Hayden left home at age 16. She lived in New York City, traveled the world, went to culinary school, raised a herd of goats (yes, goats) and even opened her own restaurant later down the line.   

But when the recession hit, she lost almost everything.  

Hayden was not alone in her experience of economic hardship. But as she struggled to keep the power on and put food on the table, it didn’t make her feel any better knowing she was just one of many people navigating the web of applications, complicated paperwork and labyrinth of proceedings it took just to get the benefits she needed completely on her own.  

Now, as a community justice worker who is trained to help people who fall on hard times to access the aid and rights they are legally entitled to, Hayden sees her job as prevention.   She knows that, by the time someone seeks an attorney, their situation has already escalated to a crisis. Hayden is able to jump in at the outset, when her clients simply don’t know where to start. Her clients are quick to admit the paperwork, language, and legal jargon are confusing, which creates barriers within the system before the process has even started.  

“I feel like a big part of my job is preventing someone from needing civil legal services. Being in a court room is scary. It is culturally embedded in us to fear the legal system. That’s where I come in.” 

In her role at Montana Legal Services, Hayden assists her clients in explaining what to expect in the legal process. Building relationships, having tough conversations, and setting realistic expectations are par for the course. Through her experience of losing benefits, she now educates others about the appeals process and how to advocate for yourself within the legal system.   

“I am giving my clients a face they can talk to. Most people call a number and speak with providers halfway around the world that they will never see. It’s amazing how much having someone to look at and speak with in person can help.” 

Hayden finds joy in empowering people with information about what she does and how they can do it. She believes a "let's do it together" approach is missing from the justice system that could transform many people's lives. Hayden has only been with her organization for less than a year, but she can see the financial impact on her client's lives – and that's important to her. When Hayden is able to help a family receive SNAP benefits it means more to her than most people, because she knows what it's like to not know where your next meal will come from.  

"The legal system needs to change and offer solutions that are not one-size-fits-all. What we do as community justice workers should not and does not diminish the work of attorneys. There is room to work alongside lawyers and for everyone at the table."