Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Disaster Relief Project is helping survivors of Hurricane Matthew and Florence access recovery assistance for damage to their homes sustained during the storm.

Legal Aid is currently assisting North Carolinians with ReBuild NC Homeowner Recovery Program applications and appeals, and may also be able to help when other legal issues arise during the recovery process.

“Applying for the ReBuild NC Homeowner Recovery Program may not appear to initially be legal in nature, but applicants may encounter issues that Legal Aid can help with,” said Lesley Albritton, managing attorney of Legal Aid’s Disaster Relief Project. “Legal Aid has a disaster relief team with attorneys, paralegals and social workers who have experience with assisting during the recovery process and may be able to help survivors of Florence and Matthew access recovery funds and other resources.”

The North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) opened applications for the Rebuild NC Homeowner Recovery Program in June to assist homeowners with repairs, reconstruction and/or elevation of storm-damaged homes.

For those applying to the ReBuild NC Homeowner Recovery Program, Legal Aid can help with:

• Filling out and submitting applications
• Online filing for those who do not have internet service or an email address
• Reviewing applications before submission
• Collecting the documents required to accompany an application
• Assisting with any deed or title concerns that come up before submitting your application
• Clarifying past assistance, if an applicant has received assistance from more than one source and is concerned about duplication of benefits

For those who disagree with a decision that they have received, Legal Aid can help by:

• Talking to an applicant’s case manager to better understand a denial/decision
• Assisting with writing an appeal letter
• Helping a client collect additional documentation that may support an appeal

“Our services are free, and we encourage survivors of Matthew and Florence who think we may be able to help to call our helpline at 866-219-5262 to learn more about eligibility and how we may be able to assist with recovery,” said Albritton.

In September 2018, Florence made landfall in N.C. causing significant flooding and wind damage across 34 counties in the state. The storm caused $24 billion dollars in damage, making it one of the ten costliest hurricanes in United States history.

Those interested in Legal Aid’s services should call the Legal Aid helpline at 866-219-5262. Additional disaster relief resources are available the Disaster Relief section of our website.

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. The Disaster Relief Project provides legal assistance and education to survivors of natural disasters in North Carolina and supports community economic development and long-term recovery in disaster-impacted communities.

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.

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. 

Sign up to view as a webinar at legalaidnc.org/disasterinfo

Call-in number: (312) 626-6799

Meeting ID: 819 0918 6407

Participant ID: “#”

August 26 at 6 p.m. 

Sign up to view as a webinar at legalaidnc.org/disasterinfo

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.