Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to Healthcare Access

Raleigh—NC Navigators are here to help North Carolinians safely enroll in affordable health insurance plans via HealthCare.gov during the Affordable Care Act’s eighth open enrollment period, which starts Nov. 1 and runs through Dec. 15.

Throughout open enrollment, North Carolina consumers can call 1-855-733-3711 (toll-free) or visit ncnavigator.net to schedule a free, confidential, remote appointment with a certified NC Navigator in their area.

Fast Facts

Act fast! Time is limited! Open enrollment runs from November 1 to December 15.
Call or click for assistance! Toll-free: 1-855-733-3711, Online: ncnavigator.net
Coronavirus is covered! Testing and treatment for Coronavirus is covered in all Health Insurance Marketplace plans!
Financial assistance is available! Nine in 10 North Carolinians enrolled in a HealthCare.gov plan receive financial assistance. Navigators can help consumers determine eligibility for financial assistance.

In order to provide high quality assistance while maintaining health and safety during the pandemic, consumers will be able to book enrollment appointments that will be held via telephone or online web conferencing. In-person enrollment opportunities will be limited this open enrollment period. Check out the events calendar on ncnavigator.net for a current list of web-based and limited in-person events.

NC Navigators are trained to help consumers enroll in coverage on the Health Insurance Marketplace at HealthCare.gov, the online storefront that consumers can visit to browse and enroll in affordable, comprehensive health insurance plans. NC Navigators can help consumers understand the details of the plans available on HealthCare.gov, determine their eligibility for financial assistance, and provide unbiased support in completing the enrollment process.

“We want consumers to know that health coverage is more important than ever during this pandemic and assistance by a navigator is needed more than ever for so many. We are here to help in a safe and socially distant way during this open enrollment period,” Mark Van Arnam, director of the Consortium, said.

“Nine in ten North Carolinians who enrolled in a HealthCare.gov plan during the last open enrollment period received financial help that lowered the monthly cost of their coverage to an average of less than $61.00. Our navigators are ready to help consumers accurately determine if they are eligible for financial assistance and, if so, help them enroll in a quality, affordable health insurance plans that is the right fit for their needs and their budget.”

About

The NC Navigator Consortium is a group of six health care, social service and legal aid organizations that helps North Carolina consumers enroll in affordable, comprehensive health insurance plans on HealthCare.gov, the Health Insurance Marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act. Members of the consortium are Access East, Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, Council on Aging of Buncombe County, Cumberland HealthNet, HealthNet Gaston, and Legal Aid of North Carolina, which leads the consortium. The consortium is funded in part by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust and Cone Health Foundation. Learn more at ncnavigator.net.

Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal help to low-income and vulnerable North Carolinians. Learn more at legalaidnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Media contact

Mark Van Arnam, Director, NC Navigator Consortium, 704-785-0839, MarkV@legalaidnc.org

Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to Disaster Relief

For North Carolinians that are still in the recovery process from a past hurricane and those preparing for the next one, clarifying homeownership is an important aspect of accessing recovery assistance. On September 22 and 23, Legal Aid of North Carolina is hosting free remote information sessions that will discuss how Legal Aid may be able to help with disaster recovery including assisting with clarifying ownership of property.

“Even if someone has been living in the same home their whole life, they may lack the documentation of ownership that many disaster relief organizations and programs require,” said Lesley Albritton, managing attorney of Legal Aid’s disaster relief project. “These information sessions are an opportunity for North Carolinians to learn about how Legal Aid can help during the disaster recovery process.”

Organizations and programs that help with repairs or replacements after a disaster require clear ownership of land. This includes state programs, such as ReBuild NC’s Homeowner Recovery Program. Some kinds of ownership make it harder to get assistance. For example, if someone is living on land owned by a now-deceased parent or grandparent who did not have a will, the fact that the deed is in someone else’s name or that the property has multiple potential heirs may prevent a storm survivor from accessing recovery assistance.

These information sessions will focus on how a person seeking disaster relief assistance can clarify their homeownership. This will include discussing what it means to live on heir property and how creating family trees can help to locate potential co-owners. Legal Aid can help eligible clients clarify ownership in advance of seeking relief assistance.

The information sessions can be accessed through the call-in numbers listed below, or by registering to view it as a video webinar at www.legalaidnc.org/disasterinfo. The presenters will answer general questions at the end of the presentation. Those with specific questions should call the Legal Aid helpline at 866-219-5262 or visit legalaidnc.org/apply to learn about eligibility for Legal Aid’s services and to get assistance.

