Colorado Legal Services (CLS) is a non-profit law firm whose mission is to provide meaningful access to high quality, civil legal services in the pursuit of justice for low-income persons and members of vulnerable populations throughout Colorado. There is no charge for our services. However, clients must meet financial eligibility restrictions which are based on federal poverty guidelines. Generally, clients must be below 125% of the federal poverty level, with income waivable up to 200% in certain circumstances. There is no income restriction for seniors 60 and over, but seniors must lack assets necessary to obtain legal assistance.
The Denver CLS office provides legal services throughout the metropolitan area and houses a few special projects that serve the entire state. The substantive legal units include units handling Housing Rights, Consumer Rights, Family and Children’s Services, Health and Elder Law, the Migrant Farm Worker Unit, the Litigation Support Unit, and the Colorado ID Project.
Through the Colorado Collaborative ID Project, CLS provides community education, technical support and staff trainings for other nonprofits. CLS also assists individual clients who are income eligible and who require representation in complex ID cases. This representation may include administrative appeals and hearings before the Department of Revenue (Department of Motor Vehicles), filing legal name change petitions, and obtaining delayed registrations of birth. The ID Project may also assist in complex cases in which there are a number of barriers to obtaining a Colorado ID, birth certificate, or essential immigration documents. In some instances CLS may co-counsel an ID case with other service providers.
As Denver’s frontline anti-hunger organization, Metro Caring builds equity by nourishing neighbors, providing tools to thrive and fostering community. Metro Caring uses a holistic approach to meet people’s immediate need for nutritious food while also sustainably addressing the root causes of hunger and poverty. Metro Caring offers innovative programming in Healthy Foods Access, Nutrition Education and Cooking Classes, ID Procurement and Utilities Assistance, and Seeds for Success job-readiness coaching and training.
Metro Caring provides ID, driver license and birth certificate vouchers at no cost to participants. Vouchers are redeemable at Denver Vital Records, Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment and participating DMV locations. Metro Caring is able to handle in-state ID, driver license and birth certificate requests (Mondays: 9:30AM-3PM and Tuesday nights 6-8PM).
Metro Caring also provides assistance obtaining out-of-state birth certificates. Call 720-343-8466 on Tuesdays at 12:00 pm (noon). Leave message with name, phone number, state of birth and best time to return call to set appointment. Funds are limited, if you do not receive a call back, try again the following week.
See here for more information about the many services offered by Metro Caring y en Español.
Colorado ID Project 