Legal Aid Struggling In Tight Economy

News On 6

TULSA, OK -- A service to help Oklahomans is also struggling in our economy.   Legal Aid already helps about 20,000 Oklahomans.  But, the group says on any given day, the need is actually twice that.

It helps people like Billy Jones who is losing his ability to write because of Lou Gehrig's disease. When he needed help getting the paper work in order so his wife can sign documents for him, an attorney with Legal Aid did it for free.  But now, the economy is taking a toll on donors who help keep the organization running.

"Almost 50% of our funding is from private sources.  And, those are being hit hard during this economic turbulence," said Gayla Machell with Legal Aid Service of Oklahoma.

Legal Aid expects the number of clients to keep growing as economic problems continue.