On this Memorial Day we remember those who have served our country and paid the ultimate price for our freedom and security. All of our brave veterans are heroes. Unfortunately some of them return home and face both financial and legal hardship. The Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic is proud to partner with an organization called Helping Veterans and Families (HVAF). HVAF refers veterans directly to the Clinic for help with a variety of legal needs. 

“Our clients trusted the out-of-state return preparer and had no idea they were filing improperly,” according to Shawn Richter, Director of the Tax & Economic Justice Program at the Clinic. When the IRS caught wind of the scheme and opened an audit, the couple was overwhelmed at the idea of paying back a huge liability they could not afford. They also worried that it would destroy their credit and they would never be able to purchase a home. In their moment of greatest need the couple learned about the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic. 

Jasmine Smith couldn’t believe her eyes. She worked hard and needed her full paycheck just to get by. Now she was being presented with a claim to garnish her wages for a debt that she allegedly owed. Read on for the full story.

On a Saturday morning, Chloe M. went into her job, hoping to continue working her way up in the company. Instead she was told that a background check had come in which made her unqualified for promotion to management and, in fact, she was going to be terminated. Chloe’s pastor encouraged her and told her about the Clinic’s Expungement Help Desk.

Nearly one year ago, Erin Hall took the helm as the Clinic’s executive director, helping to expand our mission of justice for the most vulnerable in our communities. Today we interview Erin to learn about her past experience, what promoting justice and mercy means to her personally, and her vision for the future.