By Jonathan Perry, Managing Attorney, Legal Aid of North Carolina – Morganton Office

This past week in Bakersville, NC, I witnessed both heartbreaking devastation and awe-inspiring human resilience. In the wake of recent flooding and widespread damage in Mitchell County, we spent the day helping people sign up for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) and FEMA relief. While providing computers and technical support, we quickly realized that this community’s needs extended beyond just paperwork. As the day went on, we began to encounter more traditional legal issues—housing, family law, and other challenges that our office at Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) often addresses.

What has struck me most, however, is how deeply rooted the people here are in their independence and strength. In these mountain communities, asking for help is not common. Many of the individuals we worked with have no power, no water, and no idea when they’ll be able to return to normalcy. Yet, they are humble, gracious, and, in some cases, hesitant to accept assistance from outsiders. One elderly woman, who had lost access to both power and water, tried to pay me for a simple Diet Coke I offered her. It was a moment that captured the deep self-reliance ingrained in so many here.

In Mitchell County, the community has rallied together in ways that go beyond formal aid. At the Mitchell Senior Center, a woman who was a stay-at-home mom just two weeks ago is now leading an eight-person team, coordinating volunteers to answer calls and dispatch help. They’ve received 158 open requests for help, and they’ve answered each one with precision and care. Outside the center, volunteers cook free meals daily for anyone in need, providing supplies without question or charge. This effort is being led by former schoolteachers and retirees who have seamlessly transitioned into roles that serve their neighbors in ways they never imagined.

Driving through nearby Avery County, in small towns like Plumtree and Minneapolis, the devastation is even harder to grasp. Entire homes have washed away, cars remain overturned in the middle of rivers, and sides of mountains have vanished. Amidst this destruction, communities have taken it upon themselves to clear roads, cut up fallen trees for firewood, and ensure that their neighbors are cared for. Every church I passed was providing free clothing, food, and water to anyone who needed it.

Despite the overwhelming need, the people here do not ask for help. They continue to rebuild, quietly and resolutely. It’s only after establishing trust, after hearing that I once lived in these mountains, that they begin to accept the possibility of applying for government assistance. But time is of the essence. Our window to reach these communities, to offer them the help they need and deserve, is small. As we continue to assist at disaster recovery centers (DRCs), I hope we can extend our efforts deeper into these hard-hit areas, to build relationships and deliver aid before the door closes.

To my colleagues and partners, thank you for everything you are doing to support these efforts. Your work matters deeply, and together, we can make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

Jonathan Perry

Managing Attorney

Legal Aid of North Carolina – Morganton Office

This column shares Jonathan Perry’s firsthand experience in the recovery efforts following severe flooding in Western North Carolina, emphasizing the resilience of the local community and the importance of building trust to provide effective aid.

In a world where access to justice often hinges on financial means, public service and pro bono legal work stand as pillars of equity. This summer, the participants in our Martin Luther King Jr. Internship Program found that this work can be both challenging and profoundly rewarding. One of our interns, William Scott, brought a unique perspective to his time with us by applying some of his knowledge from his experience in the United States Army to Legal Aid of North Carolina.

Scott graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2017 and proceeded to serve in the U.S. Army for six years, concluding his service as a Military Intelligence Officer for the 101st Airborne Division. Currently, he studies as a law student and JD candidate at the Wake Forest University School of Law.

A previous volunteer, Scott excelled as one of Legal Aid NC’s Martin Luther King Jr. interns, joining us to continue pursuing his passion for public service. Scott explained his decision to intern here this summer, “I applied for a LANC summer internship because of how fulfilling it was to volunteer with LANC throughout my first year of law school. I am grateful for the opportunity to directly serve those in need.”

Scott worked closely with the Veterans Law Project team to provide civil legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness. He explained why this work was important to him on a personal and developmental level, “Working with homeless veterans through LANC’s Veterans Law Project was especially impactful because I am a veteran. One client in particular is hard of hearing and needed extensive support to apply for personal identification forms. Learning how best to serve a client who was afraid and at times difficult to communicate with helped me develop compassion and patience.”

When comparing the work we do at Legal Aid NC to his experience in the U.S. Army, Scott said, “The U.S. Army & LANC are both people-oriented organizations where leaders are expected to know how to handle difficult situations with grace. Serving in the Army helped me develop authentic emotional engagement, planning skills, and time management techniques I used while working for Legal Aid. Since serving in the military, I have become more acutely attuned to how best to serve individual people in the context that’s most helpful to them. Some solutions in the military are ‘one size fits all,’ which is an approach I could not use while serving Legal Aid because of how specific clients’ needs are.”

Legal Aid NC would like to thank Scott for all his hard work this summer and for his service in our nation’s military. We look forward to seeing his career in law and public service take off, and know he will excel at promoting equity in our community.

BOONE, NC – Recently, 30 tenants of the Watauga Green Apartments were surprised with a sudden notice of eviction citing that they failed to submit their recertification paperwork. However, a majority of the tenants involved had already completed and submitted their paperwork within the last three months of the notice.

