The Peoria-office of Prairie State Legal Services held its annual luncheon to highlight this year’s fundraising efforts. The campaign raises money each year to provide free legal service to low-income residents in the region. Jeff Hamaker is with Prairie State Legal Services. He says about half Central and Western Illinois residents living below the poverty line have civil legal needs:
“Those people would be turning to Prairie State Legal Services, so because there’s such an overwhelming need we tend to focus on urgent basic human needs, things like shelter and health and safety that sort of thing,” Hamaker says.
Hamaker says the non-profit law firm is halfway towards its $120,000 annual goal to pay for pro bono legal services. The region is served by seven Prairie State Staff attorneys and additional attorney volunteers.