More information about these information sessions and Legal Aid NC’s other disaster relief work can be found at the Disaster Relief section of our website.

Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to Housing

RALEIGH—Up to 40 million U.S. renters may face eviction by the end of the year due to the economic downturn caused by the pandemic. People of color, including Black and Hispanic tenants, represent 80% of people potentially facing eviction once federal rental protections end, according to research from the Aspen Institute and the COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project.

While the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a temporary moratorium halting the eviction of tenants who cannot pay rent through the end of the year, the moratorium requires that tenants must still file a federal declaration form to be eligible for the eviction protection. Additionally, tenants are obligated to navigate varying state laws and local legal proceedings.

Legal Aid of North Carolina today announced a $300,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation which will enable Legal Aid to provide free or low-cost legal assistance and representation for North Carolinians disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and at risk of eviction.

“Lack of legal representation for low-income people is a glaring equity gap,” said Rulon Washington, community outreach manager with the Wells Fargo Foundation. “We believe supporting efforts to provide low-income renters at risk with legal assistance is an important step in helping the most vulnerable people stay housed.”

Harvard researchers found an estimated 90% of landlords have legal representation, while only 10% of tenants do, putting them at a significant disadvantage. However, two-thirds of tenants with legal representation are more likely to avoid an eviction judgment and remain in their home.

“Simply having a lawyer by their side can make all the difference between a tenant staying in their home or being out on the street,” said Yolanda Taylor, managing attorney of Legal Aid’s Wilson office. “Increasing the ability of tenants to access free legal help is critical during this crisis, and support from all sectors is vital to ensuring that such help is available. Ensuring housing stability is one way that institutions can contribute to the restorative economics of those who have faced systemic barriers to economic opportunity. By working together, we can make sure that struggling families stay where they belong—at home, safe and sound. We appreciate Wells Fargo’s recognition of the importance of this work.”

As part of its $175 million response to COVID-19, the Wells Fargo Foundation has made more than 1,200 grants in support of national and local nonprofits to help keep people housed.

The Wells Fargo Foundation efforts to address the housing affordability crisis in response to COVID-19 includes expanding the capacity of housing counselors to respond to renters and homeowners, supporting nonprofits that provide affordable rental homes and services, and funding for legal assistance organizations to provide legal counsel and representation for renters at-risk of eviction. These efforts are part of the Wells Fargo Foundation’s $1 billion philanthropic commitment to address housing affordability solutions by 2025 by investing in strategies to advance housing stability, increasing supply of affordable homes; expanding homeownership opportunities for people of color; and driving transformation and innovation in local communities.

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About Legal Aid of North Carolina

Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity. Learn more at legalaidnc.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.97 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,300 locations, more than 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 31 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 266,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 30 on Fortune’s 2020 rankings of America’s largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter: @WellsFargo.

Media contact

Sean Driscoll, Director of Public Relations, Legal Aid of North Carolina, 919-856-2132, seand@legalaidnc.org

Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to Housing

RALEIGH—The Wells Fargo Foundation announced on September 24 that it had donated $5.4 million to 15 organizations around the country, including Legal Aid of North Carolina, to provide legal help to COVID-affected renters who are facing eviction.

We thank the foundation for supporting our housing work at this critical time. Legal help can make all the difference between tenants staying in their homes or being out on the street. Support from all sectors is crucial in the fight against eviction.

Read the Wells Fargo press release to learn more.

Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to Government Benefits

Durham—Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Durham office will launch its annual Nellie Kearney Real Life Series tomorrow at 7 p.m. The series of three legal-education presentations will cover important, timely, real-life legal topics like eviction, government benefit programs and tax filing.

The presentations will provide participants with general legal information, not specific legal advice. People who have questions or need advice about a specific legal situation should call our statewide toll-free helpline at 1-866-219-5262 or submit an online application at legalaidnc.org/apply.

All sessions are completely free and open to all North Carolinians. Details for the individual sessions are below.

The series is named in honor of Nellie Gray Kearney, a Vance County native who has helped educate communities in her hometown and throughout North Carolina about their rights, responsibilities and opportunities.

