September 2025

Sarah Barker, Director, Senior Law Unit shares Coast to Coast Legal Aid's services for senior homeowners during a Conversations With Your Commissioners event

Opening Statement From CCLA's Executive Director, Lisa Goldberg

Dear Friends

At Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida, September calls our attention to two critical themes: Disaster Preparedness Month and Healthy Aging Month. Both remind us that protecting our community means not only responding to immediate crises but also ensuring long-term safety, dignity, and well-being.

Disasters—whether hurricanes, floods, pandemics, or other emergencies—impact us all, but they can hit especially hard for low-income families, seniors, and survivors of violence. Beyond gathering supplies, true preparedness means having the right information and legal protections in place. From housing rights to consumer fraud prevention to accessing benefits, CCLA is here to guide our clients through the challenges that arise before and after disaster.

But preparedness is also a community effort. Together with our partners, advocates, and supporters, we work to build resilience during blue skies, before disaster hits, and we provide trusted resources afterward. When we combine legal advocacy with community collaboration, we help protect not only individuals and families, but we strengthen our regional response. This month, I invite you to take a moment to review your own disaster plan, share resources with your neighbors, and remember that preparedness is one of the greatest gifts we can give each other.

At the same time, Healthy Aging Month highlights the importance of helping seniors live securely and independently. Through our Senior Citizen Law Project, Mobile Justice Squad, and partnerships with community organizations, CCLA works every day to ensure older adults have access to legal resources that protect their housing, health, and financial stability. When seniors are supported, they are not only healthier and safer, but they also remain active pillars of our community.

Preparedness and healthy aging both thrive when communities come together. With the support of our partners, advocates, and donors, we’re building a safer, stronger, and more resilient region—for today and for generations to come.

As always, thank you for being part of our journey. We’re not just providing legal help—we’re creating hope.

With gratitude,

Donor Spotlight:

Welcome to Our Newest

Legal Luminary

Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida extends our deepest gratitude to

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL)

and Juliet Roulhac, Esq., Senior Director, Broward-Southwest External Affairs & Corporate Philanthropy for their steadfast support of our mission. FPL's commitment to strengthening our region ensures our clients have access to justice and the resources they need to thrive.

Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient community.

CCLA

UPCOMING EVENT

Please join Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida for an empowering and thought-provoking panel discussion featuring leading women in law, academia, and psychology.

Discover how they navigate the complexities of career, identity, and well-being, and the strategies that help them thrive.

September is Disaster Preparedness &

Healthy Aging Month

September is both Disaster Preparedness Month and Healthy Aging Month, reminding us that planning ahead is key to safety and well-being at every stage of life. For older adults especially, having secure housing, updated emergency plans, and access to community resources not only supports healthy aging but also ensures resilience when unexpected challenges arise.

Meet our Client: Margaret

Safe, stable housing is essential to healthy aging. For seniors, like Margaret, it provides security, independence, and peace of mind. Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA) works to protect housing rights so older adults can age with dignity and safety.

Mold can be a tenant’s worst nightmare, especially for a disabled senior. For Margaret, mold spread quickly throughout her apartment, growing on clothes, shoes, and almost every belonging she had. Living in those conditions became unbearable. She knew she had to leave her home, even if it meant leaving a lot of her personal belongings behind.

Believing she should not have to pay rent under such unsafe conditions, Margaret withheld her rent hoping the landlord would remediate the mold. Instead, her landlord filed an eviction case for non-payment of rent. For Margaret, the stakes were high. An eviction on her record could jeopardize her Section 8 housing voucher, the very resource that allowed her to afford stable housing. She came to CCLA frustrated, overwhelmed, and deeply worried about losing both her home and her housing assistance.

FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED

CCLA In The Community

Since we last checked in, Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida joined fellow legal service providers from throughout the Southeastern region of the United States to collaborate on civil legal disaster response. Meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida, the newly-formed Southeast Disaster Collaborative shared experiences, ideas, and a commitment to cooperate in the future.

On September 5th, Commissioner Sharon Thomas, City of Lauderdale Lakes, welcomed CCLA to her Conversations With Your Commissioners event, where community members gathered to discuss important issues surrounding mortgages. Sarah Barker, Director, CCLA's Senior Citizen Law Project, and Joanne Galipault, Senior Law Unit Attorney, presented resources and information about our free legal assistance available to senior homeowners — support that helps protect housing stability and promotes peace of mind for older adults in Broward County. Thank you to Commissioner Thomas for inviting CCLA to connect directly with seniors in our community!

On September 6th, CCLA attended the Heart Gallery of Broward’s Second Annual Family Fun Day & Resource Fair at the Hallandale Beach Cultural Community Center! This wonderful event brought families and community partners together for a day filled with resources, support, and fun. CCLA joined with other organizations to share resources and raise awareness about the free legal services available to our community.

