This settlement, once approved by the court, will remove these mortgages from homeowners’ properties and deliver real relief.

Thank you to our partners who helped bring this to light: James Leonard, Commissioner of the Philadelphia Department of Records; the Mayor’s Office of Community Empowerment & Opportunity; Councilmember Jamie Gauthier; and Ira Goldstein of the Reinvestment Fund.

CLS worked with homeowners who were promised small cash payments if they used MV Realty if they chose to sell their home—but were instead tricked into signing mortgages that required them to pay MV Realty thousands of dollars for any transfer of their home over the next 40 years.

Attorney General Sunday Secures Settlement with MV Realty over Misleading Homeowner Benefit Program; Company to Terminate All Pennsylvania Mortgages HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced a settlement resolving ongoing litigation against Florida-based MV Realty PBC, LLC (doing business as MV Realty of Pennsylvania, LLC) and Amanda Zac...

We’re grateful to the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General for holding MV Realty accountable and putting an end to a predatory home-equity stripping scheme that targeted low-income homeowners. www.attorneygeneral.gov/taking-actio...

Visit our website for more Federal Student Loan resources and how to get in touch with us to see if we can help. clsphila.org/highlights/f...

To learn more about what repayment plan might be most affordable to you, visit the Federal Student Aid loan simulator: studentaid.gov/loan-simulat...

Or the EDCAP loan repayment calculator: www.edcapny.org/resources-fo...

Loan servicers are set to start sending out notices on July 1. After receiving this notice, you will have 90 days to switch to a new repayment plan. Otherwise, you will automatically be put on the Standard Repayment Plan, which is often significantly more expensive than other repayment options.

If you have Federal Student Loans and enrolled in the SAVE repayment plan, starting July 1, 2026, you will have about 90 days to switch to a different repayment plan, or you will be automatically placed in standard repayment. share.inquirer.com/XAahi1

Biden-era SAVE student loan repayment plan has officially ended. Here’s what you need to know.

Switch repayment plans or you’ll automatically be enrolled in one.

CLS Is Open for Live Legal Help! Get help from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia in person or on the phone

If you need help with federal student loans, call 215-981-3700 or visit clsphila.org/help for more info and how to get in touch to see if we can help.

The Department of Education has strongly urged borrowers to submit their consolidation application by April 1 to ensure the consolidation is complete by the July 1 deadline, so if you have not taken action yet, you should do so as soon as possible.

New rules for parents who borrowed student loans on behalf of their children There’s a deadline approaching that can impact parents who borrowed student loans on behalf of their children. NBC10’s Lauren Mayk explain the changes in repayment options.

If you have any Parent PLUS loans, you must consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan before July 1, otherwise you will lose your right to income-drive repayment & payments as low as $0 per month. CLS Attorney Tamar Hoffman spoke with NBC10 www.nbcphiladelphia.com/video/news/n...

Thank you social workers ❤️ #WorldSocialWorkDay

If You Have Federal Student Loans: Take Action Now to Protect Your Income and Your Rights! Federal student loans are changing. If you have federal loans for yourself or for your child's education, here are updates you need to know.

For more information and to learn how to get in touch with us to see if we can help, visit: clsphila.org/highlights/f...

4) If you are in default, the government could soon start to take money out of your paycheck or take your tax refund. Take steps now to get out of default.

If You Have Federal Student Loans: Take Action Now to Protect Your Income and Your Rights 3) The SAVE plan is ending. If you have federal student loans that are enrolled in the SAVE plan, you should consider applying for a different income-driven repayment plan to keep your student loan payments as manageable as possible.

3) The SAVE plan is ending. If you have federal student loans that are enrolled in the SAVE plan, you should consider applying for a different income-driven repayment plan to keep your student loan payments as manageable as possible.

If You Have Federal Student Loans: Take Action Now to Protect Your Income and Your Rights 2) If you have any existing student loans, you could lose your rights to certain kinds of income-driven repayment and payments as low as $0 if you take out any new loans after July 1, 2026.

2) If you have any existing student loans, you could lose your rights to certain kinds of income-driven repayment and payments as low as $0 if you take out any new loans after July 1, 2026.

If You Have Federal Student Loans: Take Action Now to Protect Your Income and Your Rights 1) If you have any Parent PLUS loans, you must make sure that they are consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan before July 1, 2026. Otherwise, you will lose your right to income-driven repayment and payments as low as $0 per month.

1) If you have any Parent PLUS loans, you must make sure that they are consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan before July 1, 2026. Otherwise, you will lose your right to income-driven repayment and payments as low as $0 per month.

If You Have Federal Student Loans: Take Action Now to Protect Your Income and Your Rights Federal student loans are changing. If you have federal student loans that you took out for yourself or for your child's education, here are four updates you need to know.

If you have federal student loans: Take action now to protect your income and your rights!

Federal student loans are changing. If you have federal student loans that you took out for yourself or for your child's education, here are four updates you need to know. ⬇️

Abraham Reyes Pardo of the Urban Affairs Coalition, CLS Client Eunique Carr, CLS Attorney Rachel Gallegos, and CLS Attorney Anna Brickman

CLS Executive Director Debby Freedman, CLS Client Eunique Carr, PA Senator Vincent Hughes, CLS Attorney Rachel Gallegos, and CLS Attorney Anna Brickman

The plan also includes an easier process for passing down homes, helping prevent tangled titles, which threaten generational wealth and can cause Pennsylvanians to lose their family homes when a loved one dies. www.inquirer.com/politics/pen...

Governor Josh Shapiro speaking at a podium that says "Building More Affordable Housing, Philadelphia, PA" on the front

We were honored to attend the unveiling of Governor Josh Shapiro’s Housing Action Plan, which aims to help increase access to housing for more Pennsylvanians through supports and protections including eviction prevention measures and eviction record sealing for people who were never legally evicted.

Thank you to our clients, staff, partners, supporters, donors, and friends for working with us to make justice possible since 1966!

Together, we will look ahead as we continue to fight poverty, challenge systems of injustice, and serve our communities through expert community education and legal representation.

2026 marks a big milestone for Philadelphia… Community Legal Services' 60th anniversary!

All year long we’ll be reflecting on the last 60 years of increasing access to justice and celebrating the exceptional legal work from our staff and alumni.

Sharon Dietrich standing amongst a crowd of people outside, smiling into the camera.

She has been an incredible mentor for legal services leaders at CLS, in Philadelphia, and across the country. We are so grateful to have worked alongside her for all these years.

Thank you, Sharon, and congratulations on your retirement!

Hanger with Carr and Dietrich

For 38 years at CLS, Sharon has been breaking down doors with her legal work. She is also warm and hilarious, always making time to bond with colleagues and friends, especially at Phillies games!

Sharon Dietrich standing at a podium, holding an award in front of a room full of people. The banner behind her reads "Because Freedom Can't Protect Itself. American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania"

Amidst all of her systemic advocacy, Sharon also set the standard for excellent individual legal representation, fiercely dedicating herself to her clients. She has ensured that they have had opportunities to be advocates for themselves and that they are part of CLS’s advocacy efforts.

She also led CLS’s work on unemployment benefits, including crucial work during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring our clients had access to essential income during such tumultuous, uncertain times.

Sharon Dietrich with PA Rep Jordan Harris and a speaker at a Clean slate conference

Sharon envisioned, championed, and tirelessly advocated for Clean Slate legislation, which provides for automatic sealing of old criminal records so that people can access jobs, education, and other opportunities.

Ginzberg and Dietrich

During her time at CLS, she created an entirely new area of practice, challenging employers’ use of criminal records in hiring and challenging lifetime bans on employment, including successfully in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.