2024 MSAS Annual Report

Michigan Statewide Advocacy Services

2024 ANNUAL REPORT

Dear supporters,

For years, I’ve been known as a wearer of many hats. At the beginning of this year, I was CoDirector of Michigan Statewide Advocacy Services, the Managing Attorney and Consumer Law Attorney for the Michigan Poverty Law Program, and the Director of the Michigan Foreclosure Prevention Project. It has been an honor to serve in these roles but, when I became sole Executive Director of MSAS in March, I knew that I would need to shed my other hats to focus on continuing to build the organization and the programs within it.

The programs of MSAS - the Michigan Poverty Law Program, the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, Michigan Legal Help, the Michigan Elder Justice Initiative, and the Crime Victims Legal Assistance Project - accomplished so much in 2024. While the challenges ahead are many, I’m confident that our programs’ leadership and staff will rise to the occasion, and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this incredible organization.

As I move forward with just one hat, I thank you for partnering with MSAS and all of our incredible statewide programs. Your support enables us to change the lives of tens of thousands of Michiganders each year.

Lorray Brown

Lorray

Brown Executive Director, MSAS

MSAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Delphia Simpson

President

David Shaltz

Hansen Clarke

John C Philo

Linda Rexer

Martha Gonzalez Cortes

ABOUT MSAS

Michigan Statewide Advocacy Services (MSAS) is a non-profit law firm providing free legal services to individuals and families with low-income, Michigan’s immigrant communities, older adults and adults with disabilities through five statewide programs: Michigan Elder Justice Initiative (MEJI), Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC), Michigan Legal Help (MLH), Michigan Poverty Law Program (MPLP), and Crime Victims Legal Assistance Project (CVLAP).

Michigan Statewide Advocacy Services (MSAS)

Crime Victims Legal Assistance Project (CVLAP)

Michigan Poverty Law Program (MPLP)

Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC)

Michigan Legal Help (MLH)

Michigan Elder Justice Initiative (MEJI)

Advancing the safety, independence, and economic stability of those most affected by poverty, racism, and other structurally oppressive systems by increasing access to justice and working for systemic solutions.

801 Support Actions

355 Michigan Health Link Ombudsman cases

23 days of training, reaching 964 people

2,012 MLTCOP cases

23 task force meetings, reaching 740 people

24 outreach events/CLEs

2,046,951 users; 2,896,948 sessions

62 Self-Help Centers serving 79% of Michigan 1,088 cases; 2,486 people helped

1,768 cases; 4,304 people helped

54 naturalization cases

585 migrant camp outreach visits

SECURING SAFETY AND INDEPENDENCE:

Survivors & families

Shauna is a survivor of domestic abuse. Her husband, Colin, gave her a black eye and took a bat to their refrigerator to show the type of damage he could inflict on Shauna. Colin also sexually abused his step-daughter and was being charged with criminal sexual conduct against a minor. Shauna wanted a divorce from Colin and to protect her children from further harm. CVLAP represented Shauna and was able to help her get a divorce, full legal and physical custody of the kids, and full ownership of the house. Her and the children are now safe from Colin.

Seeking Justice and Clarity for Survivors and Families

MPLP represented a survivor in a complex case that seeks to preserve important survivorcentered legal remedies and limit the legal interactions between survivors and their assailants. MPLP’s client was sexually abused and impregnated by her high school teacher while she was still a student. The former teacher sought court-ordered parenting time with the child. As a result of MPLP’s advocacy, the trial court ruled for the survivor, determining that the father was barred from custody or parenting time under the Child Custody Act, and revoking his legal paternity under the Revocation of Paternity Act. MPLP has continued to represent the client as the father has appealed the trial court’s decision to the Court of Appeals and now Michigan Supreme Court. RAINN, the nation’s largest survivor advocacy organization, has filed an amicus brief in support of our position.

