Bringing True Justice and Hope to those in Need

In 1999 John Robb and I sat down over a cup of coffee in San Antonio, Texas never dreaming we would be here tonight. We were at a Christian Legal Society Conference where John was encouraging attorneys to start Christian Legal Aids across the country. He challenged us by asking, “Doesn’t the Bible have something to say about obligations for Christians and the Christian Church to help the poor – to defend the rights of the poor and needy.” I believed John was right and upon my return to Elgin met with my church. I provided them a proposal to start a Christian Legal Aid concluding, “The risk is minimal. The only chance for failure is a lack of spiritual commitment. There are many suffering individuals in the Fox Valley who need assistance and will not ordinarily walk through the doors of a church, but if they can receive assistance with their conflicts - legal, financial, or other - then perhaps the seeds of the Gospel can be sown in a very real demonstration of true justice and compassion.” Administer Justice began on February 14, 2000.

For the first two years we operated a couple Saturday mornings a month at Fox Valley Church in Dundee. Word spread fast and our phone answering machine was constantly full with requests for help. It became obvious that the need was far greater than what a part-time clinic could provide. So in the summer of 2002, I closed my successful private law practice. And in the fall of that year, Administer Justice became my full-time career.

Have you ever done something and then wondered: “what in the world was I thinking?” I certainly have. Here I was, earning so little I actually qualified for the low-income legal aid I was providing. I found myself angry and alone in an 8 x 10 office. I knew that more than 2,000 verses of the Bible cried out for justice, but I thought the sacrifice was too great. There I stood, a lawyer who had taken cases all the way to the United States Supreme Court, but who at that moment could not even figure out how to print an envelope. In desperation I cried, “What in the world am I doing here?” Though not audible, God’s response was clear, “My will, for whatever you do for the least of these you do unto me.”

I no longer serve alone. Since that day, God has enabled us to serve more than 15,000 of the least of these trapped in a complex legal and government system. I do that with the help of 12 staff members and nearly 200 volunteer attorneys, who join with more than 350 other volunteers who dare to make a difference. Together they help us carry out our mission to administer justice through a comprehensive program of educational outreach, legal assistance, financial counseling and conflict resolution services to empower the powerless, give hope to the hopeless and show mercy and compassion to those in need.

They fight against injustice and the lack of access to our judicial and government systems. They fight to prevent homelessness, fraud and abuse. They fight to provide stability to broken families. They fight to provide hope to the least of these.

The suburban poor are often overlooked and misunderstood. They are not drunks, mentally ill or lazy. They have low-wages or no wages as they try to support themselves and their family. The number one poor person in the suburbs is a child followed by his or her single parent. Your suburban school district has a homeless liason for these children. Ours served more than 600 students last year, because of family homes lost in foreclosure. Kane County has a foreclosure rate more than six times the national average. People are losing jobs, losing families, losing homes, losing hope right here in our neighborhoods.

On any given day our waiting room can be filled to overflowing. Almost every day people walk in off the street desperate for help. Our offices are filled to capacity with no more room to meet the growing demand for services. For the first time in history, the majority of the poor aren’t living in urban or rural areas, they live in the suburbs. Yet the suburbs have almost no resources. Only two legal service providers exist in Kane County and only one in most other counties outside Chicago. We are the only low income tax service provider outside of Chicago. Without an advocate, our seniors can lose their life savings; children can be lost without the stability of a guardianship; moms and children can be homeless without child support; dads can lose everything without unemployment; immigrants and other disadvantaged and disabled individuals are taken advantage of, and the whole of our democratic system suffers. We must not allow that to happen.

Think of what would have happened to Grant if Administer Justice was not there to intervene. Grant was going through life just like you and me until an accident left him with permanent brain damage. Disabled and alone, he was living in subsidized housing. The landlord wanted to get rid of Grant and filed an eviction notice for non-payment of rent. Grant was terrified. If he got evicted, he would be kicked out of the government program and be on the street, where he would probably die. A social service agency referred Grant to us. Grant could not believe an attorney would care enough to pray for him. After being treated so badly by his landlord, he was overwhelmed when that attorney also visited his home, went to his bank, and intervened on his behalf in court. At court the landlord changed the date for non-payment requiring another trial date. Our attorney pored over bank records again to prove payment, and ultimately the judge threw the landlord’s case out.

Administer Justice saved Grant from homelessness, but we also helped Grant understand that he mattered to God and he mattered to us. As he said, “Administer Justice made me feel completely at ease, like I was going to make it. Administer Justice helped me decide that I can live like anyone else. They put a perspective on life that I can grasp and work with. Thank God I got some help.”

