2018-106 San Antonio Legal Services ModelDate: August 24, 2018 Report No. 2018-106
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Information on the San Antonio model for providing legal services to address immigration issues
and landlord-tenant disputes.
BACKGROUND:
On June 26, 2018, City Council requested information on the City of San Antonio’s program to
provide legal services for immigration issues and other subjects including landlord-tenant disputes.
San Antonio’s Department of Human Services, which is separate from the City Attorney’s Office,
is charged with establishing a strong network of community services for immigrants and low-
income residents. The Department of Human Services manages agreements with three non-profit
agencies to provide immigrants and low-income residents with legal representation on a variety of
topics including veteran issues, landlord-tenant disputes, identification recovery for homeless,
immigration, and will drafting.
Agencies receiving funding from the City of San Antonio to provide legal services were selected
through a formal request for proposals process. The San Antonio City Council dedicated $150,000
in funding from the General Fund and $100,000 in grant funding from the VERA Institute of
Justice to cover program costs in Fiscal Year 2017-2018. The table below provides an overview
of the agencies selected and funding provided to make legal services and legal representation more
readily accessible for immigrants and low-income residents in San Antonio:
Agency
City of San Antonio
General Fund VERA Grant Agency Website
American Gateway $50,000 $50,000 http://www.americangateways.org/
Refugee & Immigrant
Center for Education and
Legal Services $25,000 $50,000 https://www.raicestexas.org/
Catholic Charities $75,000 N/A https://ccaosa.org/
Funding Source Total $150,000 $100,000
Total City of San Antonio Investment $250,000
The San Antonio Department of Human Services also provides links on its website to additional
external resources providing legal representation and legal rights services to low-income
populations.
https://www.sanantonio.gov/humanservices/ImmigrantServices
Date: August 24, 2018 Report No. 2018-106
DISCUSSION:
When the City Council initially inquired about San Antonio’s program, the request included
consideration of having the Denton City Attorney’s Office staff provide assistance to residents
with legal issues. The City Attorney will prepare a separate Legal Status Report regarding the
potential use of his staff to provide legal support for immigration issues and landlord-tenant
disputes.
Staff prepared the attached list of known agencies in the area that currently provide legal
representation and legal rights services to low-income populations. If directed by Council, this list
could be posted to the City of Denton website and made available in public facilities.
ATTACHMENT(S):
List of known non-profit agencies providing legal assistance in the area.
STAFF CONTACTS:
Rachel Wood
Assistant to the City Manager
(940)-349-7718
Rachel.Wood@cityofdenton.com
Children's Advocacy Center for Denton County
http://www.cacdc.org
1208 Bent Oaks Court
Denton, TX 76210
(972)317-2818
(866)875-1015
8:00AM - 8:00PM - Monday - Friday, In addition to scheduled appointments
Provides forensic interviews of child abuse victims for law enforcement or CPS, assistance with filing
Crime Victim Compensation Claims, forensic medical exams, and collaboration with other agencies.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Denton County., Inc.:
https://casadenton.org/
614 N. Bell Ave.
Denton, TX 76209
(940) 243-2272
8:30AM-5:00PM Monday-Friday
Provides court advocacy to children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.
CASA uses trained volunteers as advocates for the children.
Legal Aid of Northwest Texas - Denton Office:
https://texaslawhelp.org/directory/legal-resource/legal-aid-northwest-texas-denton-office
625 Dallas Drive Suite 350
Denton, TX 76205
(800) 955-1407
8:00AM-5:00PM Monday-Friday Friday Except on Holidays
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT) offers free civil legal assistance to low-income Texans who
wouldn't otherwise be able to secure such legal representation.
Represents clients in any type of civil matter. However, practice focuses on:
Consumer: Protecting the rights of low-income and elderly consumers and preventing their
victimization by unfair and often illegal sales and debt collection practices
Family: Preserving, protecting, supporting, and stabilizing the lives and rights of families,
particularly what remains of families ripped apart by violence and tragedy.
Individual Rights: Preserving and protecting the legal rights of low-income citizens and their
access to our fundamental institutions at federal, state, and local levels.
Employment: Preserving and protecting employees' rights in the workplace and helping to
provide access to benefit programs for the unskilled, unemployed, and underemployed.
Housing: Preserving, protecting, and obtaining affordable, safe housing.
Public Benefits: Preserving, obtaining, and regaining benefits for persons eligible for financial
assistance programs to provide economic stability.
Legal Hotline for Texans:
www.tlsc.org
1-800-622-2520
8:00AM - 5:00PM - Monday - Friday (Office hours); Can call any time 24/7 and leave a message.
Free legal advice by telephone to Texans age 60 or older: nursing home residents, veterans and their
families, victims of violent crime; and individuals who are eligible for Medicare SSDI.
Opening Doors International:
http://www.odisinc.org/
2200 N. Bell Avenue
Denton, TX 76209
In the Trinity Presbyterian Church
(940) 382-0096
8:00AM-5:00PM Monday-Friday
Opening Doors International Services is recognized by the US Department of Justice and has been
providing professional help and humanitarian services for families and individuals in North Texas since
2003. Our team of DOJ Accredited Representatives & Counsel, provide legal representation of clients
before United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
North Texas Fair Housing Center
Provides assistance to those who feel they are the victims of housing discrimination.
469-941-0375
877-471-1022
Northtexasfairhousing.org
Department of Housing and Urban Affairs - Fair Housing
To file a fair housing complaint below is the link to HUD’s fair housing information and a phone number.
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/online-complaint
1-800-669-9777
Tools that provide referrals to individuals seeking legal assistance services:
Phone: 211
Connecting People to Services. Call a 24/7 hotline by dialing 2-1-1
Online: https://texashealthcommunityconnect.org/
“We all need a little help sometimes. Enter your zip code to find free and low-cost services near
you.” Database of community resources (Enter Zip Code and then click Legal tab) Provides
referrals for Advocacy & Legal Aid, Mediation, Representation and more in the areas of
Adoption and foster care, Citizenship and Immigration, Discrimination and Civil rights,
Guardianship, Identification recovery, and Workplace rights.
Print/Online: United Way of Denton County Directory: (Legal Services Category, see also 211)
https://www.unitedwaydenton.org/FindHelp
Comprehensive directory of local social services that can help people through crisis.
Also, Denton County Friends of the Family has its own in house council for Domestic Violence Victims
and Victims of Assault or Sexual Violence.
Protective Order
Crime Victims Compensation
Housing
OAG/Child Support
There are dozens of other legal services that are available in other Texas communities as well as at the
state and federal level such as the Lawyers Serving Warriors, National Veterans Legal Services Program
in Washington DC; Texas Workforce Commission for Employment Discrimination; Texas Tenants Union
in Dallas; and RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services) in Fort Worth.