Total cases closed 362

70 clients who obtained PPOs to ensure their protection

who were able to get divorced from their abusive spouses and/or protect their minor child

16 clients whose housing was made secure

Development of Multi-Language Divorce FAQs for Immigrant Survivors

7 clients

Last year, CVLAP completed a project aimed at providing greater access to information for immigrant and non-English-speaking individuals seeking guidance on issues related to divorce. The project included creating a comprehensive presentation on FAQs related to family law issues. The FAQs were submitted by PuertosAbiertos, a DV organization that exclusively serves Spanishspeaking survivors. The slides were then translated into both Spanish and Arabic, and videos were recorded in both languages, as well as English.

Crime Victims Compensation Pro Bono Project

Last year, CVLAP developed and launched a project that trains pro bono paralegals to assist clients with Crime Victims’ Compensation claims. CVLAP lawyers were trained on how to identify eligible clients who are then referred to the CVC Pro Bono program. Pro Bono volunteers then assist clients in navigating the CVC application process. Volunteers are provided with video training, supportive materials, guides, and live support.

SECURING SAFETY AND INDEPENDENCE:

Older adults & people with disabilities

Judith, an undocumented nursing home resident, was issued an involuntary discharge notice after her Medicaid coverage was terminated due to her immigration status. The nursing home proposed relocating her to an unsafe and inappropriate setting. With no legal decision-maker and lacking the capacity to advocate for herself, Judith was especially vulnerable. Our MEJI team intervened, negotiated with the nursing home administrator to rescind the notice, and argued at her discharge hearing that she had a fundamental right to participate in the process. The case was ultimately dismissed. We then secured a rare exemption from the state Medicaid Director, reinstating Judith’s coverage and setting a precedent to protect undocumented residents and others without legal advocates from being unjustly discharged.

Michigan Guardianship Diversion Project

Last year, MEJI launched the Michigan Guardianship Diversion Project in four pilot counties: Bay, Genesee, Muskegon, and Grand Traverse. This multi-faceted initiative aims to improve Michigan’s adult guardianship system by preventing unnecessary guardianships While each county has its own unique needs, the impact in Bay County has been especially significant: In 2024, the number of adult guardianship and conservatorship filings with the Bay County Probate Court dropped by approximately 46% compared to 2023.

2024 Highlights

MLTCOP handled 2,012 cases and 3,682 complaints

MLTCOP launched a state-wide resident council for nursing home residents These virtual meetings are held monthly to allow residents the opportunity to discuss concerns and ideas with residents from across the state and inform the advocacy efforts of MLTCOP

MEJI provided training sessions to over 500 providers and surveyors regarding MLTCOP and complaints

Nursing Home Transparency and Accountability Project

Last year, MEJI was selected as one of two state advocacy groups to participate in a Consumer Voice project to promote transparency and accountability. The project focused on the financial practices of four low-performing nursing home chains in Michigan, revealing how substantial public funding intended for resident care may be siphoned off as hidden profits. MEJI later presented their findings at a legislative event in Lansing.

ADVANCING ECONOMIC SECURITY:

Public Benefits

After aging out of foster care, Marcus needed to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to support himself as he transitioned to independent living. Our team guided him through the complex application process, gathering and submitting hundreds of pages of documentation detailing the severe trauma he experienced while in foster care. Marcus was ultimately approved for benefits, but the Social Security Administration initially sought to deduct his independent living stipend, which would have dramatically reduced his lumpsum back payment. We met with SSA representatives to advocate that this stipend was not an offsetable benefit, and they agreed. As a result, Marcus received the full amount of his back pay - approximately $17,500.

