community-legal-services

A spiking thermometer against a bright sky and hot sun

As temps rise, advocates call on Pa. to dial up aid for cooling costs | Tuesday Morning Coffee

BY: - June 13, 2023

Advocates want Pa. to expand its LIHEAP program to help cover summer cooling costs.

State Rep. Jordan Harris, D-Philadelphia, speaks during a news conference at the Pa. Capitol on March 7, 2023 (Photo by Amanda Mustard for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star).

A Cleaner Slate: Pa. House approves expanded 2nd chance law | Wednesday Morning Coffee

BY: - June 7, 2023

The bill cleared the House on a 189-14 vote and heads to the state Senate.

COMMENTARY

A debt ceiling deal can’t come on the backs of Pennsylvanians in need | Opinion

BY: - May 18, 2023

We should be supporting families — not imposing work requirements that don’t work.

COMMENTARY

Here’s how the FTC’s proposed ban on non-compete clauses would help workers | Opinion

BY: - March 8, 2023

It would raise wages for low-income workers while letting employers choose who to hire.

COMMENTARY
Speaker device in various languages.

Meaningful access to the Social Security Administration requires language services | Opinion

BY: - November 20, 2022

A lack of interpreters cuts too many people off from the crucial services they need.

Social Security aid to disabled Pa. residents crashed during the pandemic | Thursday Morning Coffee

BY: - November 17, 2022

Pennsylvania saw the steepest drop of all 50 states, particularly hitting Black and brown residents, new research shows.

Thousands in Philly have arrests, convictions hurting job chances

BY: - May 21, 2022

The legal clinics will be conducted by Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity (PLSE) Community Legal Services (CLS) and the Defender Association of Philadelphia.

COMMENTARY

Struggling Pa. families need more support; Lawmakers, Wolf need to boost TANF payments | Opinion

BY: - February 19, 2021

Benefits have not increased since 1990, even though the cost of living has more than doubled since then.  

COMMENTARY

Report: Feds need to close racial gaps in program that helps kids living with disabilities | Tuesday Morning Coffee

BY: - December 15, 2020

A federal program aimed at helping kids living with disabilities is leaving Black and Brown children behind, researchers found.

COMMENTARY

Pa. needs to fix child abuse registry errors that turn into permanent barriers to employment | Opinion

BY: - November 17, 2020

The child abuse registry is a racial and economic justice issue that cannot be ignored. Pennsylvania must once again be a leader on removing unnecessary and onerous barriers to employment.

Pa.’s Board of Pardons sees spike in applications after eliminating fees

BY: - April 15, 2019

In the four weeks since Pennsylvania announced it would be free to apply for pardons, the number of ex-offenders asking the state to forgive their crimes has nearly doubled, data from the lieutenant governor’s office shows. The Board of Pardons, which makes recommendations to the governor to grant pardons and clemency or commute sentences, has […]