Opening Statement From CCLA's Executive Director, Lisa Goldberg

April is

National Fair Housing Month

National Fair Housing Month serves as a vital reminder of the ongoing need to protect individuals from housing discrimination, particularly vulnerable populations like seniors. Older adults often face unique challenges, including age-related discrimination, financial exploitation, and accessibility barriers that threaten their ability to secure safe and stable housing. Ensuring fair housing rights for seniors means advocating for equal access to affordable, accessible, and supportive housing options that allow them to age with dignity. By raising awareness and enforcing fair housing laws, we help protect seniors from unlawful eviction, predatory practices, and discriminatory policies that can jeopardize their well-being.

Meet Our Client: Edith

Edith, an 75-year-old senior, made her small apartment in federally subsidized housing her home for over five years. It was her sanctuary, filled with memories and the small comforts of a life lived independently. But as the years passed, her disability made it increasingly difficult to keep up with routine housekeeping. Then came the eviction notice.

When her landlord filed a case against her, claiming her apartment was poorly maintained, Edith was terrified. She had nowhere else to go, no family nearby, and no safety net to catch her if she lost the one place she felt secure. The thought of being homeless at the age of 75 was unbearable.

When CCLA attorneys took on her case, they knew this wasn’t just about an untidy apartment—it was about dignity, fairness, the right to age in place with the support she needed...

Spring Break with Purpose:

Future Lawyers Help CCLA Serve Broward Seniors

Three University of Florida law students—Josh Ham, Rikki Blake, and Christopher Warren—spent their Spring Break volunteering with Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA) through the law school's Alternative Spring Break Program. Their focus was assisting CCLA at an Advance Directives Clinic for low-income seniors at the Northwest Focal Point Senior Center in Margate, FL, organized by our Senior Citizen Law Project.

Josh, a former Funding Florida Legal Aid Summer Fellow, Rikki, and Christopher helped seniors prepare essential legal documents, including Powers of Attorney, Healthcare Surrogates, and Living Wills, ensuring their healthcare and financial wishes are honored. On March 20, 2025, seniors met one-on-one with CCLA and Broward County Bar Association's Elder Law Section pro bono attorneys to finalize these critical documents, providing security and peace of mind.

Jeff Hittleman, Supervising Attorney for CCLA's Senior Law Unit, emphasized the clinic's importance, "We are grateful to help Broward’s seniors address a critical need. Too few people have these essential documents, and CCLA's events, like this one, help ensure our seniors are protected and their voices are heard."

CCLA In The Community

Since our last update, CCLA continued our community outreach throughout Broward County. We hosted our Annual Brunch to meet and greet CCLA's new Board of Directors! This annual event is always an amazing time to get to know each other. Our staff has the opportunity to share about themselves and their roles and we get to hear about our Board members and why they volunteer for us.

CCLA attended the South Broward Bar Association's luncheon and informative training about jurisdiction from the 17th Judicial Court's Judge Fahnestock and Judge Frink. CCLA's paralegals participated in Broward County Bar Association's Paralegal Section training with topics including AI in the legal industry, superpowers, perception, communication, and collaboration, how to stay mentally grounded, and incoming Chief Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips discussed two amendments regarding the new Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. We celebrated with our collaborative partners Goodman Jewish Family Services (GJFS) at their annual Breaking the Silence event. Thank you GJFS for all you do for our shared clients, victims of domestic violence, and seniors! 

CCLA staff from our Economic Advocacy & Community Health (EACH), Senior Law Unit, and Family Law & Victims of Crime Unit met with Vietnam and Gulf War veterans at the Pompano Beach Vet Center. We presented about the free legal services offered by all three units in our firm. The veterans shared their experiences of returning from war and the difficulties associated with obtaining benefits and employment. It was truly an enlightening and touching experience! Learn more about CCLA's EACH Unit's services.

CCLA's Senior Unit Attorneys presented at the Broward Affordable Housing Task Force meeting. They shared information about our services and discussed how we assist seniors facing housing issues. It was great connecting with community leaders working on affordable housing solutions. We enjoyed attending the Area Agency on Aging of Broward County's "Have A Heart Luncheon"; as a sponsor, we were able to provide information to attendees about our services for seniors.

CCLA Senior Unit Supervising Attorney, Jeff Hittleman, joined an esteemed panel at the Community Forum: Understanding the Housing Crisis in South Florida, hosted at Gateway Church in Fort Lauderdale. The event brought together key voices in the conversation, including judges, city commissioners, the Broward County Tax Collector, the Property Appraiser’s Office, Urban League of Broward County, and the County’s Housing Options, Solutions & Supports Division. CCLA was honored to be part of this important discussion. While the conversation was candid about the serious housing challenges facing our community, everyone left hopeful, inspired by our community’s shared commitment to collaborative solutions and long-term change. Learn more about CCLA's services for seniors.

Our Family Law & Victims of Crime Unit attended the Broward Victim's Rights Coalition's (BVRC) Annual Vigil for victims of crime during National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW). This moving event highlights victims of homicides and survivors of crime including domestic violence. During NCVRW, CCLA attended BVRC's Annual Training and Awards Luncheon and learned about the power of collaboration to help victims of crime. In recognition of April also being Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, CCLA was invited to attend the Florida Department of Children and Families' Pinwheel Garden Event to spread hope and encourage resilience. Learn more about CCLA's services for victims of crimes like domestic violence and trafficking at CCLA.

Did you know CCLA assists with disaster-related legal issues? CCLA is part of a disaster response collaborative with other Legal Services Corporation-funded organizations in Florida. CCLA presented with Florida Rural Legal Services for part of a Consumer and Disaster Law Webinar Series, produced in partnership with FLS' Statewide Training Initiative, Legal Services of North Florida, the Florida Disaster Umbrella Group, and the Public Interest Law Section (PILS) of the Florida Bar.

CCLA staff are experts in their field and recognize the importance of being at the forefront 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.