JUSTICE RISING 2017-18 Impact Report

LegalAidOfNebraska.org Inspired by our and recruiting volunteer attorneys to assist in MESSAGE case of catastrophic disasters in Nebraska. clients who face from the Executive Director And we survived our own catastrophic strife and injustice Are you familiar with the legend of the disaster – a devastating fire that destroyed phoenix? According to mythology, this our Lincoln offices on February 19, 2018. every day, Legal magical bird bursts into flames at the end Aid has risen to of its long life, and is reborn as it rises up, Inspired by our clients who face strife and transformed, from the ashes. injustice every day, Legal Aid has risen to the challenges the challenges of our work and mission. of our work and Transformation is not easy. Like the phoenix, Our nearly 50 attorneys, and additional staff Legal Aid of Nebraska took a leap of faith to and volunteers provide a remarkable range mission. transform our services. of legal help, changing the lives of Nebraska’s In 2017-18, we unveiled a new three-year low-income families. strategic plan and reaffirmed our legal There is far more to come. Justice is rising. priorities. Critical projects were launched and expanded: assisting vulnerable elders and victims of domestic violence, meeting and Milo Mumgaard serving clients in their own neighborhoods, Executive Director, Legal Aid of Nebraska

2 Justice Rising 2017/18 legalaidofnebraska.org 3 On Presidents Day 2018, an early morning, three-alarm LEGAL AID OUT OF We knew all along Legal Aid in Lincoln could rise up fire in downtown Lincoln ripped through and destroyed BOARD OF DIRECTORS from these ashes – because we see it every day from THE ASHES Legal Aid’s long-time home in the historic Terminal our low-income clients. Every day we use the law to Building. Fire, smoke and water damage caused a total Hon. Patrick Rogers – President help them escape horrific abuse, keep a roof over their loss of our law firm, including the self-help Access to Hon. Patricia Lamberty – Vice President families’ heads, end the constant worry of too much Justice Center and the offices of two dozen attorneys Douglas Murray – Treasurer debt and too little income, and stop the instability in and staff. In just a few hours, over 30 years of history Katherine Voorhees – Secretary their lives. Each day, Legal Aid’s clients find hope and representing Lincoln’s poor was obliterated. optimism that previously seemed too far out of reach, Eluid “Eli” Aguilar Lorene Thomas too much to overcome. In the face of unrelentingly bad But the next morning, Legal Aid’s lawyers were exactly Janice Brown Amy Van Horne odds, our clients daily teach us what it means to where they needed to be: in court, representing the Danielle Conrad Nicole Vereen rise up and come out better on the other side. vulnerable clients who rely upon them every day. Marsha Fangmeyer Terry Waite Legal Aid did not miss a beat, continuing its mission Legal Aid’s story of hope needs to be repeated for many Sarah Fischer Michael Willet and, over the weeks and months since the disastrous more low-income Nebraska families, so that even more Ron Oleson Brandi Yosten fire in Lincoln, has become even stronger. Staff will can “rise from the ashes.” Hannah Sommers move into new offices in the Terminal Building in early 2019. Don Swanson

4 Justice Rising 2017/18 legalaidofnebraska.org 5 FOCUS ON PRIORITIES IN 2017 Legal Aid fought to protect the rights of:

Housing: 1,253 households facing Focus. Legal Aid is taking huge steps forward to improve our focus. After talking with unfair evictions, unsafe residences and hundreds of clients, allies, and leaders over 18 months, Legal Aid refocused its other housing issues time and resources on the most significant legal needs impacting the daily lives of our Income & Benefits: 1,722 families in low-income clients: housing, income & benefits, family and debt. need of income supports such as social 12% Housing security, SNAP, health insurance, taxes, veteran benefits and unpaid wages % Income This focus on basic legal needs – including wrongful foreclosures or evictions, debt 16 & Benefits collection by predatory lenders, domestic violence, vulnerable families in unsafe and Cases by Priority unstable homes, denial of basic supports and lost wages to bad employers – now directs Family: 6,093 families striving for stability 57% Family through protection orders against domestic everything we do. Because we are focused, Legal Aid can make even more of an impact violence, child custody, divorce and guardianships on the relentlessly stressful daily lives of Nebraska’s low-income families. 15% Debt Debt: 1,631 individuals with consumer needs, including medical debt, bankruptcy and utility shut-offs 15+571216

