In the basement of a Martinsville church parish house, the Virginia Legal Aid Society has re-opened a Martinsville Outreach Center.
It is to help people like Virginia Dillon and her husband with free legal advice. “We were lost until we found out that this place existed,” said Dillon.
The Martinsville branch of the VLAS closed a decade ago because of a lack of funding. However, a few weeks ago Christ Episcopal Church offered its basement as an office and is paying for electricity and internet.
Now, lawyer Hank Bostwick has a way to help people like the Dillon’s.
“One of the most pressing issues for the poor in regions like Martinsville and Henry County is access to justice,” he said.
He says many of his cases have to deal with people and their credit issues. “The last thing they’re thinking about during a recession is paying credit card debt.”
Before the Martinsville office opened, the closest VLAS office was in Danville.
Bostwick and the VLAS are waiting to hear back on a number of grant proposals to help with funding but he says having a center for people in southside is top priority.
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