Restoring Benefits After Nearly 30 Years

Frank, a man with a significant cognitive impairment and an IQ of about 50, lost his Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits in 1996 without proper notice. For years, he was unaware of the issue - until his father passed away in 2006. At that point, his Disabled Adult Child benefits pushed him over Medicaid’s income limit, placing him on a costly spend down and preventing him from accessing essential care. LSSCM and MPLP attorneys fought to reopen the decades-old SSI case, navigating multiple appeals, including one before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. In 2024, the court granted our Motion for Summary Disposition, ruling in our client’s favor. As a result, Frank’s Medicaid was reinstated, and the court ordered an $8,200 refund for benefits that had been wrongly recouped, along with $18,000 in attorney fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act. With his benefits restored, Frank can now receive the home help and respite care he has long needed.

Protecting Access to Property Tax Relief

In Bonzheim v City of Wyoming, a case arose when a local tax assessor improperly treated food assistance as an asset under the statutory property tax poverty exemption program. Legal Aid of Western Michigan brought the appeal, and MPLP’s Public Benefits attorney, along with MPLP’s Housing Attorney, filed an amicus brief with the Michigan Court of Appeals. The court ultimately ruled in the Petitioner’s favor, affirming that food assistance cannot be counted as an asset when determining eligibility.

Protecting Workers’ Rights in Appeals

Last year, an unemployment claimant was denied benefits and faced major obstacles in trying to appeal, raising serious concerns about fairness and due process within Michigan’s unemployment system. On behalf of the Michigan League for Public Policy, the Legal Services Association of Michigan, and the Michigan State Planning Body, MPLP’s Public Benefits attorney filed a Motion for Leave to submit an amicus brief to the Michigan Supreme Court. Students from the University of Michigan Workers’ Rights Clinic helped draft the pleadings, which were accepted by the Court. The claimant was represented by Rachael Kohl, clinical professor with the Workers’ Rights Clinic, who filed the application for leave to appeal In 2024, the Michigan Supreme Court issued a largely favorable ruling for the claimant, strengthening procedural protections for workers navigating the unemployment benefits process.

ADVANCING ECONOMIC SECURITY:

Immigrants

Javier came to us after suffering a devastating workplace injury while employed by a large egg producer with operations across several Midwestern states. He fell at work, breaking his wrist and hitting his head, which left him in a coma for 20 days and caused permanent loss of vision in one eye. Despite the severity of his injuries, his employer denied him workers’ compensation coverage. Our attorneys stepped in to advocate for his rights and secured a Statement of Interest from Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, marking the first time the agency had issued such a statement. This action helped protect workers at the farm from immigration-based retaliation. Working alongside private co-counsel, we ultimately helped Javier reach a favorable settlement in his workers’ compensation case.

Fighting for Fair Treatment of Farmworkers

In partnership with Farmworker Justice, MIRC successfully settled a class action lawsuit in the Western District of Michigan on behalf of three farmworker class representatives. The lawsuit, against Maroa Farms, Inc and Mastronardi Produce USA, Inc, involved allegations including violations of pesticide regulations and failure to pay wages and bonuses on time. Under the settlement, each class member could submit a claim to receive up to $400. More than thirty individuals submitted claims, and no one opted out or objected to the settlement. In 2024, funds were distributed and the class representatives received additional service awards, bringing the case to a successful close.

Justice & Safety for a Dairy Worker

One of our clients, a dairy worker, endured appalling housing and working conditions, including national origin discrimination and being forced to work while sick, at a repeat-offender dairy employer. With our assistance, the client obtained a Personal Protection Order, Continued Presence, and DALE while pursuing long-term immigration status. He also cooperated with federal investigators to hold his employer accountable and helped create a pathway for his coworkers to seek temporary immigration status, easing their fears of retaliation.

The EEOC found that our client had been discriminated against, and through conciliation we secured a settlement of $12,500 in compensatory damages and $10,000 in attorney’s fees on his behalf.

4,123 people helped through the Immigration Court Helpdesk

585 migrant camp outreach visits conducted by MIRC and their partner

31

Know Your Rights presentations given by MIRC staff

5

MIRC offices throughout Michigan

1,700+ Children Served in 2024

In 2024, MIRC continued to represent all unaccompanied children who come to Michigan in federal immigration custody. We also represent children who have been released from custody, as well as other children who may be eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS).