6 Justice Rising 2017/18 legalaidofnebraska.org 7 WHERE, HOW AND WHO WE SERVE In 2017, the work of Legal Aid of Nebraska impacted 26,747 people “I’m glad I took the step

10,699 cases were 1,375 cases involved 30.1% of all households handled and closed a victim of abuse served were in deep poverty and fought for my kids. It was a long journey, but so worth it! I’m so 50.6% of all households 2,154 clients + 21.8% of all clients were helped included children were disabled 60 older adults (over 60) thankful for Legal Aid!” To hear Jessica’s whole story, please go to – Jessica www.legalaidofnebraska.org/jessica 18,427 requests DID YOU KNOW? 469 cases involved In 2017, the work of Legal U.S. veterans for assistance Aid of Nebraska impacted 26,747 people 8 Justice Rising 2017/18 ” legalaidofnebraska.org 9 LAW FIRM PARTNERS IN JUSTICE FOUNDATION & ORGANIZATION DONATIONS AND GRANTS

Baird Holm LLP McGrath, North, Mullin, & Kratz PC LLO American National Bank Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services Donahue & Faesser, PC, LLO O’Neill Heinrich Damkroger AmeriCorps Nebraska Farmers Union Foundation, Inc Erickson & Sederstrom, PC, LLO Bergmeyer Shultz PC, LLO Community Health Endowment of Lincoln Nebraska Lawyers Trust Account Foundation Cooper Foundation Omaha Bar Association Hauptman O’Brien Wolfe & Lathrop Rensch & Rensch Law, PC, LLO Fidelity National Title Group Omaha Central Chiropractic Husch Blackwell, LLP Runge Law Office LLC Harrison Financial Services Omaha Community Foundation Koley Jessen Sennett, Duncan, Jenkins, & Wickham, PC, LLO Heartland United Way Sherwood Foundation Kutak Rock Willet & Carothers Immanuel Vision Foundation SilverStone Group Lamson Dugan & Murray Woods & Aitken LLP Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska Union Pacific Railroad Locher Pavelka Dostal Braddy & Hamme, LLC Legal Services Corporation United Way of Lincoln & Lancaster County Mattson Ricketts Law Firm Many thanks to all the generous individuals who Lexington Community Foundation United Way of the Midlands Lincoln Community Foundation US Department of Justice, Office McGill Gotsdiner Workman & Lepp, PC, LLO helped make “equal justice happen” in 2017. Lincoln Financial Foundation, Inc. of Justice Programs McGowan & McGowan PC We appreciate you and respect your privacy. Lozier Foundation Weitz Family Foundation Mutual of Omaha Foundation William & Ruth Scott Family Foundation Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy Woods Charitable Fund Nebraska Crime Commission

10 Justice Rising 2017/18 legalaidofnebraska.org 11 AN ETHICAL OBLIGATION

“I’ve always had a commitment to public the trenches providing services to those who otherwise wouldn’t have it. It is critically important.” service – I was raised that way. That’s why Kutak Rock is a good place for me, because they have Kutak Rock also has a long history of support for equal justice. “It is humbling to be always had an emphasis on building a better community.” serving today with a strong Legal Aid that is, in many significant ways, a direct result of the hard and selfless leadership of Nebraskans like Bob Kutak, David Jacobson Kutak Rock attorney Amy Van Horne has been a member and Harold Rock,” said Legal Aid Executive Director Milo Mumgaard. of the Legal Aid Board of Directors since 2015 and is Chair of the Board’s Planning Committee. The generous support of Nebraska’s law firms, including Kutak Rock and many others, and of board members like Amy are an embodiment of the attorney’s ethical obligation “After I learned about Legal Aid and the work they did, of financial and professional service. I wanted to get involved,” she said. “When people need an attorney and can’t afford one, Legal Aid attorneys are in Amy Van Horne Kutak Rock – Attorney

