DOWNTOWN — Seniors looking for some legal advice have a new resource to turn to.
Starting today, WISE & Healthy Aging, with the help of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, will provide seniors with a series of Monday morning legal clinics where they can get help with issues such as eviction/tenant disputes, accessing government benefits and domestic violence, said Grace Cheng Braun, CEO and president of WISE & Healthy Aging, a nonprofit social services organization with the mission of enhancing the independence, dignity and quality of life of older adults.
Legal Aid and WISE will also help seniors access the Self Help Legal Access Center and Domestic Violence Clinic located at the Santa Monica Courthouse.
“Seniors in our community often have few resources,” Cheng Braun said. “If they have problems, questions or issues about Social Security benefits, for example, or the conditions in their apartment, or problems with something they have purchased, they often don’t know where to turn to for help.”
The first session will feature Legal Aid attorney Ryan Bradley, who is an expert in the laws governing public benefit programs such as Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, disability benefits, Medi-Cal, Denti-Cal and food stamps. On Feb. 14, attorney Minty Siu-Kootnikoff will provide information on naturalization, family law, and landlord/tenant issues, and on Feb. 28 attorney Denise McGranahan will discuss housing, eviction and landlord/tenant issues. All sessions will be held at 9 a.m. at WISE & Healthy Aging in the Ken Edwards Center, 1527 Fourth St., in Santa Monica.
There will be no session on the Presidents Day holiday, Feb. 21, when the WISE & Healthy Aging offices are closed. Beginning Monday, March 7, the sessions will include a workshop from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on a specific area of the law, followed by time for individual consultation with the attorney from 10 a.m. to noon. Appointments can be scheduled by calling WISE & Healthy Aging at (310) 394-9871. Walk-ins will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.
kevinh@www.smdp.com
