LSC's FY 2010 Budget in Brief

Basic Field Grants

In a time of decreasing IOLTA, state, local and private funding, LSC funding is even more vital to help the most vulnerable people. Fifty-one million people, including nearly 18 million children, are eligible for LSC-funded services -- an increase of one million from 2006. With shrinking IOLTA funding and state budgets, LSC programs will be forced to lay off staff and reduce services -- putting eligible clients at greater risk of being denied vital services. LSC received its largest appropriation in 1995 at $400 million. Today, LSC's funding would have to be more than $550 million in order to have kept pace with inflation at the 1995 level.

Economic downturn and foreclosure crisis have increased number of people seeking legal services. With unemployment rates increasing and thousands losing their homes, LSC programs are besieged with requests for assistance that they are hard-pressed to meet.

The gap between those that need assistance and those that can be helped is growing. More than 50 percent of eligible clients requesting assistance from LSC programs were turned away for lack of adequate resources based on the 2005 Justice Gap Report. LSC will be updating the study in 2009. 

Technology Initiative Grants fund innovative technology projects that improve services to clients, enhance efficiency at LSC programs, and increase access to information.

Loan Repayment Assistance Program provides up to $5,600 a year for a total of $16,800 for three years to qualified legal aid lawyers. The program was created to help LSC programs recruit and retain civil legal aid attorneys.

Management and Grants Oversight represents less than 4 percent of LSC's total budget. As funding for the local programs increase, the Corporation requires more resources to ensure sufficient oversight of grantee compliance with laws and regulations and help programs deliver high-quality civil legal services.

Download LSC's Budget Request for fiscal year 2010.

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