Eviction: What you should do when you get an eviction notice

Date: Thursday, September 17
Time: 7:00 PM
Call-in number: 1-866-295-5950
Participant code: 3107154

Update on Medicaid, EBT and Social Security

Date: Thursday, September 24
Time: 7:00 PM
Call-in number: 1-866-295-5950
Participant code: 3107154

Getting ready for tax filing

Date: Thursday, October 1
Time: 7:00 PM
Call-in number: 1-866-295-5950
Participant code: 3107154

# # #

About

Media Contact

Sean Driscoll, Director of Public Relations, 919-856-2132, seand@legalaidnc.org

Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to Education

RALEIGH—Legal Aid of North Carolina’s systemic state complaints against Guilford County Schools and Vance County Schools have been resolved. The complaints, filed on May 29 with the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, allege that the school systems violated federal and state law by failing to provide special-education services to minor students with disabilities while they were incarcerated in adult jails.

Legal Aid of North Carolina’s education-justice unit, Advocates for Children’s Services, filed the complaints on behalf of three high school students—two in Guilford County and one in Vance County—who allege that they received no educational services whatsoever while they were incarcerated.

The Guilford County complaint was resolved via confidential agreement with Guilford County Schools. The Vance County complaint was resolved via an investigation by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. More information, including links to documents, follows.

Guilford County

Legal Aid was pleased with the opportunity to work with Guilford County Schools (GCS) to advance policies and procedures, some of which were already underway by the district, that will enable GCS to improve services for incarcerated students with disabilities by:

Reviewing and revising current procedures to require that all GCS students with disabilities incarcerated in any Guilford County jail receive appropriate special educational services;
Designating an employee to be responsible for ensuring legally compliant special educational services for students incarcerated in local jails for more than ten school days as well as continuity of educational services when the students exit from local jails;
Training special education staff regarding appropriate special educational services for incarcerated students; and
Conducting an internal audit for the 2019-2020 school year to determine whether special education services and related safeguards were properly afforded to GCS students with disabilities who were incarcerated in local jails for more than 10 school days and had an Individualized Education Program (IEP) during incarceration.

Moving forward, it is the hope and desire of both GCS and Legal Aid to continue to look for opportunities to collaborate for the benefit and support of incarcerated students with disabilities.

Learn more

Joint statement from Legal Aid of North Carolina and Guilford County Schools
Note: Because Legal Aid and GCS resolved the complaint via agreement, the N.C. Department of Investigation did not issue an investigation report.
Legal Aid announces launch of investigation by N.C. Dept. of Public Instruction
Legal Aid of North Carolina complaint

Vance County

The N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s investigation into our complaint uncovered widespread violations of the rights of incarcerated students with disabilities in Vance County Schools (VCS). The department has mandated VCS to follow a corrective action plan, which includes:

Various trainings for staff, not only regarding incarcerated students but also various general procedural requirements for students with disabilities;
Development of procedures to serve students incarcerated in the local jail;
Compensatory education for the named student in the complaint; and
Identification of eligible students who were incarcerated without services with the named complainant for the purposes of providing them with compensatory education.

A parent involved with the VCS complaint stated, “I’m grateful that this situation got resolved. I’m glad that the decision will help my son to get the skills he needs to be a productive citizen, and I’m just as glad that it will help other kids in his situation to do the same.”

Learn more

Tessa Hale, lead attorney for the cases, expressed satisfaction with outcomes in both counties, stating, “As the country turns its gaze towards the criminal justice system, we must confront every way in which our youth get funneled into the system without hope of making a successful exit. Providing them with the education they are legally entitled to is a positive step towards making sure that incarceration does not become a dead end for students.”

The resolution of these complaints comes at a time when the population of youth incarcerated in adult jails has shrunk significantly. As a result of a new state law which went into effect on August 1, 2020, no more minors will be held in adult jail. Still, because the right to special education continues for students who are 18 to 21 and have not yet graduated, both the developments in GCS and VCS will help ensure that eligible incarcerated students at all stages receive the special education services they are entitled to. Further, some students who may be identified through audits and who were improperly served before the law was passed will now be entitled to remedies.

# # #

About

Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity. Legal Aid’s Advocates for Children’s Services project seeks to end North Carolina’s school-to-prison pipeline by defending the rights of low-income children in public schools.

Media Contact

Sean Driscoll, Director of Public Relations, 919-856-2132, seand@legalaidnc.org

Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to Disaster Relief

As residents of Eastern North Carolina prepare for the current hurricane season, many are finding that an important part of this process is continuing to recover from previous storms. On August 25 and 26, Legal Aid of North Carolina is hosting free remote information sessions to discuss the recovery funds available to Hurricane Florence survivors, and how Legal Aid can help with some legal issues, such as duplication of benefits and FEMA recoupments, that may appear during the recovery process for those applying for assistance.

