Volunteer

Disasters can affect income and ability to work, damage assets, increase expenses, and cause difficulty repaying debts. These issues are especially difficult for low-income households already struggling with income and/or debt. Volunteer attorneys can help disaster victims learn about bankruptcy and give advice about how to proceed.

• Disaster victims may face discrimination when attempting to access shelter and resources. Existing incidents of discrimination, for example with a landlord or employer, may be exacerbated and more damaging during and after a disaster. 
• Individuals with disabilities can face challenges utilizing resources that weren’t prepared with their unique needs in mind. See the Legal Aid Disaster Resources Center Disability Rights page for more information. https://www.ladrc.org/disability-rights/

Predatory service providers and retailers may travel to communities affected by disaster looking for disaster victims to scam. (i.e. claiming to be a licensed general contractor or price gouging disaster supplies). A volunteer attorney may assist with things such as contract disputes, claims of fraud or misrepresentation, or making complaints to the state consumer protection division.

Volunteer attorneys may help disaster victims navigate workplace discrimination, making disability claims and accessing employer provided benefits, applying for unemployment or appealing unemployment decisions, wage theft and identity scams, wrongful termination, and other issues.

Family law issues are typically very emotionally complex. Even more so during a disaster when a family may have lost a loved one. Common family law issues after a disaster include replacing legal documents, adoption or other child custody issues, domestic violence, guardianship, and estate planning or execution.

There may be local, state, or federal aid available to disaster victims. However, accessing public assistance is often a difficult process that can seem insurmountable when dealing with disaster recovery. Volunteer attorneys can help disaster victims better understand the assistance they’re applying for, their eligibility for such assistance, and how the program works.

Housing is by far one of the most significant legal issues after a natural disaster. Natural disasters typically cause property destruction and can sometimes leave households displaced. Volunteer attorneys may assist with legal issues like early lease terminations or compelling a landlord to make required repairs, preventing evictions, accessing housing benefits, transferring benefits to other jurisdictions, foreclosures and mortgage forbearance, replacing legal ownership documents, and utility issues.

Insurance can be a difficult process for laypersons to navigate, especially if a claim is denied. Volunteer attorneys may assist with submitting claims, navigating policy language, and appealing denials.