Our Economic Advocacy & Community Health (EACH) Unit conducted an informative CLE for the Haitian Lawyers Association about Social Security Disability benefits. CCLA attorneys covered everything from how to apply for benefits to appeal denials and how to handle cessation cases. It was a great introduction for any attorney who is interested in taking a pro bono case.

CCLA's Family Law & Victims of Crime Unit attorneys presented at the quarterly Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) meeting at the Nancy J. Cotterman Sexual Assault Treatment Center. Two of our dedicated victim advocacy attorneys highlighted CCLA's holistic legal support for victims and survivors to empower and protect them. We proudly stand alongside our committed community partners at Broward's SART, working together to strengthen services and ensure survivors of sexual violence receive the care, support, and justice they deserve.

CCLA's Family Law & Victims of Crime Unit hosted the Broward State Attorney’s Office Victim Advocate Interns at our office this month. Our team highlighted how, together with the State Attorney’s Office and other community partners, CCLA provides holistic legal services and advocacy to strengthen support for survivors. Our collaborative efforts, ensure that survivors receive legal support and connect to the comprehensive resources they need on their path to healing and justice.

CCLA engaged with people at the FLITE Center’s Health, Wellness, and Employment Resource Fair, an incredible event bringing together organizations dedicated to empowering youth and families in Broward County. The FLITE Center serves as a one-stop resource for young adults transitioning out of foster care, homeless youth, survivors of human trafficking, and other vulnerable populations. Events like this resource fair foster meaningful opportunities for connection, support, and access to essential services.

On September 13th, CCLA participated in Deerfield Beach Community Cares’ 5th Annual Resource Fair at Zion Church. With over 80 community providers and a food bank for residents in need, the event brought together vital resources to support residents and strengthen our community.

CCLA staff are experts in their field and recognize the importance of being on the cutting edge of issues that impact our clients and community.

As an integral part of this community, we look forward to engaging with all community members and providers as the year continues. If you would like CCLA to attend an event, conduct an outreach, or you have a topic you'd like us to address in an episode of Legal Learning on CCLA's Facebook page and YouTube channel, please contact us at: CCLAInfo@legalaid.org.

Check out our Community Outreach page.

Community Outreach

It's Hurricane Season: CCLA's

Mobile Justice Squad

Is Ready to Deploy

CCLA’s Mobile Justice Squad (MJS) provides free civil legal services to seniors (age 60+), who are homebound or transportation-challenged, at their homes or senior centers. MJS has a van which serves as a mobile working law office for our attorney. We are ready to deploy after a disaster strikes.

CCLA is part of a collaborative team of LSC-funded legal aid programs around the state of Florida. Through a Statewide Disaster Umbrella Group, the team works together to assist each other with disaster preparation, response, and relief. The central focus of the statewide collaboration is for legal aid providers to assist our community members impacted by disasters with their civil legal issues such as applying for disaster relief and benefits, housing cases, consumer matters, food assistance, and other civil legal issues.

As we are well into hurricane season, CCLA would like everyone to be prepared. We have information to help you prepare on our Hurricane & Disaster Resources page like making a family plan, having extra medications, knowing your evacuation zone, registering with the Special Needs Registry, and stocking up during tax-free events. Know that after a disaster, CCLA will step into the critical role of providing free civil legal assistance for disaster response and recovery.

Disaster Resources

Legal Learning: Estate Planning in Creole

Check out CCLA's latest Legal Clinic on our YouTube Channel @ccla_sfl. CCLA Pro Bono attorney Loune-Djenia Askew, Esq. of Askew & Associates, P.A. and CCLA's Director of Operations, Katianna Mazard, Esq. speak about estate planning and advance directives in Creole. If you are interested in presenting a CLE with us or volunteering, click to Learn How You Can Volunteer.

Fridays With Friends: AAABC

This episode of CCLA's Fridays With Friends features the Area Agency on Aging of Broward County (AAABC) and their SHINE Program for Medicare Counseling. Medicare open enrollment is October 15 - December 7. Check out various community resources on CCLA's YouTube Channel @ccla_sfl.

Quick Disaster Preparedness Steps For You & Your Family

Protect Important Documents & Have Supplies

Keep copies of IDs, insurance cards and papers, leases, and benefits information in a waterproof, portable folder. Have extra medication, food, water, and an emergency contact list.

Know Your Housing Rights

After disasters, renters and homeowners may face unfair evictions or scams. Contact CCLA if your housing is threatened.

Beware of Scams & Fraud

Scammers often target seniors and vulnerable families after storms. Verify contractors and never sign documents you do not understand. If you have been the victim of a scam, CCLA may be able to help. Call us.

CCLA is here to help you stay safe, informed, and protected before and after disaster strikes.