Every day we have the opportunity to put a Godly perspective on life that makes a significant difference in the lives of people just like Grant. But there is much more that needs to be done.

Our board is casting a bold vision for the future. By 2020, when we gather to celebrate our next ten years together, Administer Justice will have branch offices in each of the collar counties making it possible for more people to find justice. We will lead the way and come alongside others in delivering gospel justice services all around the country. We will provide help each year to 20,000 low-income clients, and serve all who come regardless of race, religion or any other status. We will not discriminate but neither will we ignore the opportunity to provide the only real hope that can be found in the midst of great trials. The hope of the gospel. We will pray, we will equip and we will empower our clients to understand that God loves them and has a plan for their life. We will encourage them to be involved with a church and together we will transform lives not only in this life but for the life to come.

With your support that vision will become our future, and that future will begin tonight. Our theme for this evening is the Power of Ten. Ten years of service, ten years of future possibilities, ten people at your table who represent the real power of ten. Because with your support, we will double the number of clients helped every four years. With your support, Administer Justice will grow to stand in the gap on behalf of those in need – maybe someone you know – who without help or hope would be overwhelmed. With your support, we will make a difference. With your support we will spread the word and let God’s justice go forth as we do his will, answer his call, and serve the least of these with justice, mercy, compassion and hope.

Justice for All

Watch our new video and share it with friends. Let them know how we are making a difference in providing justice for all. Visit our new community events calendar on our website - www.administerjustice.org to get involved. Come to a free Justice for All event to learn more, hear from a client and meet our staff and volunteers in action. Join us in making a difference.

Housing Crisis Continues to Grow

The housing crisis in Kane County continues to grow. Elgin has the highest rate of foreclosures in Kane County with 316 homes entering foreclosure in November alone according to Realty Trac. Across the county, 1,116 homes entered foreclosure giving Kane County a 64% foreclosure rate compared to a 24% national rate, ranking Kane County 9th out of 3,141 counties in the country. The 2000 census revealed that 53.4% of homes in Kane County were owned by very low-income owner households and with an unemployment rate remaining over 10% the foreclosure crisis is not likely to end soon. In fact, November’s numbers were the highest for 2009 and each month has seen increases. This crisis has significant destabilizing impact in a community. While the government seeks to stem the tide through programs and the tax code, few people can understand the complexities of these laws.

With your help, Administer Justice will address the housing crisis by intervening and educating affected clients living below 250% of the poverty guideline. Every family needs safe and secure housing regardless of race, national origin, age, disability or language. The foreclosure crisis has ripple effects: an estimated 50,000 Illinois home renters had their housing stability compromised when their landlord went into foreclosure. Illinois ranks third in the nation for mortgage fraud according to a March 2009 report from the Mortgage Asset Research Institute which includes mortgage prevention fraud, elderly and immigrant identity fraud and tax return/financial statement fraud. The 2009 Report on Chicago Region Poverty by Heartland Alliance reveals Kane County is leading in every category of human need outside Chicago, with 25.5% of the population living in poverty (an increase of 2.5% over 2008 with an expected increase of 7% in 2009). That is more than 129,000 people living below 200% of the poverty guideline ($44,000 for a family of 4).

Where can people turn for competent, caring advice, information and intervention assistance? The most recent comprehensive study “Documenting the Justice Gap in America” (2007) found that as many as 80% of low-income individuals experiencing a problem with a legal dimension do not understand that there may be a legal solution. In addition, it found that a majority of low-income people either do not know about the availability of free legal services or do not understand that they are financially eligible for them.

Administer Justice will change that with your help as we communicate our availability to serve low-income adults, disabled individuals, disadvantaged minorities and elderly. These are individuals in crises who are struggling financially and without an understanding of legal and tax options available to them. In the midst of crisis, these individuals and families do not know where to turn for help while navigating through complex and often multiple legal and tax issues. They find themselves overwhelmed and the stress of the situation frequently results in sleeplessness and health problems. Without professional help and without hope they may well find themselves homeless with significant additional legal and tax issues including divorce, bankruptcy, imputation of income for tax purposes and further destabilizing factors. With 34% of Elgin and 28% of Kane County having a Latino population (according to the Pew Hispanic Center based on the most recent census update), these needs are further complicated by language and cultural factors. Kane County has the 53rd largest population of Latinos in the country placing it in the top 2% of the nation. This population is increasing, and any service provider must be prepared to address the needs of this population.