Last year, MIRC served 1,711 unaccompanied children, handling a total of 1,785 cases.

2024 Helpdesk Highlights

1,711 unaccompanied children served

1,785 cases handled for unaccompanied children

In 2021, we launched our Helpdesk program to assist unrepresented non-citizens in deportation proceedings.

In 2024, our Helpdesk team provided group information sessions to 2,500+ noncitizens in the court’s waiting room

Our team also assisted 1,800+ non-citizens individually, primarily with preparing applications and motions

Strengthening Protections for Asylum Seekers

Last year, we secured a remand in a precedential case that strengthens protections for asylum seekers fleeing family violence. This decision overturned a harmful prior precedent in the Sixth Circuit and will help future applicants with similar claims. The Sixth Circuit also addressed biased behavior by the immigration judge in the underlying proceeding.

Since the Helpdesk was launched in 2021, we have assisted 10,000+ unrepresented Michiganders

EXPANDING ACCESS:

Michigan Legal Help

Michigan Legal Help (MLH) collaborates with various legal and community organizations to enhance self-representation and navigate the court system effectively. Its mission is to educate the public about legal rights and responsibilities, and guide them to appropriate resources if legal assistance is needed.

MLH’s interactive, statewide legal information website continued to provide free, reliable resources to help Michiganders understand their rights and navigate the legal system. In 2024, MLHP:

Launched several new resources, including a new TypeForm tool that helps people determine if they can E-file based on their county and case type.

Introduced a pre-chat survey feature for the LiveHelp service to reduce dropped chats and collect data on visitors’ county and legal issue needs before they connect with a LiveHelp agent.

3.2 million pageviews and over 9.5 million Google Analytics 4 ‘events’ within the state of Michiganspecifically, the visitor engagement rate was 59% for the year 157,046 LHI and MLH-Forms interviews completed by users - an increase of over 20% from 2023

What’s Next Text

Completed in 2021, What’s Next Text allows visitors to the MLH website to opt into automated texting conversations that provide behavioral nudges and instructions as they work toward resolution of their legal cases. Since the launch of the program in 2021, 824 unique participants opted to use the program in 2024. Additionally, there was an overall satisfaction rating of 4.2, indicating a wellabove average score.

Presentations and Outreach

Self-Help Centers

In 2024, MLH provided training and technical assistance to more than 60 legal self-help sites across Michigan. MLH also continued its Remote Navigation Pilot Project. This program provides one-on-one navigator support to self-help center visitors in areas that do not currently have the resources to provide in-person staff support.

Last year, the majority of patrons indicated that their visit to the center helped them understand the next step in their legal issue. Furthermore, respondents self-reported that their visit to the center significantly increased their confidence.

Throughout the year, MLH staff gave various presentations and trainings to SHC navigator staff as well as other audiences, including:

Presentations to law students at Wayne State, MSU, and Detroit Mercy Self-Help Center navigator training for all new SHC’s opened this year Panels at the Legal Services Corporation

MSAS Budget

18,142,808

Thank you to our funders!

Asian Americans Advancing Justice

Acacia Center for Justice

Care Can’t Wait

Care for All with Respect and Equity Fund

City of Detroit

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

Detroit Disability Power

Equal Justice America

Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Immigrant Justice Corps

Kalamazoo Community Foundation

Kresge Foundation

MDHHS Michigan Health Link Ombudsman

MDHHS State Long Term Care Ombudsman

MDHHS MI Choice, CTS and PACE Ombudsman Program

MDHHS - Office of Race Equity & InclusionAdult Protective Services

Metro Health Foundation

Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness

Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS)

Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity

Michigan Health Endowment Fund

Michigan State Bar Foundation (MSBF)

Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA)

National Center for Farmworker Health

National Immigration Law Center

National Low-Income Housing Coalition

Protecting Immigrant Families Campaign

State Bar of Michigan

State Court Administrative Office

Steelcase Foundation

Stryker Johnston Foundation

Tri-County Office on Aging

United States Department of Justice - Office of Violence Against Women

University of Michigan Law School

W K Kellogg Foundation

Washtenaw County Wellwise

Thank you to our donors!

