Statement of Support 

We endorse the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation’s FY24 request for $49 million in state civil legal aid funding (line item 0321-1600). The COVID-19 crisis caused disproportionate hardship for our state’s most vulnerable residents. Even as Massachusetts takes steps to recover from the pandemic, our neighbors continue to face threats to their health, safety, housing, and economic stability. Legal aid organizations are our vital partners as we work to reduce inequities and serve our communities.  

By providing free legal advice and representation to people who otherwise would not be able to afford an attorney, legal aid organizations play a key role in the Commonwealth’s social safety net. For our neighbors in crisis, pandemic-era hardships frequently take the form of serious civil legal issues, such as evictions, domestic violence, and denial of public benefits. When people lack access to legal assistance, their situations can become more complex and costly to address, placing greater pressure on social service resources.  

Together, legal aid organizations and social service organizations like ours are building stronger, healthier communities in the Commonwealth. Well-funded civil legal aid infrastructure is necessary to fulfill our commitment to help all Massachusetts residents maintain safe, stable, and healthy lives.