Administer Justice brings competent caring professional counsel to this community crisis. With your support we will bring stability and peace of mind through education, counsel and intervention assistance which in turn will provide significant stability to the entire community. Please consider how you can volunteer or donate to make a difference today by visiting our website at http://www.administerjustice.org/ or calling 847-844-1100.

Our Star Spangled Banner

The story behind the famous flag now hanging in the Smithsonian could be one of Administer Justice's: A single mom with a 13-year-old daughter working hard to make ends meet and a lawyer who makes a difference. History would bring their stories together in a powerful way.

Mary Young Pickersgill had her 13-year-old daughter help her with the $405.90 sewing job. They worked on the floor of a local tavern by night completing the large flag that would fly over Fort McHenry. Their future looked bleak in the War of 1812 as British bombs burst in the air during an all-night bombardment of the fort. But in the light of dawn a Washington D.C. attorney saw the tattered flag still waiving. The attorney was Francis Scott Key and the sight inspired his writing our national anthem - the Star Spangled Banner.

We see many single moms at Administer Justice struggling to make ends meet. The economy is tough and families feel like they are under attack. As bombs of bills and challenges rain down upon them they may not know what the dawn holds. We don’t know the answer, but we know that hope survives even the greatest of battles. We want to help those who do not know where to turn for legal or tax assistance. More than 100 volunteers have donated over 3,000 hours to help 4,132 clients in the first six months of 2009! That is nearly double the numbers from 2008.

Administer Justice's hope is that in the midst of the battles that many face you can know the dawn is coming. With rising needs and falling revenue we understand your challenges. Together we will rise to meet these challenges. If you can attend our free Star Spangled Fun Fair at Randall Oaks Park on Randall Road in West Dundee, I hope you will do so. The event is on Saturday, July 18 from 10-4. Come on out and enjoy the day, enjoy the freedoms we celebrate, and for those who can please eat another hamburger, drink another slushie, or make a donation in support of a worthy cause. And in the words most of us shout at the end of the Star Spangled Banner go - “Play Ball!”

2009 Report on Chicago Region Poverty

The news is dire. The need is great. The resources are few. If we measure our success or worth on a financial balance sheet then there is good cause for hopelessness. But the measure of a person is not in their possessions or their position, but in the fact that they are created in the image of God and He loves them whatever their circumstances. This is a message of hope in the midst of difficult circumstances.

President Obama stated in his inaugral address, "The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity, on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good." As we seek to expand opportunity to all citizens we must also recognize the need for safety net services for those citizens. Especially services that help empower individuals to get beyond the current crisis and move forward with stability and hope.

Administer Justice's pledge is a pledge of HOPE in difficult times. We will Help people Overcome through a Plan of Empowerment. Every person will receive help in some way, we will partner with others who can assist in overcoming all barriers to opportunity, we will assist in putting together a plan, and we will provide the tools and resources to empower the person to see the plan through. We will do this with the help of volunteers and donors who recognize the vast needs in our community and the difference Administer Justice makes in meeting those needs.

Here are those needs as identified by the comprehensive report released last week:

Two and a half percent of the population in Kane County entered poverty last year and it is projected that another seven percent will do so this year. That equates to 25.5% of the population - more than 129,000 people - are living below 200% of the federal poverty guideline (less than $44,000 for a family of 4). Kane County has the highest percentage rate outside of Chicago.

Kane County has the highest rate of unemployment in the Chicago area - even higher than Chicago - at 9.8%. The ripple effect from job loss is still being realized as savings evaporate. Kane County leads the suburbs in asset poverty rates - 16% - meaning they have less than 3 months poverty level savings. While the government seeks to address these issues through complex tax measures, there has been a dramatic increase of predatory refund anticipation loans to effectively strip families of badly needed benefits. The report found there is one payday licensing establishment for every 463 poor families while there is one McDonald's for every 780 poor families. This is why Administer Justice's Low Income Taxpayer Clinic is critical in providing education and intervention in these tax areas.

Kane County has the highest non-graduation rate outside of Chicago with 10% of students not graduating. This will only contribute to the growing problem of unemployment and poverty. Unfortunately some of this is due to the 35% increase in homeless students.

Kane County has the highest uninsurance rate in the suburbs at 16.8%. Not having health insurance is another major contributing factor to poverty.

Kane County has the highest severely rent-burdened households in the suburbs at 24.6%. This means a family spends more than half their income on housing cost.

