Causes: Crime & Law, Domestic Violence, Homeless & Housing, Housing Support, Legal Services, Protection Against Abuse

Mission: To provide civil legal services for economically disadvantaged persons in the appalachian mountains of western north carolina. Pisgah legal services has expanded services by establishing highly visible offices in county seats of five of the six primary appalachian counties it serves: asheville, brevard, hendersonville, marshall, and rutherfordton. The organization staffs family justice centers to stop abuse in asheville and hendersonville. The organization tracked 21 million in quantifiable benefits secured for its clients in 2017, although many legal outcomes cannot be valued in dollars, such as escaping from domestic violence or homelessness. More than 15,750 people were served at no charge. The organization leveraged 13,880 volunteer hours in 2017.

Programs: - domestic violence and child abuse prevention services: in 2017, the organization provided free legal advice and representation to help more than 6,100 victims of domestic violence and their children escape abuse and rebuild their lives. Staff and volunteer attorneys help victims secure court protective orders to improve their safety, and also address barriers to independence, such as child custody, division of marital property, housing problems, income, and consumer protection so that victims can establish a new live s apart from their abusers. The organization also collaborates with domestic violence shelters, law enforcement, and other community partners to reduce domestic violence in area communities and to improve services for victims. 40% of the organization's closed cases were for domestic violence survivors.

- health education and legal support: a partnership with mission hospitals and the mountain area health education center, which integrates legal aid with health care to improve health for low-income people. The program also includes affordable care act assistance provided to help people understand and purchase affordable health insurance in six counties of western north carolina. This education occurred through the media and lengthy one-on-one navigator sessions.

- disability assistance: helps individuals with disabilities access medical care and subsistence income and live with dignity. Clients are usually homeless or at imminent danger of becoming homeless.

- homelessness prevention: prevents families and individuals from losing their homes to eviction or foreclosure. Secures decent, affordable, and stable housing. 20% of cases closed in 2017 presented as housing issues. 2017 expenditures: 272,920 - elder law: helps seniors live independently in their homes as long as possible. Protects seniors from financial or physical abuse or harassment. Assists with end-of-life planning. 2017 expenditures: 216,346 - children's law project: helps disadvantaged children avoid homelessness, access essential services such as medical care and public eduction, and escape situation of abuse. 2017 expenditures: 149,488 (more than 6,000 children were served in all programs. ) - legal services to the poor: helps low-income individuals address consumer protection issues, income shortfalls, and manage their limited resources. 2017 expenditures: 451,002 - justice for all project: helps eligible immigrants comply with technical requirements to work legally. Addresses other basic needs so that immigrants may lift themselves and their families out of poverty. This program serves 17 of the westernmost counties of north carolina. Some immigrants are served in other programs, especially domestic violence prevention. 2017 expenditures: 204,878 - volunteer lawyers/hotline: recruits and trains a network of volunteer lawyers to provide pro bono legal services to the organization's clients. 2017 expenditures: 110,749 (not including 794,083 donated attorney professional time)