Hotline Number 312-738-9200
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CARPLS Helps Protect Stimulus Payments
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Sometimes, great things can happen during times of crisis. Through the collaborative efforts of CARPLS Supervising Attorney Ashlee Highland and many consumer advocate partners and debtor sides, the Illinois Supreme Court issued
an emergency order
on April 24, 2020, which temporarily relieves debtors of bank
freezes up to the $4,000 exemption provided by law. This order protects our most financially vulnerable citizens from debt collection during the pandemic. Otherwise, many more people would be at risk of losing their federal emergency stimulus payment meant to cover food, rent and other immediate needs.
Though Gov. J.B. Pritzker's April 14, 2020
executive order
protected against future filing of citations, wage garnishments, and bank freezes during the pandemic, Ashlee Highland knew many people still wouldn't be covered.
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A client called CARPLS because her bank account and tax return were frozen in February before losing her job to COVID-19. Normally, CARPLS would have advised her to file an emergency motion in court and to declare her wildcard exemption to release up to $4,000 for her use. But since the courthouse was closed and her bank legally requires a court order to unfreeze her account, her money was in peril of being collected by the creditor's law firm regardless of the unprecedented situation. This spurred Highland into action.
"The Governor's order was great, but we realized this didn't include already outstanding bank freezes and with the courts essentially closed, we wanted to cover those people," she said. "So we got other advocates involved, and we collaborated to bring the issue to the attention of the Illinois Supreme Court to protect people who didn't have access to the court system right now."
In reaching out to three creditors' law firms, Highland found that they alone had over 2,000 outstanding bank freeze cases. "If this was present with only a few law firms, think about how many other bank freezes were pending in Illinois," she said.
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Both orders mean thousands of Illinois residents will not have to face bank freezes being filed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Loss of income
threatens to undermine Illinoisans financial security, housing security, and overall stability and it is more important to protect stimulus checks and income at this crucial time," said Highland.
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Everyday Justice Blog:
CARPLS Staff Creatively Go Above & Beyond
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Before the pandemic, CARPLS’ staff was already committed to providing free legal help to anyone in need. Many members of our team are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in creative ways over and above their hotline shifts. CARPLS has always been there to help people in crisis, and now is no different.
Facing It Together Head On
Aleida Lozano-Netzel, CARPLS Staff Attorney, sews masks for her family, friends, and the medical community.
“My daughter-in-law is a nurse, and I have other family in the medical field, so I felt I had to do something,” Aleida says. “We’re stuck inside the house, so it’s also been a good distraction.”
Mary Jo Rosso, a CARPLS Staff Attorney, is sewing and selling masks for $10 each, with the full proceeds going to WINGS Program, the largest domestic violence service provider in Illinois.
“It’s a cause important to me, and with people sheltering in place, people are especially vulnerable,” Mary Jo says. “WINGS operates resale stores to fund its operations and those are closed due to COVID-19, so they seemed especially in need of other funding at this time.”
Mary Jo has so far raised nearly $1500!
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Sara, a single mother, called our hotline to fight a false credit card judgment entered against her for a daunting $10,000. She knew this was a mistake, but no one would listen. The CARPLS attorney drafted a formal request to overturn the court's earlier judgment against her and instructed her on how to proceed when representing herself in court. After she won, Sara said, "My motion was granted, so that is two thumbs up for me! Thank you, CARPLS!"
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Golden Gavel Celebration on October 1
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The Golden Gavel Celebration is rescheduled for October 1, but our fundraising efforts reflect the needs of the community now.
We would like to thank our sponsors thus far
.
With your continued support, we will help our clients through this crisis and beyond. To obtain a sponsorship or to make a donation, please contact
[email protected]
.
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#GivingTuesdayNow is a new global day of giving and unity that will take place on Tuesday,
May 5, 2020
– in addition to the regularly scheduled Dec 1, 2020 #GivingTuesday – as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.
Each CARPLS consultation costs about $62. Would you consider a contribution of $120 to cover two client consultations? You would make a huge difference and new and increased gifts would be matched. Every contribution makes an important difference to our work.
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COVID-19 Community Resources
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City Bureau introduced a Chicago COVID-19 Resource Finder, for verified info on food, housing, legal aid, and more during the pandemic.
covid.citybureau.org
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Call4Calm, a free emotional support text line for Illinois residents, was recently launched by the Department of Human Services. To connect with a counselor, text “TALK” to 552020 or text "HABLAR" to the same number for counseling in Spanish.
https://buff.ly/2XQ6C9A
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Illinois and its community partners are working together to protect the health and well-being of our citizens. They need your help during the COVID-19 Pandemic, too. For more information on how to volunteer, visit
Serve Illinois
.
To find a volunteer location, visit
Serve Illinois Portal
.
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CARPLS
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17 N. State Street
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Suite 1850
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Chicago
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Illinois
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60602
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carpls.org
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