LSC's 2010 Annual Report Sheds Light on Growing Need for Legal Services
By Jamie Bence
Last week, Legal Services Corporation (LSC) released its 2010 Annual Report, detailing the growing need for legal services in the wake of the recession, and difficult choices made by providers facing diminished resources:
The future is brighter for the millions of Americans who have been served by the 136 nonprofit civil legal aid programs that are funded by the Legal Services Corporation. These LSC program closed more cases in 2010 than the year before, and their casework reflected our nation’s slow recovery from the
economic downturn. Matters involving foreclosures, landlord-tenant disputes, unemployment, bankruptcy and consumer finance, and, sadly, domestic violence all increased in 2010 compared to the previous year.At many LSC-funded programs, cases related to the economy have increased for three consecutive years. During this period, Congress provided LSC with budget increases, with the Corporation receiving $420 million in funding for Fiscal Year 2010.
Still, the number of Americans living in poverty and eligible for LSC funded services continues to grow, and many LSC programs are unable to meet the legal needs of those who sought civil legal assistance. Despite a 7.7 percent rise in LSC funding in 2010, significant sources of non-federal funding were essentially flat or declined, constraining the expansion of legal assistance.
LSC President Jim Sandman described the importance of finding innovative solutions in difficult times:
Collaboration across the access to justice community is particularly important in an era of reduced resources and increased demand for civil legal services. By coordinating with and reaching out to others, I hope to increase the efficiency of service delivery to clients, avoid unnecessary duplication of effort, and streamline LSC’s dealings with the programs it funds.
As Congress considers another round of cuts to LSC funding, the report underscores the growing need for legal services. Read the complete report here to learn more about LSC’s outlook.