“The information sessions are a great opportunity for North Carolinians to learn more about how Legal Aid can help with the recovery process following a natural disaster,” said Lesley Albritton, managing attorney of Legal Aid’s Disaster Relief Project. “Legal Aid may be able to assist North Carolinians during the application process or, if needed, by filing an appeal after a decision is issued. Those with questions about our services are encouraged to attend an information session or call our helpline number.”

As Florence survivors seek assistance from multiple sources during their recovery process, survivors may encounter issues with duplication of benefits or FEMA requesting money to be repaid, known as FEMA recoupment. These information sessions will go over how Legal Aid may be able to help prevent these situations from happening or may be able to help if it has already occurred during the recovery process.

The presenters will answer general questions at the end of the presentation. Those with specific questions should call the Legal Aid helpline at 866-219-5262 or visit legalaidnc.org/apply to learn about eligibility for Legal Aid’s services and to get assistance.

The two information sessions will cover the same content. Those that are interested can choose a day and time that is convenient for them:

August 25 at 12 p.m.

Call-in number: (312) 626-6799

Meeting ID: 819 0918 6407

Participant ID: “#”

August 26 at 6 p.m.

Call-in number: (312) 626-6799

Meeting ID: 854 6807 5396

Participant ID: “#”

More information about the information sessions and Legal Aid NC’s other disaster relief work can be found at legalaidnc.org/disaster.

About

Legal Aid NC is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity. The Disaster Relief Project provides legal assistance and education to survivors of natural disasters in North Carolina, seeking to provide relief to clients in the days, weeks, months and years that it takes to recover. Legal Aid NC also supports community economic development and long-term recovery in disaster-impacted communities.

Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to Education

RALEIGH—Prompted by complaints filed by our Advocates for Children’s Services project, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has launched formal investigations into the routine failure of Guilford County Schools and Vance County Schools to provide educational services to their students incarcerated in adult jails. For each of the three students covered by our complaints, the school systems failed to provide them with any educational services whatsoever.

We learned of the investigations in a letter from the department dated June 5, 2020. We filed our complaints with the department on May 29, 2020.

We filed our Guilford County complaint on behalf of two high school students and our Vance County complaint on behalf of one high school student who experienced the same deprivation over two separate periods of incarceration.

The complaints allege that the school districts failed to fulfill their legal obligations by:

Failing to provide the students with any education during their incarceration. Two of the students received packets of work without assistance or instructions. One received no work, instruction or assistance of any kind.
Failing to follow required procedures regarding discipline of students with disabilities while the students attended their regular community schools.
Failing to provide the students with appropriate educational services while they attended their regular community schools.

The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires the school system to educate all students with disabilities—including incarcerated students—in an appropriate manner in accordance with their Individualized Education Plans. Yet, Advocates for Children’s Services believes that youth in adult facilities across North Carolina—not just in these two counties—typically receive no education.

The students’ cases paint a compelling picture of how the school-to-prison pipeline operates when students’ special education needs are consistently ignored, funneling students into the criminal justice system. For that reason, the complaint describes violations occurring during the students’ incarceration as well as those leading up to it.

These violations have led to—and will continue to lead to—dire educational consequences for students in adult jails, if not fixed on the systemic level. Tessa Hale, an attorney with Advocates for Children’s Services, notes, “The link between education and reduced recidivism rates is well established in research. When we fail to educate these youth, we return them to their communities without the knowledge that will allow them to function in society.”

The parent of one of the students named in the complaint said, “I want my child to be a productive citizen. Anyone wants that for their child. Nobody wants to see their child in and out of jail because they don’t have the skills to do better. Without education, my child will be in a worse position when he gets out. How is that rehabilitation?”

The parent continued: “When a child goes to jail, they are taken away from everyone in their community who was educating them. The child is locked away from parents, grandparents, and other adults that care about them and could try to help guide them. They spend their time with the other kids in jail, and those kids aren’t getting any education either. We can’t also take away the chance for them to learn from teachers who are trained to educate them.”

One of the students named in the complaint stated, “I was 16 when I was first incarcerated. The second time was when I was 17 and a junior in high school, and I was taken out of high school and incarcerated in an adult facility for four months. I didn’t receive any support or education while I was in jail and after I was released, I had a lot of difficulty re-enrolling in high school and lost over a year of my life and education.”

