CDEL March 2018 Newsletter

Your March 2018 CDEL Newsletter

In this month's newsletter, you will find a recap of the successful 2018 Winter Benefit, a volunteer opportunity with our Senior Tax Opportunity Program, our latest success story, the announcement of the our Mental Health Pro Bono Help Desk, a recap of the recent Guardianship Help Desk field trip, and an easy way to support CDEL financially through Amazon Smile.

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2018 Winter Benefit - Light Up the Loop

On February 28, 2018 more than 240 supporters gathered at Baker McKenzie for CDEL’s Winter Benefit Light Up the Loop. We thank all of our sponsors and attendees for making 2018 one of our most successful years to date, raising over $150,000 to support our programs. CDEL would again like to congratulate our award winners:

Impact Award: Congresswoman Robin Kelly

Corporate Award: BMO Financial Group

Volunteer of the Year Award: Mary Ann Manley

Impact Award: Congresswoman Robin Kelly

Corporate Award:

BMO Financial Group

Volunteer of the Year Award:

Mary Ann Manley

Our Latest Success Story

Elma came to a CDEL Senior Legal Assistance Clinic because she was having trouble with her mortgage servicer. Two years earlier, Elma’s mortgage was transferred to a new servicer. She had never had an escrow for her taxes and insurance before, but during the transfer an escrow was incorrectly added to her account. Even though Elma promptly notified the servicer of the error, and continued to make her regular payments, she incurred late fees and incorrect additional charges that accumulated. Elma tried to correct this error on her own but was not successful.

CDEL accepted the file and reached out to the servicer only to receive a generic response that did not correct the error in billing. During CDEL’s correspondence with the servicer, the servicer changed names and again incorrectly imposed an escrow for taxes and insurance. CDEL filed another objection and subsequently was successful in having over $2000 in improper late fees waived. Elma’s account finally reflects, almost three years later from the original change in servicer, the correct monthly payment without any late fees. Elma no longer has to fear that foreclosure proceedings will be initiated due to the mortgage servicer’s own errors.

STOP Volunteer Opportunity

Join CDEL on Wednesday, April 11th at 2 pm to volunteer for our annual Senior Tax Opportunity Program (STOP). Every year CDEL receives a list of senior homeowners who are at risk of having their taxes sold at the annual Cook County Tax Sale set to begin on May 4, 2018. This year over 600 seniors are on the list and CDEL will contact every one of them to educate them about their options, and provide instruction about how to obtain available exemptions to lower their tax burden.

On April 11th, CDEL will train volunteers from 2-3pm on how the tax sale works and available exemptions. Then, from 3-5pm volunteers will make calls to seniors and provide information over the phone. This volunteer opportunity is appropriate for attorneys, paralegals and students. One hour of CLE credit will be provided for Illinois attorneys. Please RSVP by emailing cle@cdelaw.org with your name, email address and ARDC number (if applicable) and writing "STOP" in the subject line. The training will be in our office at 205 West Randolph, Suite 1610. We will provide pizza at 5pm to express our appreciation for your help with this important project. The training will be in our office at 205 West Randolph, Suite 1610.

Mental Health Pro Bono Help Desk to Launch in May

In partnership with the Chicago Bar Foundation and the County Division of the Cook County Courts, CDEL will launch a Mental Health Pro Bono Help Desk in May. This pilot program will connect people whose loved ones are experiencing a mental health crisis with a volunteer attorney to provide legal information about options ranging from guardianships to involuntary inpatient commitments. In addition we will provide appropriate referrals to legal and social service providers to help families find the best mental health resources.

Attorneys interested in volunteering for this new program should attend the April 9 CBA training, Empowering Families Affected by Mental Illness through Illinois Civil Law. Attendees will receive three hours of Professional Responsibility CLE credit. More information is available on the CBF website.

CDEL Assists Families with Special Needs Children in Filing for Guardianship

This month the Guardianship Help Desk went into the community to conduct a workshop with a special education cooperative in the south suburbs. Every year the ECHO Joint Agreement, a special education cooperative, rents a bus and transports families seeking guardianship over their children to the Daley Center to file petitions for guardianship, and a month later provides transportation to go to the hearing. This year, CDEL staff visited the school to give a presentation on guardianship, and to assist parents in preparing the forms prior to arriving at Daley. With over 13 families in attendance it was the biggest turnout of parents seeking information on guardianship, and should facilitate an efficient trip the courthouse to file the guardianship petition.

Amazon Smile: A Convenient Way to Contribute

Looking for an easy way to support CDEL? Use our Amazon Smile account! Any time you shop with Amazon start at https://smile.amazon.com and then select CDEL. CDEL will receive a portion of your purchase each time you use the link. It’s that easy!