12 Justice Rising 2017/18 legalaidofnebraska.org 13 Thank you to our volunteers and VOLUNTEERS & interns for dedicating time and PRIVATE ATTORNEY INVOLVEMENT energy to Legal Aid’s mission. Thomas Maul Scott Peterson Suzi Tast Jason White Angie McClure Carol Pinard-Cronin Alan Thelen David Williams PRO BONO ATTORNEYS D.C. “Woody” Bradford III Brian Davis Tom Green Sally R. Johnson Shannon McCoy Kay Prather Stephanie Tiritilli Toni Wilson Jack Horgan, Elkhorn Alex Brown Mary Rose Donahue Emily Haas C.G. Jolly Kate McCoy Jones William Quigley Kent Trembly Joshua Woolf Amie Martinez, Lincoln Jonathan Brown Shawn Dontigney Scott V.Hahn Julie Jorgensen Megan McDowell Gregory Ramirez Jason Thomas Michael Ziskey Angela Burmeister Joe Dreesen John T. Haarala Jessica Källström Mark McKeone Michael Ramirez Cathy Trent-Vilim John Zimmer DISASTER RELIEF Eileen Reilly Buzzello Michael Dunn Kevin Hartzell -Schreckengost Tod McKeone Lilly Richardson-Severn Janine F. Ucchino PROJECT ATTORNEYS Dale Callahan Matthew Dunning Bill Harvey Ryan J. Kapsimallis Steve Mercure Scout Richters Susan Ugai PRIVATE ATTORNEY Erin Aitcheson Catherine Cano Chawnta Durham Gretchen Harvey Brendan M. Kelly Paula Metcalf Michael Rickert Wes Van Ert INVOLVEMENT ATTORNEYS Robert Alexander Mark Carraher Steven Elmshaeuser Daniel Hassing Debra Keith Mikolajczyk. Megan Andrew Roszak Amy Van Horn Avis Andrews – Fremont Roxanne Alhejaj Ryan Carson Marsha Fangmeyer Luke Patrick Henderson Susan Koenig Danielle Miller Matt Ruane Heather Voegele Frank Barron – Tekamah Sophia Alvarez Jeffrey Chalkley David Fisher Robert Henderson Keith Kollasuhm Millsap Sarah Mindy Rush Chipman Jeff Wagner John Begley – Omaha Dwyer Arce Steven Chase Phaedra H.Fisher Jamie Hermanson David J. Koukol Steve Moeller Mike Samuelson Terry Waite Ben Beethe – Tecumseh Kurt Arganbright Edwina Christiansen Mark Fitzgerald Kristi Hilliard Corianna Kubasta Moore Ashley Hope Schawang Nancy Waldron Mike Borders – Broken Bow Carly Bahramzad Carol Cleaver Kent Floran Robert Hippe Jacqueline Langland Adam Morfeld RaeAnn Schmitz Corey Wasserburger Jon Braaten – Lincoln Fredrich Bartell Robert Cohen Jessica Forch Kortnei Hoeft Victor LaPluma Dani Myers Tim Shaw Ryan Watson Justin Daake – Oxford Paul Brian Bartels Patrick Connealy Tana Fye Jim Hoppe Dan Lindstrom Jeanne Neumann James Sieben Joshua Weiner Bruce Dalluge – Tecumseh Glasford Claire Bazata Patrick Cooper Lorin Galvin Sara Houston Jeff Loeffler Christine Smith Katie Welsh Jeff Ensz – Minden Tom O’Connor Susan Beel Dale C.Crandall Ross Gardner Wanda Howey-Fox Rachel Lookado Dave Sommers Ken Wentz William Erickson – Broken Bow Damilola Oluyole Kelvin Berens Arianna Crum Franklin F.Ginsbach Chris Hoyme Christin Lovegrove Katherine M.Stanish Mary Wenzl Morgan Eskra – Columbus Patrick Oman Claude Berreckman Gene Crump TJ Gist David Hubbard Elizabeth Madlener Jacob Steinkemper Kevin R. Wesley Leta Fornoff – Fremont Ralph Pappard David Blagg Daniel Cummings Becky Gould Ron Hunter Craig Martin Molly Steinkemper Brett Wessels Steve Fillman – York Alexis Pappas Meghan Blinn Ray Curtis Shurie Graeve Kenny Jacobs Mike Matejka Lindsay Surdell Erin Wetzel Leta Fornoff – Fremont Jeffery Peetz Brent Bloom Frank Daley Jackie Grau Abigail Johnson Rebecca A. Marron Casey Symington Bradley J. White continued >

