Background: The lawyers - some work for Legal Aid offices and some are volunteers - are trained on disaster issues. The Red Cross has a longstanding partnership with Legal Services Corporation/Legal Aid Offices.
Common issues: Lawyers are available to help with all sorts of problems - housing, consumer scams, FEMA applications, food, healthcare, social services and more. Working with a lawyer can speed up processes, eliminate mistakes in government relief applications, and generally cut through the mess. Understand that one of a client’s top priorities may be finding a place to stay and taking care of their families. Engaging a lawyer can assist in finding a solutions quickly. Consistent top issue is housing needs - evictions, landlord tenant, insurance, return of rent deposits and long-term solutions.
Process: If a person calls the numbers below, they will be helped. If they live outside the service area, they will be referred to a local agency in their area. If person needs assistance in Spanish, they will be referred to a Spanish speaking lawyer.
Distribution: Hope this helps with requests for help you may receive. Hard copies should be printed and distributed.
1 800 244 5492
1 866 659 0666
However, if the caller doesn't have internet access, he/she should let the person on the other end know that, and they may help with application intake during that call. Legal Aid is very experienced at this and wants to help.
When you call one of these numbers, you'll reach a person - should tell that person that there is no access to internet in their area. The normal process is to tell someone calling in that they need to complete a quick online application at www.lonestarlegal.org.
Once the application is submitted and the caller qualifies, someone will call them on the phone. So only the initial application has to be online - the rest of the assistance can be handled by phone.
Recommended that you tell people whoever answers the phone that they have no access to internet.
