FORT WORTH - In a new effort, the local NAACP branch and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas are joining hands to sponsor free legal clinics to help poor people who may be the victims of discrimination.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Legal Aid received about $50,000 from the Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation to help low-income families faced with discrimination issues.

The NAACP Justice Project will host the first six clinics at its headquarters, 1063 Evans Ave., from April to July, officials said. Six more will be held later at other locations throughout the area.

The first clinic will be April 24 from 9 a.m. to noon.

"We're getting out into the community and doing a legal education project to educate people about the types of discrimination issues we can handle," said Kathy Duncan, a spokeswoman for Legal Aid.

Legal help will be provided for education, housing, employment, government programs and other matters that involve discrimination based on race, national origin, pregnancy, age, disability or family size.

To be eligible for an interview with an attorney, an applicant must be a United States citizen or legal resident; meet the income guidelines based on family size; and live in Tarrant County.

Cases may be referred to other agencies, Duncan said. For example, some employment cases may be sent to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, she said.

le don't know where to go with discrimination issues," Duncan said.

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, formerly known as West Texas Legal Services, is based in Arlington and covers eight counties.

The nonprofit Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation was set up by the Texas Supreme Court to administer Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts, or IOLTA, funds and other funds to help provide civil legal services to the poor.