Offers to match the caller's legal problem with available resources, such as advice, extended representation, or referral. For most low-income applicants. Callers are screened for eligibility, and a determination is made whether eligible callers have a legal problem that falls within the priorities. If the caller's legal problem is eligible for review for extended services, the caller is referred to one of our five regional offices. If the callers are not eligible for referral to a regional office, attorneys provide the caller with immediate advice or quick access to other information and resources.

Provides free legal advice, brief service and representation to low-income people on areas such as: consumer law, family law, housing law, public benefits, disability benefits, employment/unemployment, public benefits, clearing a criminal history and educational rights.

After contacting one of the hotlines, cases may be referred to Legal Aid local offices for extended representation.

Private Attorney Involvement Program links clients to attorneys in their local area for free legal services in family law matters.

Taxpayer clinics educate low-income taxpayers about their tax rights and responsibilities and how to file for low-income tax credit.

Homeless Assistance Project (Douglas and Lancaster Counties) provides assistance with family law, child support modification, bankruptcy, license revocation, and disability claims.

Migrant Worker program provides civil legal services to migrant farm workers.

Housing counseling assists people who are homeless by making referrals and assessing their legal needs. Assists renters who are having problems getting things fixed, need help with landlord issues, or are facing eviction; work with HUD issues; assist home buyers or home owners with questions, etc.

Assists in the following areas, in addition to the programs already noted: Bankruptcy, Foreclosure, Landlord-Tenant, Utility Shutoffs, Public Benefits, Unemployment, Family Law (including Divorce, Custody/Visitation, Child Support, Domestic Abuse).

Provides and administers the Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program for existing housing. This program subsidizes the rent of eligible participants who live in approved, privately owned housing. This program requires application.

Offers the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program which is a voluntary program designed to teach families how to utilize community resources in order to achieve independence and self-sufficiency through education and job training. All Housing Choice Voucher recipients are eligible to participate in the FSS program.

Offers Housing Counseling, Menard County Housing Authority serves as a HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency. Offers pre- and post-purchase counseling, credit and budget assistance, credit reports, mortgage delinquency, renter's assistance, fair housing assistance, loss mitigation, and relocation assistance.

Provides a Homebuyer Education program that works to educate homebuyers on both the long and short-term benefits of homeownership assistance programs.

Finances the creation and preservation of affordable housing throughout the state to increase the supply of decent and safe places for people of low or moderate means to live.

Provides first-time home buyer information and home purchase and loan assistance.

HUD-certified housing counselors across the state offer financial tools to help with finances and housing. The directory of counselors is available on the website.

Provides housing counseling on the topics of pre-purchase home buyer education, budget and credit workshops and counseling, post-purchase counseling, repairs for homes, delinquency and foreclosure prevention counseling.

Provides pre-purchase home buyer classes and counseling help clients decide whether homeownership is the best decision for them. These classes and counseling may also qualify clients for substantial down payment assistance programs.

Foreclosure avoidance and default intervention counseling is designed to help with whatever options there may be to save clients' homes, or get caught up on payments.

Reverse Mortgage Counseling is available for seniors desiring to stay in their homes by using their equity to produce lump sums for current needs, annuity payments and lines of credit for ongoing needs.