Pictures from PLA Staff are arranged to form the number 25

Equity, Opportunity, Hope: 25 Years of Advancing the Pillars of Justice

 

 

Mission: enforcing and protecting the right of individuals and families by providing accessible, creative, and high-quality legal assistance and working collaboratively for systemic change.

 

Read the full report.

Executive Director, Anita Santos-Singh

Message from the Executive Director

For 25 years, PLA has strived to advance the pillars of justice to build a more equitable society where everyone is able to provide for their basic human needs, live safe and healthy lives, and where justice is attainable regardless of income.

Read the full letter

Since 1996, PLA has provided free legal aid to 100,000+ people including...

38,837 assisted with homeownership

24,645 assisted with child custody

12,033 assisted with unemployment compensation

4,211 assisted with food stamps

PLA staff pose for a picture at the holiday party

as well as...

4,130 assisted with Medicaid 

3,315 with protection from abuse

2,781 with SSI assistance

15,749 homes were saved through the Save Your Home Philly hotline

Two people tend to a community garden

2021: Building Equity for Side Yard Caretakers

In 2021 PLA welcomed an Independence Fellow, Andria Bibiloni, to our Consumer Housing Unit to assist predominantly Latinx homeowners in North Philadelphia gain titles to home-adjacent vacant properties.

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Julia's headshot

2021: PLA Staff Are Leaders in the Field

Julia Simon-Mishel received the National Legal Aid & Defender Association New Leaders in Advocacy Award.

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UCHelp.org is shown on a computer screen

2021: Innovators in Technology

In 2021, the Unemployment Compensation Unit launched a statewide website, UCHelp.org, to provide up-to-date information about unemployment programs to claimants and potential claimants. Since its launch the site has had more than 10,000 visitors. 

Check out UCHelp.org
A soldier holds the hand of their spouse

2021 Client Stories: Serving Those Who Served

Ken, a recent military veteran, was having difficulty adjusting to civilian life: balancing a budget, managing his finances, and building community. PLA was there to help!

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A woman stares down a long an empty road

2021 Client Stories: Supporting Immigrant Survivors of Violence

PLA sticks with our clients. For five years Jediael's has been stuck in litigation, and PLA was there every step of the way. 

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25 Years of PLA: Our Units

Regina, Lina, and Mo pose for a picture
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25 Years of PLA: General Intake Unit

Two lawyers from the Family Law Unit pose for a picture
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25 Years of PLA: Family Law Unit

Four PLA staff members pose at our winter party.
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25 Years of PLA: Unemployment Compensation

Joanne from the consumer housing unit poses for a picture
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25 Years of PLA: Consumer Housing Unit

Four staff members pose in front a ferris wheel
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25 Years of PLA: Medical-Legal Community Partnership

The taxpayer support clinic staff pose for a picture
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25 Years of PLA: Taxpayer Support Clinic

Jordy and Alejandra pose at an outreach table with the PFP
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25 Years of PLA: Pennsylvania Farmworker Project

Pictures of PLA staff from over the years

Board of Directors

Meet the board

2021 Financials

$7,987,961

Total Support & Revenue

$7,961,781

Total Expenses
Lady Liberty holds the scales of justice

Independence Foundation Celebrates PLA's Anniversary With Challenge Grant!

The Independence Foundation has awarded PLA a challenge grant to raise $50,000 through new or increased individual donations for our 25th anniversary. Help us achieve this goal and the Independence Foundation will match each gift dollar for dollar. 

Donate Now

Thank you to all of our funders, donors, staff, volunteers, and community partners for supporting our critical efforts to enforce and protect the rights of Philadelphia’s low-income population for the last 25 years.
 

We couldn't do it without you. 

 

Read the full report.