COLUMBUS — Pisgah Legal Services provides free help to those in need in Polk County.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners heard from Pisgah Legal Service Staff Attorney Nickie Mitchell during its March meeting about what Pisgah provides.

Mitchell said part of what she does as a civil attorney includes landlord/tenant matters, end-of -life planning and homelessness prevention.

She said more than 2,900 Polk County residents in Polk County live in poverty, and Pisgah Legal Services offer services to residents that qualify.

Mitchell also discussed that the state has cut funding to services such as Pisgah, and asked commissioners to consider contributing, as other counties they serve do.

Pisgah Legal Services helps low-income people in western North Carolina, primarily in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, Polk, Rutherford and Transylvania counties.

In 2017, Pisgah Legal Services helped 287 low-income people in Polk County; helped 131 children avoid homelessness, escape abuse and secure essentials; helped 176 people to escape domestic violence; helped 39 people stabilize housing and prevent homelessness; donated 40 hours of attorney volunteers who closed 22 cases in Polk to help clients and secured $736,784 in total quantifiable benefits to Polk residents.

Pisgah Legal Services has an office in Rutherfordton. For more information, call the main line at 828-253-0406, the Rutherfordton office at 828-247-0297, visit the office at 169 N. Main St., Rutherfordton, or visit pisgahlegal.org.