New Mexico Legal Aid Inc

PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN PROCEEDINGS OR MATTERS TO PERSONS FINANCIALLY UNABLE TO AFFORD LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, EXCLUDING SAN JUAN COUNTY.

NEW MEXICO LEGAL AID HAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL TRACK RECORD OF KEEPING LOW- INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES BY PREVENTING EVICTIONS AND FORECLOSURES. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE, AND NECESSARY, DURING 2020 AND 2021 DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. SINCE MARCH 2020 OUR WORK HAS GARNERED ATTENTION IN THE NEWS, WHICH HAS IN TURN BROUGHT IN AN UNUSUAL LEVEL OF DONATED DOLLARS TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED DURING THE PANDEMIC. LSC COVID- 19 RESPONSE FUNDS ARE ALSO KEY IN PROVIDING MORE SERVICES TO MORE PEOPLE. ADVOCATES AT NEW MEXICO LEGAL AID ARE ALSO VERY ADEPT AND SUCCESSFUL AT HELPING PROTECT, STABILIZE, AND IMPROVE HOUSEHOLD INCOME THROUGH CONSUMER PROTECTION WORK AND BENEFITS ADVOCACY, AREAS OF LAW THAT HAVE SEEN INCREASED ACTIVITY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. SCAMS AND PREDATORY LENDING ESCALATE AS PEOPLE ARE MORE DESPERATE AND VULNERABLE; AND ESTABLISHED CHANNELS TO ACCESS GOVERNMENT BENEFITS LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT ARE OVERBURDENED AND SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR INDIVIDUALS TO NAVIGATE. MANY PEOPLE LOST EMPLOYMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND LOST THE BENEFITS THAT CAME WITH EMPLOYMENT. IN THOSE SITUATIONS, THE ASSISTANCE OF A LEGAL AID ATTORNEY CAN BE LIFE CHANGING, INDEED, LIFE SUSTAINING AND PRESERVING. IT IS DIFFICULT TO DEMONSTRATE BY STATISTICS, BUT HELPING PEOPLE TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE INCOME ALSO HELPS IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES. ADVOCATES AT NEW MEXICO LEGAL AID PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE, HELPING THEM OBTAIN PROTECTION, CUSTODY, AND CHILD SUPPORT. THESE WOMEN (ALMOST ALL VICTIMS OF DV ARE WOMEN) AND THEIR CHILDREN, BENEFIT IMMENSELY FROM THE SERVICES THEY RECEIVE. PROTECTION HELPS STABILIZE LIVES AND ALLOWS THE HEALING PROCESS TO BEGIN. WE ALSO OFFER THESE SERVICES TO LGBTQ INDIVIDUALS, A GROUP THAT HAD TRADITIONALLY LIVED UNDER THE THREAT OF ABUSE AND DISCRIMINATION THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES, AND WHO NEED THE PROTECTIONS THAT LAWYERS CAN HELP THEM OBTAIN THROUGH THE LEGAL SYSTEM. WITHOUT A LAWYER, THE COURT SYSTEM CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT AND DAUNTING. SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS WITH MENTAL HEALTH/PRIVACY ISSUES, AND STUDENTS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF ASSAULT AND BULLYING BY FELLOW CLASSMATES RECEIVE ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTIONS WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF NEW MEXICO LEGAL AID THAT HAVE LONG ELUDED THEM. ADVOCACY FOR LOW INCOME TAXPAYERS THROUGH THE NMLA'S LOW INCOME TAX CLINIC HAS INCREASED ACCESS TO CHILD TAX CREDITS, EARNED INCOME TAX CREDITS AND OTHER TAX CREDITS, AND OVERCOME TAX AUDITS THAT RESULTED IN RECOVERY OF SUBSTANTIAL REFUNDS FOR FAMILIES. THE NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAM CONTINUED TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE INDIAN COMMUNITIES AND CLIENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC IN SPITE OF LOCKDOWNS BY USING TECHNOLOGY AND WORKING WITH FRONT LINE COMMUNITY SOURCES. IN 2021, NEW MEXICO LEGAL AID HANDLED 5,795 CASES, HELPING A TOTAL OF 9,178 LOW INCOME NEW MEXICO FAMILIES, INCLUDING 4,099 CHILDREN.