original-title="link"> <div class="field field--name-field-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="/state-snapshots?embed=true&amp;state=12">Learn About Florida</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph--column"> <h2>Learn about Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS)</h2> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-long-wysiwyg field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Learn about the ¿ìèÊÓƵ Grantee, Florida Rural Legal Services.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-secondary-cta field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--call-to-action paragraph--call-to-action--default paragraph--type--call-to-action paragraph--view-mode--default" id="call_to_action" data-title="call to action" data-original-title="call to action"> <div class="field field--name-field-call-to-action field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--link paragraph--link--default paragraph--type--link paragraph--view-mode--default" id="link" data-title="link" data-original-title="link"> <div class="field field--name-field-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="/grants/our-grantees/florida-rural-legal-services-inc-program-profile">Learn About FRLS</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-client-stories field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field field--name-field-client-stories field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items field__tags"> <a href="/taxonomy/term/25" hreflang="en">Disaster-Related Needs</a> <a href="/taxonomy/term/23" hreflang="en">Consumer Issues</a> <a href="/taxonomy/term/27" hreflang="en">Elder Law</a> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-state-or-territory field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/49" hreflang="en">Florida</a></div> Thu, 20 Mar 2025 19:04:26 +0000 sierra-chacona@lsc.gov 4583 at