North Carolina Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts has awarded $910,500 to four organizations providing free civil legal services in communities affected by Hurricane Helene. These grantee programs offer services for residents hit hardest by the storm who otherwise could not afford to pay for the services of an attorney.
The grantees are:
- Disability Rights North Carolina. Funding will support legal services for individuals with disabilities.
- Legal Aid of North Carolina. Funding will support increased pro bono efforts in Western North Carolina as well as other operational needs of the organization as they increase their capacity to serve residents impacted by disaster.
- North Carolina Bar Foundation. Funding will support the North Carolina Disaster Legal Services Pro Bono Program, a collaborative effort that activates volunteers to provide disaster-related resources and legal services through both remote case referral and management and in-person clinics.
- Pisgah Legal Services. Funding will support ongoing disaster recovery efforts in the region, including legal staff to work on housing and benefits issues and coordinate volunteer efforts.
“Civil legal aid plays a critical role in recovery for communities following disaster,” said Shelby Duffy Benton, chair of NC IOLTA’s Board of Trustees. “In times of disaster, new legal needs emerge. Legal services can help individuals access benefits and insurance and protect against consumer fraud or scams. Together, we are working to ensure that every North Carolina resident facing challenges as a result of Hurricane Helene has legal representation to navigate this crisis.”
“We are grateful to the organizations that have been working on the ground in Western North Carolina to support our fellow North Carolinians since the early days following the storm,” NC IOLTA Executive Director Mary Irvine added. “Without access to legal services, the justice system simply cannot work for everyone. Through these grants, we are strengthening the justice system so it can work for everyone — and improving the lives of North Carolinians in need as they rebuild their lives.”
In addition to these awards approved in December, in October NC IOLTA awarded $60,000 to two organizations, Legal Aid of North Carolina and Pisgah Legal Services, to provide immediate assistance to their employees living in areas affected by Hurricane Helene.
