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MAP is proud to share that our division programs promoted safety, stability, and independence for 24,053 people, collectively closing 8,839 cases with successful outcomes last year.
Housing cases remained a high priority in 2023, as we closed 4,808 cases preventing eviction and foreclosure for our clients and their families.
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Everyone deserves access to safe housing and fair court procedures, but this is often not the experience for our clients. Throughout the year, our attorneys were there to hold landlords accountable and keep our clients housed, assisting them with issues related to rent and housing conditions. | | |
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Cases promoting family safety for survivors of domestic violence made up our second-highest number of cases in 2023, with our programs closing 1,589 cases.
Achieving independence from an abuser through legal proceedings can mean renewed safety and stability for survivors and their children, but complex family law proceedings are difficult to undergo alone.
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By assisting clients with divorces, child custody, or personal protection orders, our attorneys helped thousands of survivors and their children build safe and independent lives.
Beyond housing and family cases, our attorneys were hard at work closing 2,542 other cases, including consumer protection, income maintenance, and individual rights, to advance financial stability and independence for our clients and their families. Whether assisting clients with expungements to improve their opportunity for employment, or securing wrongly denied or terminated benefits that older individuals or people with disabilities rely on, our attorneys supported thousands of clients in becoming more financially stable to provide for themselves and their families last year.
We are incredibly grateful for our supporters, partners, funders, and staff who make it possible for us to improve access to justice for thousands of Michigan residents each year. We thank you for your commitment to improving lives through legal aid.
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MAP’s Executive Director Ann Routt Announces Her Retirement
Please join us in congratulating Michigan Advocacy Program Executive Director Ann Routt on her upcoming retirement in June 2024. Ann has made a profound impact on MAP during her remarkable 38 years of service. Over the past five years as Executive Director, she has guided the program through an unprecedented pandemic and overseen exponential organizational growth with ingenuity, resourcefulness, and innovative thinking.
Through times of uncertainty and change, Ann has kept us anchored with her cool-headedness, wit, and unwavering dedication to increasing access to justice. Her leadership has been instrumental in improving legal aid delivery across our programs and beyond.
It is with bittersweetness we look ahead to continue building upon Ann’s legacy of providing safety, stability, and independence to our client communities. We are excited for Ann as she embarks on her life’s next chapter.
We look forward to selecting our next leader and have launched a search in partnership with the Andrews Group. Please help us spread the word by sharing this posting with your networks. Interested candidates can apply here.
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Farewell to MLH Director Angela Tripp
This month, we bid farewell to Michigan Statewide Advocacy Services Co-Director and Michigan Legal Help Director, Angela Tripp. Ang joined MAP 18 years ago and, during her tenure, became a champion for improving resources for self-represented litigants in Michigan as the Director of MLH and Chair of the Michigan Justice for All Commission.
Ang led the development of MLH from an innovative concept to a fully-fledged program that helps thousands of people represent themselves in civil legal matters each year. Thanks to Ang’s leadership, there are now over 50 self-help centers across the state where people can get free legal help, and millions of people visit Michigan Legal Help’s website annually to access legal guides and toolkits. We wish Ang the best of luck as she takes her next steps.
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MEJI launches new Guardianship Diversion Program
We are excited to announce the launch of Michigan Elder Justice Initiative’s new Michigan Guardianship Diversion Program (MGDP). The MGDP seeks to empower older adults and individuals with disabilities by connecting them to community services, public benefits, and legal resources that can help them remain independent. While guardianship is an important tool to protect vulnerable adults where there is no other option, it can be used too often, too broadly, and without recognizing the individual’s abilities, needs, and preferences. By utilizing less restrictive alternatives, individuals can often get the help they need while preserving their cherished right to make decisions for themselves.
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With generous funding from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, the MGDP is a two-year pilot project in the probate courts in Bay County, Genesee County, Grand Traverse County, and Muskegon County. For more information, contact MGDP at 517-827-8010, ext 7 or MGDP@meji.org. | |
Interested in Legal Aid Work?
Here are some ways you can make a difference!
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Join Our Team
We are seeking new team members who share our passion for providing access to justice to those who need it most. Visit our employment page for full postings.
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Volunteer
MAP welcomes volunteer attorneys in each of our counties and programs. To volunteer, please complete our Pro Bono Attorney Registration Form.
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Give
Through your contributions, we can provide safety and security to thousands of Michigan families. Visit the link below to make a non-attorney donation, or click here to make an attorney donation.
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Please help us spread the word about these upcoming community events and resources! | |
2024 Washtenaw Family Law Assistance Clinics | |
The Washtenaw Family Law Assistance Clinic takes place at the 22nd Circuit on the last Wednesday of every month from 12-3 PM
Join us for free legal advice for low income unrepresented individuals on issues such as divorce, child custody, personal protection orders (PPO), and more.
Clinic is first come first serve until full.
Find more information here
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Residents in 9 Michigan counties can now file for disaster unemployment assistance benefits if they were affected by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding between Aug. 24, 2023, and Aug. 26, 2023
Find more information here
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Michigan's First Year of Automatic Expungement | |
MAP Pro Bono Manager, Sarah Munro, will be a panelist for Safe and Just Michigan’s upcoming webinar on April 11th reviewing a full year of automatic expungements in Michigan!
Register here
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Washtenaw County Partners Survey | |
We invite our Washtenaw County partners to complete this short survey to help us identify new locations where we can begin offering a pop-up clinic to serve Washtenaw County residents.
The clinic will offer free legal advice and assistance to low income residents for their civil legal issues.
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New state law will help ensure health care access for non-English-speaking Michiganders
"When we talk about language access, we're talking about the ability for individuals with limited English proficiency, who speak English less than very well, to meaningfully access the same programs and services as fluent English speakers with the aid of oral interpretation or written translations," says Christine Sauvé, who works in policy, engagement, and communications for MIRC.
Read more
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