20 Oct Legal Services of North Florida, Inc.

Posted at 09:50h in 2025, Family, Legal Services of North Florida, Inc., Nonprofit by

Legal services of north florida, inc.

Equal Access Express

Grant Year: 2025 | Focus Area: Family| Grant Amount: $103,500 Grant Status: In progress

Legal Services of North Florida (LSNF) is a not-for-profit law firm providing legal services which include family law, housing, consumer issues, and access to health care and/or government benefits. Their mission is to advocate for improved quality of life through high-caliber civil legal assistance for those unable to otherwise access such services. These legal services are provided at no cost to low-income and vulnerable individuals and families with 71% of cases involving women and children. They do not turn anyone in need away and they do not have a wait list. LSNF works directly with community partners and the courts to identify prevalent legal issues impacting these communities and then works to obtain resources through grants and community fundraising to help address these problems. LSNF also participates in the Homelessness Reduction Task Force. Founded in 1976 as a single office in Tallahassee, the firm has since grown to five sites across the Florida Panhandle. LSNF’s Pensacola office opened in 2004 with one attorney and has since grown to a total of thirteen staff members, including five attorneys.

OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT

Legal Services of North Florida seeks to increase access to free critical legal services for those who may not know it exists, and for those that may not have physical access to it. Clients that experience significant challenges and life-changing events commonly also struggle with a lack of stable housing or transportation. By creating a mobile legal services unit, LSNF staff will meet clients where they are. The “Equal Access Express,” a new transit van equipped for accessibility and on-site service delivery, will travel to reach those living in rural areas or with limited transportation or mobility. IMPACT 100 funds will be used to purchase a 2025 full-size SmartFloor Transit Van equipped with a wheelchair lift, rotating captain chairs, removable table and seating, a mounted monitor and printer, LED lighting, Wi-Fi hotspot, power inverter, retractable awning, and full LSNF/IMPACT 100 branding. LSNF has an RV which currently serves 30-50 clients per day parked in Ft. Walton Beach. The RV is shared across all Panhandle counties. The requested transit van will be parked at the Pensacola office and will only be used in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. 

EXPECTED IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY

In 2024, LSNF handled 2,445 cases in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, with assistance ranging from full representation to limited services, advice and counsel. By maintaining a consistent presence through the Equal Access Express, LSNF will grow recognition as a reliable, approachable, and solution-driven resource for more of these residents. When people regularly see them, they will be more likely to seek help when they need it most. This project will allow LSNF to truly meet people where they are, both physically and in their moments of greatest need. LSNF's goals are 1) to create, build, and market the Equal Access Express; 2) to provide legal education to at least 200 individuals in the first year of operation; 3) to provide direct legal assistance to 60 individuals in the first year of operation; 4) and to increase partnerships throughout the area as they identify places to deploy the vehicle. The flexibility to deliver services with the Equal Access Express will allow LSNF to proactively bridge the gap between need and access. 

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