Legal Aid and Defender Association, Inc. (LAD) has received a $10,000 grant fromt the Michigan State Bar Foundation to help a group of young women who have aged out of foster care or are homeless.
The funds will be used to teach the basics of landlord/tenant, consumer, family, criminal, education and employment law to the young women living in Vista Maria's Shepherd Hall Transitional Living
Program and Foster Care Programs.
LAD's Civil Law Group will also counsel and provide legal representation in civil legal matters to participants.
Vista Maria — the largest nonprofit for girls and their families in the state — provides support, treatment and education to vulnerable youth.
The transitional living program offers young women who have aged out of foster care or who are homeless a supportive, therapeutic environment.
“Vista Maria is pleased to partner with Legal Aid and Defender Association to bring this curriculum to our young female tenants," said Karen Hall, program director of the Shepherd Hall Transitional Living Program.
Hall said the tenants often pose questions to staff about how to maintain good credit and how to secure affordable housing.
"Our goal is to provide the young ladies with opportunities to gain the necessary skills and knowledge, and to make positive social connections so that they are better prepared to transition to permanent housing and self-sufficiency,” she said.
The bar foundation awarded the grant as part of its Administration of Justice Program.
Under its terms, LAD will develop a curriculum using information from Michigan Legal Help that can be replicated by other organizations, according to Regina Daniels Thomas, deputy chief counsel-broad based advocacy for LAD's Civil Law Group.
“This is an opportunity for LAD to impact the lives of youth in our service area who are navigating the sometimes bumpy road to adulthood and improve their chances at success," Thomas said.
LAD provides free civil legal services to low-income residents of Michigan.
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