Bay Area Legal Services receives $250,000 Housing Grant from TD Charitable Foundation

Funding will support Bay Area Legal Services in expanding access to legal assistance for housing stability.

TAMPA, FL, APRIL 21, 2026 – Bay Area Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm providing free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals and families, was recently awarded a $250,000 Housing for Everyone grant from the TD Charitable Foundation, the giving arm of TD Bank U.S.

Bay Area Legal Services is one of only 40 nonprofit organizations across TD’s national footprint to receive funding through the 20th annual Housing for Everyone grant program, which supports solutions that foster early intervention, advance housing stability and decisively address housing challenges for renters in low- to moderate-income communities. Being chosen among organizations nationwide reflects the critical role legal services play in preventing housing crises and protecting vulnerable renters.

Housing instability remains a critical issue for individuals and families nationwide, driven by rising living costs, financial hardship, and challenges navigating housing systems. In recognition of the program’s 20th anniversary and its longstanding commitment to housing affordability, the TD Charitable Foundation awarded $10 million in total grants in 2026, its largest Housing for Everyone investment to date, to support organizations focused on preventing eviction and promoting long-term housing stability,

This year’s Housing for Everyone grantees were selected for their proactive approaches to eviction prevention and housing stabilization, which help individuals and families remain housed, reduce financial stress, and strengthen communities.

Through this grant, Bay Area Legal Services will expand access to legal assistance for individuals and families facing eviction or foreclosure across the greater Tampa Bay area, building on its work serving 4,890 households in 2025.

“In more than 30 years as a housing attorney providing free legal services to low-income families, nothing in my experience has brought more hope to tenants than access to reliable rental assistance,” said Tom DiFiore, Managing Attorney of the Housing Unit at Bay Area Legal Services. “The Housing for Everyone program is a game changer, allowing us to support vulnerable tenants and their families in achieving safe, stable housing. We’re honored to be selected as a grant recipient in this milestone year.” 

“For many renters, access to legal support can be the deciding factor in whether they are able to remain in their home,” said Paige Carlson-Heim, Head of Social Impact at TD and Director of TD Charitable Foundation. “Organizations like Bay Area Legal Services play a critical role in helping renters understand their rights, navigate complex legal processes, and access the resources available to them before eviction becomes a crisis. Through the Housing for Everyone grant program, we’re proud to support Bay Area Legal Services improved access to trusted legal assistance that promotes housing stability.”

As it celebrates 20 years of collaboration with frontline nonprofits in housing affordability, the TD Charitable Foundation's Housing for Everyone grant program highlights TD’s enduring dedication to building stronger communities through stable, affordable housing. Since its inception in 2005, the program has invested over $73 million, supporting more than 675 affordable housing projects from Maine to Florida. Discover more about the Housing for Everyone grant program here.

About Bay Area Legal Services

Bay Area Legal Services is a nonprofit law firm providing free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals and families across the Tampa Bay region and beyond. Since 1967, we have worked to protect vulnerable communities, including veterans, seniors, domestic violence survivors, families facing housing instability, and more. We operate three statewide legal helplines in Florida, expanding access to justice for those who cannot afford private counsel. Learn more at bals.org.

About the TD Charitable Foundation

The TD Charitable Foundation is the giving arm of TD Bank U.S. TD Bank US Holding Company and its subsidiaries, including TD Bank, N.A., are collectively known as TD Bank U.S. As the U.S. banking business of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX and NYSE: TD), a leading North American financial services firm, TD Bank U.S. serves more than 10 million clients and has a network of approximately 1,050 locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Carolinas and Florida. We support our clients and communities with a full range of retail, small business, commercial banking products and services, and more. Since its inception in 2002, the Foundation has distributed over $386 million through donations to local nonprofits from Maine to Florida. More information on the TD Charitable Foundation is available here.