Aaron, Burton

Aaron, Burton

Allen, Claudia

Amin, Camron

Anderson, Elizabeth

Anderson, Linda and Charles

Aubin, Betty

Bach, Loren

Bakker, Anthony

Barrett, Garth

Barrett, Jason

Bean, Colleen

Beehr, Matt

Bejian, Mary

Berman, Elizabeth

Bogart, Pamela

Brinks, Winnie

Buckley, Mary Ann

Bui, Matthew

Bukoff, Cheryl

Burns, Chris

Callahan, Joan

Canvasser, Robyn

Carman, Jennifer

Carroll, Denice

Carty-Saxon, Wendy

Chandler, Alicia

Cisler, Aimee

Clingman, Mary B

D’Angelo, Julie

Dohm, Kathleen

Doyle, Kelly

Dupuis, Teresa

Dwyer, James

Easton, Katie

Edson, Debbie

Ellis, Scott

Farquhar, Susan

Finchum-Sung, Hilary

Flores, Kate

Fricke, Karl

Friedrich, Markus

Garboden, Mary

Garrett, Shannon

Gibson, Amanda

Gill, Dana Good, Larry Gorenflo, Louise

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Grinstein, Richard

Grzesiak, Katherine

Habarth, Teri

Hall, Susan Hochman, Marni

Hoeksema, Mary

Howley, Lyssa Ingall, Lisa

Jordan, Haley

Kabell, Caroline Kleinman, Jon Kraut, Ruth

Krauth, Laurie

Leising, Melinda

Leon-Soto, Maria

List-Leinberger, Krista

Loomis, Colleen

Lopez, Katie

Lozoff, Betsy

Marin, Diana

Mayor, Philip

McAree, Victoria

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Moll, Ellen

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Morrissey, Carole C.

Murphy, Lauren

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Putt, Gina

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Rogers, Julie

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Sawyer Lee, Marcia

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Schoon, Faith

Schork, Madeline

Seiler, Andy

Selimovic, Vanessa

Share, David

Shinn, Linda

Sitte, Elizabeth Slaughter, Betty

Slaughter, Stephany

Smith, Barbara

Sperber, Christina

Stallinga, Beth

Stillerman, Joel

Strickling, Bradley

Strom, Dolores

Strong, Anise

Suprapto, Wilson

Teholiz, Peter

Tobocman, Steve

Torres, Vanessa

Ulrich, Katie

Uriarte, Miren

Valle, Joseph

Van Eseltine, Kenneth

Van Peenan, Wendy and Ron

Van Arnam, Kristen

Vanderlaan, Robert

Vaughn, Beth Ann

Wachtel, Leslie

Weare, Jessica

Weller, Ann

Whitlock, Susan

Wierenga, Robert

Wiesner, Ian

Zaret, Barbara

Zumbach, Mark

Support our work

We are incredibly grateful to our donors whose generous gifts help us continue to provide access to justice to those who need it most. If you are not a member of the state bar of Michigan and are interested in supporting our work, please visit: https://www.michigansas.org/donate.html or scan the QR code below

MSAS participates in the Access to Justice (ATJ) Campaign, a collaborative centralized campaign, administered by the Michigan State Bar Foundation in partnership with the State Bar of Michigan. If you are a Michigan attorney and wish to make a charitable contribution, please donate at: e.michbar.org/Donations/ATJ?ID=ATJ. Or scan the QR code below. 100% of your donation will be distributed to support civil legal aid to the poor throughout Michigan.

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