A $1.4 million grant will be used to help provide legal aid to low-income residents impacted by severe weather events.
The Legal Aid Of NorthWest Texas will be using the money to buy a vehicle that will be used as a mobile office so its staff can travel to those in need, rather than having storm victims come to a Legal Aid office for help such as recovering documents or working through insurance claims. The vehicle will be equipped with with laptops, wi-fi hotspots, and printers/scanners, according to a Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas news release.
The grant was awarded to Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas by the Legal Service Corporation. Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas has offices in Abilene, Amarillo, Brownwood, Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth, Lubbock, McKinney, Midland, Odessa, Plainview, San Angelo, Waxahachie, Weatherford and Wichita Falls.
People affected by severe weather often realize the extent of their loss after local authorities and organizations arrive to help them when a natural disaster strikes such as Winter Storm Uri, which caused wide-spread power outages and water damage in February 2021.
“Low-income people who confront civil legal issues in the wake of natural disasters face an uphill battle, and they shouldn’t have to go it alone,” said corporation president Ronald S. Flagg in a statement. “We are grateful that Congress recognizes the need for legal assistance in these recovering communities and provided this funding that will help our neighbors repair and stay in their homes, obtain key identification documents, apply for benefits, and so much more.”
When not being used for disaster efforts, the vehicle will be used for disaster-related outreach and community education events, according to the organization.
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas is the fifth-largest Legal Aid program in the United States and serves more than 1.5 million eligible clients in 114 counties. The non-profit organization offers broad-based legal services to low-income and disadvantaged clients such as family law, wills and estates, landlord/tenant cases, public benefits, real property, foreclosure prevention, and community revitalization matters.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: legal-aid-group-obtains-grant-to-help-disaster-victims/65382495007/” data-ylk=”slk:Legal aid group obtains grant to help disaster victims” class=”link “>Legal aid group obtains grant to help disaster victims
