Legal support remains vital for Coloradans who are most in need
July 14, 2025 (DENVER) – Colorado Legal Services, Colorado’s statewide legal aid nonprofit, opened 5,516 cases for low-income Coloradans and seniors in the first half of 2025.
In June alone, the organization opened 409 cases for people with disabilities, 323 cases for survivors of domestic violence, 202 cases for seniors, and 48 for veterans.
In the first half of 2025, staff also conducted more than 200 outreach events and presentations, further connecting with community members and partners.
“Staff at our offices throughout the state are dedicated to helping our hardworking Colorado neighbors fight for justice and navigate a complicated, time-consuming court system,” said Matt Baca, Colorado Legal Services executive director. “The importance of legal services when confronting debt collectors over medical expenses that were incorrectly charged in the first place, or when trying to navigate divorce from an abuser, or so many more challenging situations can’t be overstated.”
While not every case that is opened will be closed by the end of the year, opened cases provide a snapshot of the number of Coloradans living below 125% of the federal poverty line (with some exceptions allowing Colorado Legal Services to help people living at up to 200% of the federal poverty level) and seniors seeking help for various issues. In 2024, according to its recently released annual report, Colorado Legal Services closed more than 8,000 cases.
The top issues people sought help with included housing law (2,207), family law (1,294), and consumer law (725). Housing matters include defending against evictions; negotiating rent payment agreements with landlords to help people stay in their homes; helping tenants learn their rights regarding security deposits and conditions impacting the habitability of their homes; and directing clients to rental assistance and community resources. Family law matters include representation of domestic violence survivors in divorce, custody, and protection order matters. Consumer law includes things like helping people defend against illegal debt collection, prevent foreclosure, and navigate bankruptcy.
The following is a snapshot of the first half of 2025:
January:
- Total opened cases: 912
- Top three categories: Housing (366), family law (220), and consumer (118)
February:
- Total opened cases: 877
- Top three categories: Housing (356), family law (204), and consumer (107)
March:
- Total opened cases: 935
- Top three categories: housing (372), family law (233), and consumer (108)
April:
- Total opened cases: 981
- Top three categories: housing (365), family law (223), and consumer (150)
May:
- Total opened cases: 939
- Top three categories: housing (381), family law (211), and consumer (135)
June:
- Total opened cases: 856
- Top three categories: housing (363), family law (195), and consumer (109)
About us
Colorado Legal Services is Colorado’s statewide nonprofit legal aid program providing civil legal assistance—which does not include criminal or traffic matters—to low-income individuals and older Coloradans throughout the state. Its 13 offices provide free legal assistance in a broad variety of legal areas, including eviction defense, consumer protection, services to survivors of serious crime, representation for domestic violence survivors, and many others.
About 1 in 8 Coloradans qualify financially for CLS’s services. CLS’s current staff of 89 attorneys and 56 paralegals is supplemented by a robust private attorney involvement program. Learn more at www.coloradolegalservices.org.
You can support Colorado Legal Services by donating to the Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado at www.legalaidfoundation.org/donate or 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 701 Denver, Colorado 80203.
