The Altus Area Advisory Board's quarterly meeting for Southwestern Oklahoma Development Authority (SWODA) is scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, at the office of Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma Inc. (LASO). SWODA provides information and assistance services for older people and their families and caregivers.

One of SWODA's providers is Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc. (LASO), a non-profit law firm that provides legal help for low income people and senior citizens in Jackson, Harmon, Kiowa, Greer, and Tillman counties. LASO does not charge fees for eligible clients. Eligibility is limited to low-income people and senior citizens. They provide legal assistance in non-criminal cases involving basic needs. Priority is given to the most urgent cases. These cases include: Social Security disability and SSI, TANF, Food Stamps and other DHS issues, Title 19/Medicare, veteran's benefits, eviction, landlord repairs, foreclosure, bankruptcy, garnishment, repossession, driver's license problems, public housing and Section 8, domestic violence, divorce, paternity, child support collection, child support modification, guardianship and adoption.

If you have a question about a legal matter or need representation in court or before an administrative agency, call the Altus Legal Aid office. Requests for legal assistance are taken every Tuesday by telephone after 9 a.m. The phone number is 580-482-7431 and 1-800-421-8016. They are located at 3000 N. Main St., Suite 500 in Altus and are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

LASO also provides legal advice and materials on a variety of issues to help individuals solve legal problems on their own. LASO attorneys and paralegals are available to speak to agencies and groups about legal issues. They also work with community groups serving low-income people. Please feel free to call and schedule a speaking engagement or for materials on a legal issue.