14 Justice Rising 2017/18 legalaidofnebraska.org 15 Legal Aid makes equal justice happen through 2017 VOLUNTEERS & PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS numerous statewide programs and projects: PRIVATE ATTORNEY INVOLVEMENT “We advocate for the most vulnerable Tara Gardner – Lincoln Ashley Spahn – Benkelman Fritz Hudson Native American Program Clean Slate Project Vanessa Gorden – Lincoln Lisa Shifflet – McCook Bryan Karasiuk whether it be due Angela Heimes – Omaha Shaylene Smith – Crete Farhan Kashem Farm and Ranch Program Juvenile Reentry Project Josh Johnson – Hastings Gail Steen – Lincoln Joy Kathurima to illness, risk of Stephen Knudsen – Aurora Sandy Stern – Omaha Yoonhee Kim Ag Worker Rights Program UPLIFT Project Steffanie Kotik – Lincoln Erin Urbom – Grand Island Claire Kraft homelessness or Jeff Kurtz – Omaha Nicholas Wurth – Omaha Katelyn Lawrence Health Education and Law Project (HELP) Housing Justice Project Cheryl Marsh – Broken Bow Vanessa Lobo domestic abuse. Angelica McClure – Lincoln VOLUNTEERS Josef Loukota REACH Initiative Private Attorney Involvement Megan McDowell – Lincoln AND INTERNS Juan Palma We give a voice to Lisa Meyer – York Roselle Agdipa Deanna Pina Tax Law Project AccessLine® John Moeller – Sioux City IA Kelsey Arends Kory Quandt those who would Stephanie Payne – Lincoln Brett Baalhorn Zahra Salih Juvenile Justice Project (centralized intake, advice and counsel) Mark Porto – Grand Island Lauren Camp Erin Sheehan “ otherwise not be Kay Prather – Beloit KS Kallie Davis Betsy Shevik Elder Justice Project Access to Justice (assisted self-help center Katy Reichert – Scottsbluff Jessica Dodd Madeline Sobek and online through LawHelpNE.org) Kathy Rockey – Norfolk Emma Franklin Joanna Uden heard.” John Sabott – Grand Island Matthew Furrow Barbara Vargo Disaster Relief Project Audrey Sautter – York Kalli Gloudemans Cassi Wigington – Ann Mangiameli Lisa Shifflet – McCook Kaycee Greenfield Julianna Zieno Managing Attorney, Health, Melissa Schutt – Fremont Noelle Hoeft Education & Law Project Legal Aid of Nebraska does not discriminate on the basis of religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, color, age, marital status, citizen or authorized alien status, veteran status, or disability in the administration of any of its programs.

