New Beginnings

by Gregg Lombardi - Executive Director

This is a time of many new beginnings at Legal Aid:

• We’ve just completed a big chunk of our 3-year strategic planning process and we’re ramping up to implement the plan;
• We’re collaborating with the KCMBA to set up hundreds of lawyers, who the KCMBA has recruited to do pro bono work, with the training, resources and case assignments they need to do their volunteer work; and
• I recently experienced a wonderful, personal, new beginning. On November 9, my wife, Beth Lombardi gave birth to our son, William Neil Lombardi.
  

At the same time, these are very difficult times for our clients. Foreclosures are stealing homes, not only from homeowners but from renters who may be completely up-to-date on rent, but lose their housing when their landlord fails to pay the mortgage (at least one quarter of KC foreclosures are on rental housing). Domestic violence is becoming more frequent and more violent. And people with disabilities are being denied access to healthcare at an
alarmingly high rate.

One of my goals in these exciting and challenging times is to help get the word out to the community about the great things that are going on at Legal Aid. So, with the help of our talented development staff, I’m taking a shot at starting a blog for the organization.

My vision of blogging is to provide you with frequent, brief highlights of what our organization is doing, the challenges that we face and how we’re collaborating with other organizations to meet those challenges.

I also plan to provide other information that you can use and enjoy, from tips on great restaurants that you might not have heard of (Teocali at 25th and Holmes in Kansas City, for example, is a hidden gem, with excellent fajitas and green enchiladas) to local hiking trails, recipes, gardening tips, etc.

Legal Aid is doing great work and part of that work is to collaborate and build relationships with other organizations and individuals throughout our community. So, please join us. Together we will do great things. I hope you’ll follow along.

Andy's Story

Andy, 84, is a World War II veteran who still lives with the injuries he suffered in battle. He relies on food stamps to get by. In 2008, the government drastically cut Andy’s food stamps based on the mistaken belief that reimbursement for his out-of-pocket medical expenses should be considered income. Although the law clearly excludes medical expense reimbursement from income, the agency persisted in its position.

Legal Aid represented Andy and appealed the agency decision to the Circuit Court. The court found that the state’s position was in error, reversed its decision, and ordered full back pay and reinstatement of Andy’s benefits.