In our complaints, Advocates for Children’s Services asks that our clients and all similarly situated students receive tutoring and other educational services to address the past and ongoing harm done to them. We also request that the Department of Public Instruction institute oversight measures to ensure future compliance with the law for all similarly situated students.

# # #

About

Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity. Legal Aid’s Advocates for Children’s Services project seeks to end North Carolina’s school-to-prison pipeline by defending the rights of low-income children in public schools.

Media Contact

Sean Driscoll, Director of Public Relations, 919-856-2132, seand@legalaidnc.org

Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to Disaster Relief

The 2020 hurricane season began on June 1, but many North Carolinians are still seeking relief from damages sustained during Hurricanes Matthew and Florence. After a hurricane makes landfall, storm clouds will dissipate but the recovery process for homeowners can take years. On July 8-10, Legal Aid of North Carolina will offer remote information sessions to help educate North Carolina homeowners on the assistance available for survivors of Florence and Matthew.

“These information sessions are a great opportunity for North Carolinians to learn more about the resources available to them when they become victims of natural disasters,” said Nicole Mueller, a Legal Aid disaster relief staff attorney. “It is not too late to seek remedies for disaster-related damages just because a storm took place years ago.”

The information sessions will take place via conference call and will cover how Legal Aid can assist North Carolinians with disaster recovery. Topics include how to apply for ReBuild NC’s Homeowner Recovery Program, how Legal Aid can assist during the application process, and how Legal Aid can help if a homeowner needs to file an appeal. Legal Aid lawyers will answer general questions during the information sessions.

“We want people to know that they have options if they are denied assistance or if they disagree with the amount that they have been awarded,” Mueller said. “Legal Aid may be able to help with an appeal or assist with other legal needs that can help secure assistance.”

ReBuild NC is a program operated by the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resilience to distribute grant money to homeowners, contractors, and local and tribal governments for the purpose of disaster recovery. The program opened a new application period June 15 for victims of Florence and Matthew, potentially opening the door for many North Carolinians who have thus far been unable to receive funding from the government or charitable entities. Legal Aid has helped clients with ReBuild applications and appeals in the past and stands ready to do so during this new application cycle.

The three information sessions will all cover the same information. Those that are interested can choose a day and time that is convenient for them:

July 8 at 12 p.m.
Call-in number: (312) 626-6799
Meeting ID: 871 2700 6960 #
Participant ID: “#”

July 9 at 6:30 p.m.
Call-in number: (312) 626-6799
Meeting ID: 886 9003 1584 #
Participant ID: “#”

July 10 at 8 a.m.
Call-in number: (312) 626-6799
Meeting ID: 815 9832 1751 #
Participant ID: “#”

About

Legal Aid NC is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity. Our Disaster Relief Project provides legal assistance and education to survivors of natural disasters in North Carolina, seeking to provide relief to clients in the days, weeks, months and years that it takes to recover. Legal Aid NC also supports community economic development and long-term recovery in disaster-impacted communities. Call the Legal Aid NC helpline at 866-219-5262 or visit legalaidnc.org/apply to learn about eligibility for our services and to get Legal Aid’s assistance.

Author: pricelessmisc

← Back to Housing

The governor’s order banned landlords from filing eviction cases or scheduling lockouts between May 30 and June 20, 2020.

If your landlord did something to try to evict you between May 30 and June 20, 2020, your landlord may be breaking the law and you may have a legal right to stop the eviction.

The new CARES Act freezes evictions for nonpayment of rent for “covered properties” until near the end of August.

If you rent a home that has a federal housing subsidy (like Section 8, public housing, a tax credit, etc.), or if the property you are renting has a federally backed mortgage (like an FHA loan, a VA loan, a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan, etc.), it is a “covered property,” and a landlord is not allowed to evict for nonpayment right now.

If a landlord filed a case after March 27, 2020, but didn’t file the CARES Act affidavit, then the case should be dismissed.

The N.C. Supreme Court ordered that landlords trying to evict tenants for nonpayment after March 27 must file an affidavit stating that their property is not covered under the CARES Act.

If you think your landlord may be breaking the law, Legal Aid of North Carolina is FREE and may be able to help—even if you missed your first eviction court date or already had an eviction judgment entered against you. You have 10 days to appeal an eviction judgment.

You may qualify for Rental Assistance.

The Department of Health and Human Services allocated $26 million for rental assistance for tenants. Call Legal Aid of North Carolina to find the Community Assistance agency in your county.

We may be able to help you.

If you need legal help, call our statewide toll-free helpline at 1-866-219-5262 or apply online. Se habla español.