16 Justice Rising 2017/18 legalaidofnebraska.org 17 Legal Aid of Nebraska FINANCIAL SUMMARY for the year ended December 31, 2017 “To come home and have

a notice on your door is 13% Federal 24% LSC

gut-wrenching. Without 28% State

% Legal Aid, I would have 7% IOLTA 84 Program Services 2017 Revenue 1% United Way 2017 Expenses by Percentage 13% Administrative been literally homeless $7,379,206 7% County $7,177,371 Foundations, Corp., % Development “ 16% 3 To hear Brooklynn’s whole story, please go to with three children and & Private Donors % Contribuited www.legalaidofnebraska.org/brooklynn 1 Services none of my belongings.” 13+242871+7+163 3% Interest & Misc 84+133 NOTE: Best practices for non-profit organizations indicate that the organization should have operating reserves equal to between three and six months – Brooklynn operating expenses. At 12-31-17, Legal Aid of Nebraska had operating reserves of approximately 3.1 months, based on the 2017 budget.

18 Justice Rising 2017/18 legalaidofnebraska.org 19 PARTING WORDS

The Hon. David Piester, who has been a longtime supporter and Plan opens the door to so many new opportunities, partnerships, and President of the Legal Aid of Nebraska Board of Directors for five years, funding. And with a growing, talented, and caring staff, Legal Aid continues retired from the Board on September 30, 2018. He had this to say: to be an excellent employer, well-administered non-profit, and remarkable community asset – a source of great pride for all involved. “2017 was a year of increased focus for Legal Aid to be as effective as we can, with even more fiscal stability. Legal Aid’s Board and “Most of the time we are thrown into transformation by life and unavoidable WE staff maintained a firm eye on the bottom line, while looking to our circumstances. While the beginning of 2018 was a little rocky, Legal Aid will future full of exciting growth. The Board’s completion and launch of emerge from the Lincoln fire stronger and even more empathetic to the plight MAKE Legal Aid’s Strategic Plan 2018-20 gives a practical roadmap for our of our clients. But in order to keep up this focus and momentum on behalf vision of bringing meaningful civil legal assistance to low-income of the most vulnerable members of our state, Legal Aid needs your help. EQUAL Nebraskans in all corners of our amazing state. With your ongoing and increased financial support, Legal Aid can bring the promise of justice to so many more Nebraskans who need it. Please help JUSTICE “When 9 out of 10 civil legal problems facing our clients continue to with what you can. I personally can vouch for how far your support goes, go unaddressed, it is imperative Legal Aid seeks new and even more and how much difference it makes for children, families, and other struggling Nebraskans. Thank you again for your support.” HAPPEN Hon. David Piester effective ways of making equal justice happen. The new Strategic

20 Justice Rising 2017/18 legalaidofnebraska.org 21 OUR MISSION LEGAL AID To promote justice, dignity, hope and self-sufficiency through quality civil legal aid for those who have nowhere else to turn. LOCATIONS OMAHA NORTH PLATTE LEXINGTON 209 S. 19th St., Suite 200 102 E. 3rd St. 200 W. 7th Street, Suite 220 Omaha, NE 68102-1709 Suite 102 Lexington, NE 68850 Gender Breakdown Demographics North Platte, NE 69101 LINCOLN (beginning late February, 2019) SCOTTSBLUFF 63% Caucasian 1% Asian 941 O Street, Suite 300 1423 1st Ave., P.O. Box 1365 Lincoln, NE 68508 Scottsbluff, NE 69363 70% Female 10% Hispanic 4% Other Gender GRAND ISLAND BANCROFT Breakdown Demographics Scottsbluff Norfolk % % Black or 30 Male 17 1811 W. 2nd St., Suite 440 415 Main St., North Platte African American Bancroft Grand Island, NE 68803 P.O. Box 325 Grand Island 5% Native American Bancroft, NE 68004 Omaha NORFOLK Lexington 214 N. 7th St., Suite 10 Lincoln 70+30 63+10+17514 Norfolk, NE 68701

22 Justice Rising 2017/18 legalaidofnebraska.org 23 209 S. 19th St. Suite 200 • Omaha, NE 68102 402.348.1069 • LegalAidOfNebraska.org Statewide AccessLine® 1-877-250-2016

Legal Aid of Nebraska is a 501(c)3 organization funded in part by the Legal Services Corporation. 24 Justice Rising 2017/18