Local News

Self-Help Law Center receives funding for rent

Posted: Apr 1, 2010 5:02 PM by Angela Douglas
Updated: Apr 1, 2010 5:02 PM

BILLINGS - The Self-Help Law Center in Billings has a new home but they still need help paying rent.

Thursday the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Montana pitched in and presented the Self-Help Law Center with a check for nearly $3,700, an amount that will cover seven months of the center's rent at the Billings Parmly Library.

The Center recently moved out of their location in the Yellowstone County Courthouse into a new office at the library.

The Billings Municipal Court and Yellowstone County Commissioners agreed to cover rent through the completion of the courthouse remodeling project in November, after that the $3,693.69 the Center received Thursday will cover costs through June of 2011.

"We depend on the administration in Helena to handle those kinds of budget issues," explains SHLC Director, Pat Leikam. "I was not concerned because I know this community and if we went out there, they would assist us and that's what happened. So it's been great."

Yellowstone and Flathead counties are the only counties in the state with official Self-Help Law Centers.

Since 2008, the two Centers have provided assistance to nearly 9,000 customers.