IOTA grants expand legal aid reach in Collier County
Legal Aid Service of Collier County (LASCC), a division of Legal Aid Service of Broward County, assisted 521 Collier County clients with free legal services in 2025 through funding provided by Funding Florida Legal Aid (FFLA).
Services included assistance for individuals and families facing domestic violence, eviction, paternity issues, adult guardianship, housing and consumer law matters, and basic estate planning, as well as other civil legal issues for those unable to afford private counsel.
FFLA, a statewide 501(c)(3) public charity, funds legal services, develops innovative tools and programs, and supports legal aid providers and the courts. It works to expand access to justice through strategic grantmaking and investments in assessment, training, technology, and technical assistance.
FFLA awarded LASCC $1,487,978 for 2025 through an IOTA General Distribution grant. For 2026, LASCC received $2,237,184.31 in IOTA funding, which will allow the organization to expand services for eligible residents.
Including household members, the FFLA grant directly impacted more than 1,551 Collier County residents, with broader community benefits from services provided to individual clients.
“We are thankful to FFLA for the incredible support the IOTA grant has provided to our program and in turn to our clients and our community,” said Carol O’Callahgan, regional deputy executive director of Legal Aid Service of Collier County. “This funding has allowed us to serve hundreds of low-income seniors, families, and others who turn to us in times of crisis. It has helped to continue our mission to expand access to Justice for the most vulnerable residents of Collier County.”