Neighborhood Legal Services Association no longer has a presence on Butler’s Main Street.

But managing attorney Michelle DeBord said the nonprofit organization still has a healthy presence in Butler County courtrooms, practically daily.

The organization provides legal representation for poor people in legal matters concerning basic life needs: shelter, income, food, utilities, health care and personal safety. The most utilized service is landlord-tenant disputes.

NLSA serves Butler, Beaver, Lawrence and Allegheny counties.

It had an office in each county until 2012, when cuts had to be made for financial reasons.

“Not because of fewer cases,” DeBord said. “Funding has not kept up with our needs.”

The location in the Hollypointe Building, the only site in this county, was closed and has remained closed.

But DeBord said NLSA attorneys meet with clients in Butler or in the courtroom about three days per workweek. They meet in the court house or at CareerLink.

In fiscal year 2013-14, NLSA handled 9,439 cases, helping 19,798 individuals and their family members. Of them, 344 cases were for Butler County residents.

For the most part in Butler County, Victim Outreach Intervention Center handles legal representation for protection from abuse matters. Recently, that organization lost a $200,000 grant that pays for its legal program. Officials there say they’re trying to find different funding sources before the fiscal year ends this summer.

Meantime, DeBord wants to stress to people that NLSA still is an option for some legal needs. For information, call toll-free 866-761-6572.