Gulfcoast Legal Services Inc

Legal Services for Families/Domestic Violence: The Family Law unit provided services to 931 clients and closed 885 cases of protective injunctions, personal safety, custody, divorce, child support, visitation, and paternity. Casework is holistic in nature as these clients may also receive legal assistance with housing matters and public income maintenance benefits for which they are eligible. This assistance gives survivors of violence the tools they need to become independent and self-sufficient and to create a new beginning for themselves and their children. These services are supported by funding from the US Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, Pinellas County, the Florida Office of the Attorney General, Florida Department of Children and Families and local area funding.

Financial Stability: Financial stability attorneys and support staff provided legal services to help residents obtain or maintain stable income. Services included assistance with credit matters; tax controversies; fraud; scams; debt collections; etc. The Financial Stability team assisted 697 clients with financial matters and were supported by funding from the Florida Bar Foundation, United Ways, local foundations, and the IRS Low Income Taxpayer Clinic program.

Housing Legal Services: Housing attorneys and support staff provided legal services to help residents obtain or maintain housing. Services included assistance with landlord/tenant disputes; foreclosure modification or representation; addressing violations of the Fair Housing Act; etc. Housing staff assisted 757 clients to help them avoid homelessness. Housing services were supported primarily by funding from Pinellas and Manatee Counties and various local municipalities via their HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

The special projects team was formed late in fiscal year 2023-24 to address the needs of clients who need assistance in matters that do not fall into the other four departmental units' substantive areas. The team oversees evolving programs, such as elder law initiatives, victims' rights, and disaster response services. In FY 2023-24, they provided services to 9 clients.