Philadelphia Legal Assistance Turns 30 in 2026!
As we begin celebrating our 30th year of service, we are deeply grateful to the supporters who stood with us through a challenging year. Because of your generosity, when our clients faced the loss of housing, safety, income, or health care, they did not face it alone. They had a PLA advocate by their side.
One major challenge of 2025 was the fate of our core federal funding from the Legal Services Corporation, which the new administration slated for elimination. Thankfully, the House and the Senate renewed the appropriation with bipartisan support, though at a slightly reduced level. This funding is the backbone of our nation’s civil legal safety net, supporting access to justice in every county for critical issues like housing stability, family safety, and economic security. Its continuation ensures that PLA can keep advocating for parents, homeowners, renters, workers, and others navigating systems that are too often overburdened and underfunded.
We are also thankful to those that answered an urgent call for Philadelphia’s Family Court Help Center, which PLA has staffed since 2016. This critical lifeline for Philadelphia parents was in danger due to a loss of funding. Your generous gift ensures that the Center will remain functional as we seek long-term financial support.
Despite the uncertainty of 2025, PLA advocates achieved meaningful outcomes alongside our clients. We helped Philadelphia homeowners facing imminent sheriff sales, securing more than 200 postponements or dismissals and giving families precious time to save their homes. One of our attorneys won an international custody case, protecting a mother and her children from a life of abuse abroad. Through our Eviction Diversion Hotline, tenants secured more than $775,000 in city-funded rental assistance, and for the first time in our history, PLA expanded its work to include eviction defense. Our staff also connected with communities across Philadelphia and visited farm labor camps throughout Pennsylvania to ensure help reached those most isolated.
Our 30th anniversary is not just a milestone, it is a celebration of impact. For three decades, we have helped Philadelphians protect their homes, their families, and their futures. We look forward to celebrating this anniversary with you and continuing the work we are proud to do together.
Sincerely,
Maureen Olives
Executive Director
Philadelphia Legal Assistance