Disability Rights Wisconsin

Wage garnishment can often often hurt low-income families, especially when they happen suddenly and without warning. With few resources, these families are often unsure of how to move forward in this area of law. This is where civil legal aid can help. Multiple people reached out to Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee about their paychecks after noticing that a former landlord had been garnishing them. The legal team saw that something was going on. Seeing what one client was experiencing would be concerning enough, but to see another person affected by the same landlord? There was something suspicious going on. As part of #OppositeofPoverty and #PovertyAwarenessMonth, read about Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee investigated this landlord's illegal practices and help recover money for their clients below:?

Planning for civil projects can often overlook the needs and rights of marginalized communities. In Milwaukee, residents are objecting to a new proposal to expand the highway in the city's Stadium Interchange area. Civil legal aid organizations can help bolster marginalized voices and highlight their concerns for others to learn about. As part of #OppositeOfPoverty and #PovertyAwareness Month, learn about how Legal Action of Wisconsin and Midwest Environmental Advocates filed a lawsuit on behalf of the community?below:?

Having clean, safe, and stable housing is important, especially in renting. Legal Aid of Milwaukee's client, MC, had her new apartment keys in hand, ready to move in. But when she arrived, she found a dirty apartment with problems that made it unsafe to live there. These were problems that her landlord should have addressed before she arrived.??When she asked her landlord to fix it, MC got no answer back. When a landlord fails to hold up their end of the rental agreement, there needs to be a way to hold them accountable. As part of #OppositeofPoverty and #PovertyAwarenessMonth, read about what MC did and how civil legal aid supported her below:?

To succeed in the workplace, you must know your rights. This was the knowledge “Martha” sought out when she reached out to Disability Rights Wisconsin. She knew that she needed more information to talk to her former employer about her termination caused by her epilepsy. Disability Rights Wisconsin worked closely with Martha to make sure she was confident explaining her rights. With the skills and knowledge in her hands, she was prepared for a lifetime of self-advocacy for this job and future steps in her career. Read Martha’s story as part of the #OppositeOfPoverty campaign during #PovertyAwareness Month: https://lnkd.in/gd2ZgpaW Disability Rights Wisconsin provides civil legal aid and support to make sure that people with disabilities know their rights in the workplace. By preparing them with knowledge and resources, people with disabilities can work towards a better system for all and fight poverty in their own lives.?

Many learners in Wisconsin run into invisible legal barriers when pursuing education. These barriers can be a criminal record, an on-going family law case, a housing dispute, or a problem with their legal status. How can learners get through Law for Learners is a organization that connects students to free civil legal aid and resources to remove the barriers that are in their way. They bring together educational institutions, legal aid organizations, and foundations to create a support system. As part of #OppositeOfPoverty and #PovertyAwarenessMonth, learn about Law for Learners' work below:?

Family law cases can quickly become complicated. Often, there are multiple problems that clients and their lawyers have to solve. Legal expertise and support services are needed to figure out solutions. However, many survivors are unable to get the help they need because they don't have the resources. This is where civil legal aid can play a key role in changing lives for the better. Sarah was caught in a difficult child custody case and affected by domestic violence and substance abuse from her partners. Looking for help, she reached out to the Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse. The Center helped her with legal representation and support, thanks to grant funding by the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation. In the end, Sarah was able to get custody of her children back and make sure that they were all safe. Read Sarah's story below as part of #OppositeOfPoverty today:?

Survivors of domestic violence often have to look for safety with little to no resources. In matters like child custody or protective orders, they might need legal help and representation. Sadly, many survivors cannot get legal help or hire someone because their abusive partners control their finances. Kaitlyn was one of these survivors. She had to make a hard choice: to stay with her abusive husband to protect her children? Or to leave him and potentially lose her children? Read about the importance of civil legal aid for Kaitlyn and the decision she made in the story linked below as part of the #OppositeOfPoverty campaign:

When a tragedy rips apart a family, the people left behind are often overwhelmed by their grief and worries. What could they do next? Where could they go for safety? Who could help them?? These were the questions going through Grandma Rose's while she mourned her daughter and took care of her grandchild. Civil legal aid helped her figure out difficult systems and get the support they needed. All crime victims have rights, and families also have those rights when murder is involved. As part of #OppositeOfPoverty, learn about how Kids Matter, Inc. supported a grandmother and her grandchild in a tragic and difficult time:?

Civil legal aid can change lives! Where would you turn to if you found that your identity had been stolen and used for crimes? One place you could turn to is an organization that offers free or low-cost legal representation thanks to the support of the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation. As part of #OppositeOfPoverty, learn about how one person got help to clear their name and get financial independence below:

Disability Rights Wisconsin is participating in the Civil Legal Aid Alliance of Wisconsin's Opposite of Poverty campaign this month. Join us during National Poverty Month to learn about the different ways civil legal aid reduces poverty. Finding your way through complicated legal systems is difficult at the best of times. The way forward can be daunting when you are in poverty and facing systemic barriers. One barrier is that survivors of a crime are not given the same access to help as people accused of a crime. Michelle is one of these survivors who needed civil legal help. Her efforts to reunite with her children after finding stability for herself show the challenges that survivors with disabilities face in Wisconsin. Thanks to a referral to Disability Rights Wisconsin by a local program, Michelle was able to find her way through the family law system. Read her story and how Disability Rights Wisconsin advocated for her here: https://lnkd.in/gPUf8w7K By championing victims' rights, we at Disability Rights Wisconsin and Civil Legal Aid Alliance of Wisconsin are investing in a fairer and more equitable system. We’re promoting healing, closure, and a sense of justice for those who have endured harm. #OppositeOfPoverty #VictimsRights #CivilLegalAid