December 2025
For years, Bill faithfully paid rent at the same apartment he called home. Change in ownership brought rising rent and unlawful eviction attempts, putting his housing at risk. Thanks to the swift action of the Legal Aid Society of Story County, Bill avoided two wrongful evictions on his record and was able to move forward in his search for a home with safety and dignity. “Just [a few] extra days can make the difference between homeless or not,” says Executive Director Peggy Michelotti.
Purpose drives the daily work of Legal Aid of Story County, where attorneys strike an inspiring balance of energy, thoughtfulness, and professionalism while meeting the diverse needs of community members. Michelotti and staff attorneys Josh Opperman and Bethany Miller closely monitor ever-changing opportunities to serve. Today, much of Legal Aid's casework actively prevents homelessness, putting a legal check on landlord-tenant relationships like Bill’s to prevent evictions. Their work demonstrates the systematic impact that accessible legal services have on the security of Story County residents.
Providing accessible legal support early, Legal Aid serves as an “urgent care” provider for individuals and families in financial crisis, before they find themself in an “emergency room” situation, such as homelessness, where they need the services of a shelter. Whether someone has an attorney plays a large role in the outcome of the case. “The rules play into really disadvantaging people that don’t have an attorney,” Michelotti says.
By supporting the civil legal needs of Story County residents living below 150% of the poverty line, Legal Aid helps keep crises from completely upending their lives, playing a critical role in advancing collective well-being and financial empowerment for some of the most vulnerable in our community. Of the 233 clients served last year, 17% improved their financial situation and 100% of survey respondents reported improved quality of life after receiving services.
This work complements the efforts of other human service organizations, ensuring people can remain housed, employed, and secure. “We’re an amplifier of those services because we create efficiencies and lessen the strain on all the support structures," says Opperman. "People are only in those support structures when they really need them.”
Michelotti views her role as caring for every aspect of her clients’ needs, no matter the case. Because Legal Aid provides free services, attorneys are able to extend sessions as long as needed, offering deeper, more responsive support without the limitations of billing or fees. Sometimes, the biggest success in a case is more than a favorable ruling, it's a client’s increased confidence as they work through emotions, face the facts of the case, and come out on the other side knowing that they are heard.