In 2014, Kathy Ismar’s life took a drastic turn when her husband left her, taking their dog and leaving behind a web of unpaid bills that had led to the foreclosure of their home.
“I was in a very abusive marriage for quite some time… and unbeknownst to me, he let the house go in foreclosure,” said Ismar, 66, a resident of Franklin Park.
Her emotional state deteriorated as she cried every day, feeling that this outcome was part of her husband’s plan to make her lose everything.
In a desperate attempt to reclaim her life, Ismar filed an order of protection against her ex-husband, but she lacked the funds to hire a lawyer.
Determined not to be left to fend for herself, she sought assistance from Legal Aid Chicago.
Within a week, the nonprofit organization accepted her case, and Ismar recalls bursting into tears with relief.
Organizations like Legal Aid Chicago are critical to individuals like Ismar, providing free legal help to those who cannot afford it.
However, these organizations are facing significant threats to their funding due to President Donald Trump’s recent budget proposal.
The proposal introduced last month aims to eliminate the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), the country’s largest funder of civil legal aid, which supports 130 legal aid providers and more than 900 offices across the United States, including the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.
LSC’s funding serves over five million low-income Americans each year.
In Illinois alone, LSC contributes approximately $18 million to three legal aid organizations: Legal Aid Chicago, Prairie State Legal Services, and Land of Lincoln Legal Aid.
According to Katherine Shank, Executive Director of Legal Aid Chicago, “LSC funding is foundational. It’s the core that allows us to leverage other grants and keep our doors open.
Without it, the entire legal aid ecosystem in Illinois would be at risk.”
In just the past year, Legal Aid Chicago has provided services to over 10,500 people, a number that likely doesn’t account for the families benefitting indirectly—meaning the total impact could be well over 20,000 annually.
With potential cuts to LSC’s funding, Legal Aid Chicago anticipates having to turn away more than 3,000 individuals each year who may desperately need assistance.
Legal aid organizations play a crucial role in supporting a range of vulnerable populations, including survivors of domestic violence, veterans, seniors, children, and those affected by disasters.
They provide free legal assistance in non-criminal cases, a service that many people do not realize is essential as there is no guaranteed right to a lawyer in civil cases.
As Shank noted, “If you’re facing eviction or domestic violence, you’re on your own unless legal aid can help.”
The ramifications of LSC’s funding cuts extend far beyond the organizations themselves.
“Legal aid is the difference between safety and danger, between having a roof over your head or being homeless, between health and illness for millions of Americans,” said Ronald Flagg, president of the Legal Services Corporation.
Currently, individuals with a household income at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines qualify for LSC-funded assistance, which encompasses 60% of the American population.
Despite the vast need, Flagg indicated that LSC-funded groups still have to turn away about half of those seeking help due to limited resources.
“We’re only able to help about half the people who come to us for help. The other half we have to turn away—not because their problems aren’t serious but because we just don’t have the resources,” Flagg explained.
In response to these concerns, a bipartisan board, many of whom were appointed during Trump’s first presidency, recommended increasing LSC’s budget from $560 million to $2.1 billion for the fiscal year 2026, which begins in October.
However, the White House has proposed providing only $21 million to facilitate an orderly shutdown of LSC in 2026.
Shank emphasized the critical role LSC funding plays, as it constitutes 30% of Legal Aid Chicago’s budget.
This funding not only supports their direct services but also allows them to provide crucial assistance to other overwhelmed legal aid organizations in Illinois that do not receive LSC funding.
Legal Aid Chicago concentrates predominantly on issues related to domestic violence representation, housing instability, and public assistance programs like food stamps and disability benefits.
Shank expressed that, for many clients, legal aid serves as the only means of accessing justice.
“Without us, they’re simply left to navigate a complex legal system alone,” she said.
Thanks to the dedicated lawyers at Legal Aid Chicago, Kathy Ismar was able to save her home from foreclosure, secure a divorce, and extend her order of protection.
Her ex-husband even contributed half of the overdue bills and a maintenance payment.
“I didn’t have to worry about coming in [my home] and walking on eggshells, which I did all the time when I was married,” Ismar reflected.
“They saved me. They saved my life. They saved my house. They saved my self-esteem.”
Today, Ismar claims to be a “happy person,” attributing her newfound joy to the support she received from Legal Aid Chicago.
Flagg and Shank are increasingly concerned about a future where many might go without the vital help that Ismar received.
The repercussions of cutting LSC’s funding will affect countless everyday Americans rather than the political realm in Washington, D.C.
If LSC were to close, legal aid providers would face staff reductions, service limitations, and office closures, which would have a monumental impact on accessibility to justice.
As the current budget is set to expire on September 30, there remains hope that funding will continue.
“People do need help. And people do get to the end of their ropes with things, and sometimes you feel there’s no way out. I know the importance of what they do for people,” Ismar added.
image source from：chicago
