In 2014, Georgia received a three-year grant from the federal Office of Victims of Crime to provide holistic wraparound civil legal services to victims of crime. At its core, holistic legal representation calls on us to look beyond the single legal crisis of the moment and search for its underlying causes. We then use multidisciplinary teams of lawyers and community agencies to resolve the core issues that keep clients in poverty and at risk of future victimization.
Mary’s Case
Like all of us, Mary hoped her later years would be peaceful and secure, but she continued to face increasing abuse from her alcoholic husband. Not only that, but her husband took Mary’s Social Security checks and withheld money for food and household necessities. Without help, Mary felt that independence from her husband was nearly impossible. But after GLSP’s representation, Mary now lives in an apartment on her own and receives the Social Security check she’s long been entitled to for herself. Using our network, we were able to get Mary’s monthly food stamp benefit increased from $16 to $194. Looking beyond the immediate legal crisis and at the broader issues ultimately resulted in a new life for Mary, one where she is safe and in full control of her livelihood.