Legal Aid of North Carolina was contacted and began work on litigation, challenging whether summary ejectment was proper when the alleged breach of lease was due to mismanagement on the part of the landlord. The primary objective of the litigation was focused to prevent the evictions and preserve public housing eligibility for applicable tenants.

Kyle Coffino, a Legal Aid of NC staff attorney working on this litigation, gives us a look into how the litigation process works in relation to this event, “For summary ejectment cases, landlords must utilize the court process. A landlord cannot evict a tenant without filing a complaint in small claims court and cannot physically remove a tenant from the property without an order from a magistrate. However, if a magistrate enters an order siding with the landlord, there is a ten-day period from the date of judgment that a tenant can appeal the ruling to district court. If a tenant appeals, a new trial is held with the outcome decided by a district court judge.”

Legal Aid of NC has helped to advocate for several of the tenants, many of whom live on a limited income. In the most recent update, Coffino has reported that the cases that Legal Aid of NC assisted on have all been dismissed. As the litigation progresses, Legal Aid of NC hopes to protect the tenancy of those facing eviction at Watauga Green, preserve eligibility for housing assistance, and provide crucial support and advocacy to others in the High Country area facing civil legal issues.

Our team is always willing and prepared to step in and assist North Carolina’s most vulnerable population. We believe that these people are seen through our involvement and we hope to continue strengthening this relationship with our communities.

Coffino reflects, “In the nearly seven months I have been working for LANC, the tenants we helped from Watauga Green Apartments are especially noteworthy. Our office learned of a potential injustice and mobilized to provide assistance to as many as we could in a short period of time. I think these kinds of cases really demonstrate the commitment that our local office has in showing up for the communities we serve, however and whenever we can.”

For those facing similar challenges, we encourage you to reach out to Legal Aid of NC. We can advise you on how to prepare for small claims court, and in some cases provide representation on appeal, among other means of support.

In every workplace, there’s that one person who seems to hold everything together. At our Foothills office, that person is Brenda Carlin, beloved support staff member, and dog mom to two office mascots – Shitzu’s April and Skylar. Brenda is versatile, navigating through responsibilities including client intake, office management, telephone correspondence, walk-in assistance, attorney support, procurement of supplies, mail organization, troubleshooting computer issues, and an array of other vital tasks.

Learn more about Brenda as she answers questions about her role at Legal Aid of North Carolina.

What is your favorite part about being a support staff?

I like to help people. I like making time for our clients. Whether it’s a walk-in, telephone call, or processing a domestic violence or housing case – I think that, in some ways, I help people by just giving them someone to talk to.  I try to make them feel like I have no other cases and it’s their time.  I have several contacts and resources that I give to most of our clients. I always offer them a cup of coffee or a cold drink and take a few minutes to just listen. 

What is your favorite part about working at Legal Aid of North Carolina?

My favorite part is working with the attorneys and being able to help our clients.  Even if they don’t become clients, I hope that I have been able to help them in some way. 

A lot of my passion comes from the fact that I grew up in a rural country community and was dirt poor.  I have four sisters and two half-brothers, and we didn’t miss anything growing up, because we didn’t know it was there to be missed. 

I have learned over the years that just listening to our clients, wishing them a good day, and giving them any information is sometimes all it takes. 

What is your favorite part about working with clients?

We get all kinds of people and all kinds of issues, but I truly enjoy listening and trying to get as many cases in as possible. 

Some of the clients have their own stories of life and it’s interesting.  I had one client who when he came in with a Will issue, stood and played with April and Skylar and then informed me that he had just lost his wife and was trying to get everything done before they buried her.  He looked at me and told me how nice it was to be able just to play with the dogs and then proceeded to say that he would love to take them home. I realized that I have a special Managing Attorney who allows me to bring April and Skylar. On many occasions, they have warmed clients’ hearts.

Do you have a favorite client memory?

I remember one client in the last six months that came into the office.  I don’t remember her particular issue, but it was one that we could not help with.  I remember she had her phone stuffed down her shirt, listening to a preacher preach.  And she wasn’t about to turn down the sound because when it stopped, she simply restarted it.  But she was telling me about her issues and how they kept telling her to come into our office. So, I listened for a while and finally offered her the NC referral number. I remember telling her that maybe her church could help.  She agreed and left after a few minutes.  Two days later she was back.  I listened to see if anything had changed for her, but it was the same story.  She looked and me and said that they had told her to come here, so I asked her who they were, and she informed me it was the birds.

More about Brenda:

Brenda’s life is enriched by the joy of being a grandmother to two sets of twins. Her daughters have each given her a grandson and granddaughter who share the special bond of twinship—one set at the age of five, and the other just celebrating their first year. Alongside her cherished family moments, Brenda finds fulfillment in her artistic endeavors, including reading, drawing, and quilting. One particularly proud moment, captured by Managing Attorney Jonathan Perry, is Brenda standing beside a wall hanging she crafted for the conference room.

As she contemplates her upcoming departure from Legal Aid, Brenda is filled with a mix of emotions. She will miss the camaraderie and meaningful work shared with her colleagues as she prepares to bid farewell at the end of this year.

Can you believe that 2023 is already over? What a year it’s been for Legal Aid of North Carolina! As we reflect on the past year, we find ourselves feeling grateful for the continued support from our community and proud of the progress we’ve made as an organization.