To read the full report visit: http://www.heartlandalliance.org/povertyreport/

All these areas intersect with the law and government on different levels. As one of only two low-income legal service providers in Kane County and the only low income tax service provider, we ask for your help in addressing these needs. Consider how you might be able to volunteer your time or donate to help us continue to meet the need. Visit our web site at http://www.administerjustice.org/ to learn more, to contact us, or to make a secure donation.

Hope and Help in Hindi

It is a daunting experience to try and navigate through the legal system. The terminology, the procedures, the "legal-eze" of it all can be overwhelming. When English is your second language, the experience quickly goes beyond overwhelming to seemingly hopeless.

Such was the situation for one of our recent clients. She came to us because her husband received a traffic citation issued by a town's automated red light enforcement program. It took her by surprise, because she knew he was a very careful driver who would not purposefully run a red light. The citation they were mailed was accompanied by a photo of their car as taken by the traffic camera. It clearly showed the brake lights activated, and a car still in front of them at the stop line. By all appearances, they could defend themselves against this ticket ... but that would mean her husband would need to request a hearing, and it was something they did not want to face alone.

Administer Justice didn't want her to face it alone, either. We encouraged the client to request a hearing date to contest the ticket, and in the meantime, we tried to locate someone to go to court with her. Attorney Shazia Bux accepted the case and arranged to meet with the client.

During their initial meeting, Shazia could sense the struggle her client was having while trying to express her thoughts in English. She asked the client what her what her native language was. By a coincidence that only God could orchestrate, the client and Shazia both spoke the same Indian language -- no small miracle considering that India has 30 different languages and over 2000 dialects!

Relieved that she had found an advocate that was not only understood the law but also understood her in a way most others could not, our client had a new-found confidence in her situation, and in fact was able to work with Shazia on a second legal issue as well.

Although Administer Justice can't boast of having attorneys who speak every language - yet! - we continue to be humbled and awed by God's goodness and grace as He enables us to meet the needs of those who come to us for help and hope.

One Client's Justice Journey

Imagine having serious health issues and then losing your job. For most of us it is our nightmare, for Samantha it was reality. Following a seizure and several health issues, Samantha lost her job. Worried and uncertain what to do she thought she could just tell the Unemployment Board the truth and she would get unemployment. She did not know the employer would have an attorney who argued her leaving was voluntary. Frustrated and frightened she did not know how to combat this. She lost. Suddenly she found herself at food pantries and on the verge of homelessness. What could she do? This is when she found Administer Justice.

Samantha tried to file an appeal in court but the judge terrified her. When she called Administer Justice volunteer, Cindy Angarola, encouraged her and planted seeds of hope. Samantha met with volunteer attorney Joseph Lovelace. His concern and care gave her a measure of peace as he told her Administer Justice would look for an attorney to represent her. Her hope was fueled further when she received the letter from Bruce saying Administer Justice would do its best to locate an attorney within two weeks. Then the call came. Teri Jacobs enthusiastically told her Agnes Jury would meet with her.

Before her hopes could be fully realized there were significant challenges ahead. Agnes Jury recalls the obstacles they faced,

"The case was a challenge because an appeal to the Circuit Court from the decision of the Board of Review has very limited grounds and therefore limited chances of success. I drafted a brief in support of our appeal emphasizing the fact that my client did not quit her job and was not dismissed due to misconduct, therefore qualifying for unemployment benefits. I sat next to Samantha as I did the oral arguments and listened to the decision of the judge: 'Decision of the Board of Review is reversed, Petitioner is granted Unemployment Benefits'.

"You are the only one
who believed me."

Samantha first cried silently and then said to me: 'You are the only one who believed me'.

I was caught off guard. While I was happy she would receive the much needed unemployment benefits, I was moved by how happy Samantha was that I believed her...or maybe believed in her.

This experience really reminded me and made me proud of who I am. I am not just an "Attorney" or "Esquire", I am an "Advocate". As an advocate my job is to speak on behalf of my client because my client may lack the knowledge, ability, skill, or standing to speak for him or herself, whether compensated or not. Samantha now volunteers at Administer Justice once a week as a receptionist, happy to be a helpful hand in an area of need.

I look forward to the next challenging case from Administer Justice and I encourage you to take on cases from Administer Justice as well. It is very rewarding to make a difference in someone's life and I am glad I have the opportunity to serve through Administer Justice."

If you would like to join Agnes, Cindy, Joe, Teri and others in making a difference e-mail help@administerjustice.org.