Grant helps low-income patients access legal services

A program that helps low-income medical patients manage health-related legal issues has received a $15,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation, according to an announcement from People’s Community Clinic. The clinic joined with Texas Legal Services in 2012 to form the program, known as the Austin Medical-Legal Partnership, in order to “respond to the overwhelming number of low-income patients dealing with legal issues that negatively impact their health,” according to the announcement. “An attorney works on-site at the clinic twice a week, providing legal assistance and representation for the clinic’s patients on a variety of issues, including public benefits and insurance (Social Security disability, Medicare/Medicaid, TANF, SNAP, etc.); housing (Section 8, subsidized housing, habitability, etc.); advance directives (powers of attorney, wills and living wills); guardianship and kinship care; education; and immigration.” People’s Community Clinic CEO Regina Rogoff said that the grant will allow the partnership “to work with more patients who have legal issues compromising their health.”