At the onset of 2023, we set goals aimed at delivering high-quality legal and non-legal services to eligible North Carolinians. This included preserving the stability and safety of individuals and families, defending the rights of homeowners and tenants, promoting economic stability and development, and safeguarding access to vital government benefits. We’d like to take a moment to share how we worked towards and met these objectives.

LANC by the Numbers

In 2023, we managed over 25,000 cases, empowering more than 65,000 individuals to understand and assert their rights. Our efforts extended to over 30,000 children in North Carolina. Our top service areas included issues such as domestic abuse, eviction, immigration/naturalization, federally subsidized housing, and criminal record expungement.

Within this framework, we addressed the unique challenges faced by our clients, whose average household income stood at $21,635 annually, reflecting 102.9% of the federal poverty level.

(a few of) Our Biggest Accomplishments

A standout achievement for us in 2023 was the launch of our Innovation Lab – a collaborative hub where interdisciplinary legal teams come together to develop and test ideas, leveraging new technologies to enhance the efficiency of legal services for North Carolinians. You can learn more about our Innovation Lab here.

In July 2023, our Farmworker Unit made headlines by filing a lawsuit against Lamm Farms, LLC, Alvarado’s Harvesting, LLC, and others for human trafficking and wage violations. As this case unfolds, we remain steadfast in our commitment to defending our client and other farmworkers against poor working conditions and withheld wages, with a vision to set a precedent for improved working conditions for all farmworkers. Learn more.  

Last October, we launched a campaign for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, including the debut of Beyond Fear, our first-ever documentary. Beyond Fear shines a light on the stories of survivors who sought support from our organization. These stories remind us of the hidden world of domestic violence, and we’re proud to stand with survivors breaking free from the cycle of abuse. You can watch Beyond Fear here.

Exciting, New Faces at LANC

In 2023, we introduced some new faces to our leadership team! Say hello to Chief Technology Officer Sean Burke, Chief Diversity Officer Demetrius Edwards, Director of Development Missy Hatley, and Chief Community Engagement Officer Niya Fonville Swint.

We would also like to give a shoutout to our new Board Chair, Nikki Feliciano of Pinto Coates Kyre & Bowers, PLLC. We thank her for taking the responsibility of representing our Board of Directors and look forward to her continued leadership in 2024!

A Shoutout to CIU

The 17-year anniversary of our Centralized Intake Unit (CIU) was another cause for celebration. Beyond managing our intake process, the CIU staff delivers legal services and information by phone or online, alongside engaging in community education and outreach. Hats off to CIU for 17 years of making North Carolina more just!

An End of Year Suprise

The year concluded on a high note with a generous surprise from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott, who donated $5.5 million to Legal Aid of North Carolina. We express our gratitude for this donation, which will play a pivotal role in our work. A significant portion of these funds will go towards supporting our Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative, enabling us to go above and beyond in protecting survivors.

We can’t do our work without continued support and donations, so we’d like to thank all of you who champion our cause! Every dollar makes a difference.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

To every member of our stellar team, our amazing community, and our generous donors, here’s a massive virtual hug. You made 2023 one for the books! As we head into 2024, get ready for more accomplishments, more impact, and a whole lot more justice for all North Carolinians. Let’s make it a year to remember!

Video: Year in Review 2023

The holiday season is not only a time for festive decorations, delicious meals, and cherished traditions but also a season of compassion and generosity. We at Legal Aid of North Carolina rely on the spirit of giving. Our donors bridge the justice gap for our clients during some of the most difficult hardships of their lives.

Legal Aid of North Carolina is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free legal services to low-income individuals and families across the state. We work to address a wide range of legal issues that affect basic needs like housing, employment disputes, domestic violence, child custody, and consumer rights.

For many low-income individuals and families, the holiday season can exacerbate existing challenges. Legal issues, such as eviction threats, loss of employment, or family conflicts, can become overwhelming during this time of year.

Holiday donations to Legal Aid of North Carolina can make a difference in the lives of those facing legal hardships. Here are several ways in which these contributions can have a positive impact:

1. Preventing Homelessness:
   • We can help prevent evictions, ensuring that families have a safe and stable home during the holidays.
2. Ensuring Employment Rights:
   • We can provide assistance to individuals facing unfair employment practices, securing their livelihoods and financial stability.
3. Protecting Victims of Domestic Violence:
   • The holiday season can be particularly challenging for victims of domestic violence. Donations can enable us to offer legal support and protection to those in need.
4. Promoting Consumer Rights:
   • Holiday donations allow us to advocate for consumer rights, preventing seniors and other vulnerable individuals from predatory practices.
5. Providing Access to Education:
   • Our services also extend to ensuring access to education for children, guaranteeing that every child can learn and grow.

As we celebrate the holidays and express our gratitude for the blessings in our lives, we must remember those who are less fortunate. Your holiday donations to Legal Aid of North Carolina contribute to the creation of a more just and equitable society, where everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the season without the burden of legal hardships. This holiday season, let us come together to make a difference and spread the spirit of giving to ensure that justice is accessible to all.