Legal Services of Eastern Missouri Awarded Pro Bono Innovations Grant

WASHINGTON – The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announced today that Legal Services of Eastern Missouri will receive a $316,361 Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant. LSC’s Pro Bono Innovation Fund is intended to encourage and expand pro bono efforts and partnerships to serve more low-income clients.

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri will use the grant to support its Neighborhood Vacancy Initiative. Launched in 2018, the project provides access to legal representation for urban neighborhoods and residents plagued by vacant and abandoned property. The project engages law firms and pro bono volunteers to help stabilize housing, return vacant property to productive use, and improve the quality of life in low-income neighborhoods.

“We are grateful to Congress for establishing and increasing support for the Pro Bono Innovation Fund,” said LSC President Jim Sandman. “These grants stimulate more participation by pro bono volunteers. They enhance public-private partnerships, leverage the federal investment in civil legal aid, and allow our grantees to reach more people in need of civil legal assistance.”

Senator Roy Blunt (MO) applauded the grant:

“For over 40 years, the Legal Services Corporation has provided quality, no-cost legal services to millions of low-income citizens,” said Sen. Blunt. “This grant will support Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s important efforts to provide counsel to people in the community.”

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri is one of 14 recipients of grants from LSC’s $4.5 million Pro Bono Innovation Fund, a competitive program that invests in projects that identify and promote replicable innovations in pro bono for low-income legal aid clients. This is the sixth year LSC has awarded Pro Bono Innovation Fund grants.

Funds were granted on August 15, 2019