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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Friday, August 31, 2018

NorCo Offers Legal Assistance to Seniors

Since his election as Northampton County Executive, Lamont McClure has stressed the important role county government plays in protecting our most vulnerable residents. They could be children, people dealing with special challenges, or our elderly. To that end, the county is expanding its relationship with North Penn Legal Service (NPLS).

NPLS is a non-profit organization which provides legal assistance to low-income people age sixty and over. Staff lawyers help seniors with drafting Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney. They will also assist in cases of elder abuse. NPLS is certified by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and represents Northampton County clients who feel they have been victimized by a violation of the Fair Housing Act.

NPLS is working with several departments, including Area Agency on Aging, DCED, St. Luke’s Health Network, Lehigh Valley Health Network and the Allentown Housing Authority to provide information about their services to eligible seniors. They will hold seminars and workshops on reverse mortgages and other housing issues at County Senior Centers this fall.

Several older County residents have reported problems after taking out a reverse mortgage including becoming homeless. Reverse mortgages are a complex financial product and can present pitfalls to anyone who fails to comprehend all the fine print.

Eligible seniors who need assistance can call NPLS at 877-953-4259 or apply on their website: www.northpennlegal.org. The County’s HELP line is also available: 610-829-HELP (4357).

Scheduled Seminars:

September 18, 2018 at 10:00 AM: “Know your Fair Housing Rights” at the Rooney Senior Center, 4 E. 4th Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015.

September 21, 2018 at 1:00 PM: “Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention and Fair Housing Rights” at Meals on Wheels, 4240 Fritch Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18020

November 15, 2018 at 11:00 AM: “Know Your Fair Housing Rights” at the Northampton Senior Center, 902 Lincoln Avenue, Northampton, PA 18067.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is this using tax money? Is this another take from producers and give to some of the non-prodyucers? People wonder why we still need a tea party, here is your reason.

Anonymous said...

DDD

Anonymous said...

Young people really need to start voting. Seniors show up to vote and take the younger generation to the cleaners. Have fun struggling with all the financial mess we're leaving you, stupid punks. Ha ha ha ha.

Anonymous said...

Young people will vote for socialist candidates who promise free health care, free college, free jobs, etc. They don't care who has to pay for it. It will be them in the end. They will take themselves to the cleaners.

Anonymous said...

This is all part of a broken system.

North Penn is being granted access by the county to hold their seminars. North Penn then goes out and drums up additional cases by convincing people they've been somehow wronged. Since there's no cost to the client, many without legitimate cases will happily take a shot at a legal payday.

There is no risk to North Penn since lawsuits will be funded by a cut of CDBG and other government money that is administered by the county. Interestingly enough, the money that North Penn gets comes out of the pot that is supposed to go to programs that help (wait for it) low-income residents. But it keeps North Penn fat and happy.


I don't dispute that there are legitimate cases where people are wronged. But there are private lawyers who could handle those cases. If a private lawyer doesn't want the case but still things the case has merit, THEY should be the ones referring the client to non-profits like North Penn. There should be no further county endorsement (through seminars or other means) of North Penn or any other firm.

But it is much simpler, and profitable, for North Penn to get the county to allow them to cast a wide net to troll for clients.

And it helps shield North Penn from any competition. When the legal services for the next year's CDBG and other government funding come up for allocation, guess who now has the experience and track record that county employees will use to justify why North Penn is getting that money?

Anonymous said...

More that don't pay a dime on the wagon being pushed by the man on a fixed income and pension. McClure better open some camoa for the working soon cause we won't be able to pay the taxes. McClure has a new nane. It's Pointius Pilot McClure. This is a scam to out the retired homeowner on wekfare

Bernie O'Hare said...

Every one of the comments bere is completely wrong, and in some instances, deliberately so. North Penn is drumming up business? Anyone who knows anything about North Penn knows it is deluged. It seems to me that some people just hate seeing help offered to those who really need it. I personally think that is why government exists.

Anonymous said...

Everybody wants those needing help to receive it.

What I also want is for my government to be fair and impartial, instead of funneling business to favored entities.

I also don't want my government to do things that can be done without government funding.

North Penn might be a non-profit, but they're still running a business.

If North Penn wants to hold seminars, they can advertise them on their own dime and don't need to be sanctioned by county officials to hold one.

Bernie O'Hare said...

North penn can be called many things but I would not include the word Business among them. It represents people in civil matters. Who would otherwise never have access to a lawyer. Almost all of its funding comes from other lawyers. It only represents the poorest And only on certain matters. Your comment is completely Ignorant and mean spirited

Anonymous said...

"Young people will vote for socialist candidates who promise free health care, free college, free jobs, etc. They don't care who has to pay for it. It will be them in the end. They will take themselves to the cleaners."

They've learned well from the greatest generation and are hopelessly in debt, already. Why not provide free assistance. It's only money and nobody is interested in ending the bender.

Anonymous said...

No relief in Easton

Anonymous said...

What is it about helping others in need that some of us just don’t get?
Ron Karaesk

Anonymous said...

Give me. Give me ..it's all about free for me and the rest if you? Hahahaha

Anonymous said...

It’s just not fair. On one side there is JP Morgan which pays billions in fines for taking advantage of people yet no one goes to jail with 10s of lawyers vs. educating an elderly citizen about reverse mortgages and other scams and underfunded North Penn Legal Services - a clear threat. Chill out.

Anonymous said...

I feel abused by Trump, what are my legal options?

Anonymous said...

How about we make the free loaders work? Amazing when we did not have food stamps and all this non sense no one starved to death.