In the aftermath of Helene, Legal Aid of North Carolina has been helping survivors with a wide range of legal issues at no cost. This week, the statewide nonprofit law firm will host two community clinics to offer in-person support to those affected.
As soon as roads were cleared, Legal Aid workers arrived in the hardest-hit areas in western North Carolina. Immediate needs included disaster unemployment issues and later, appealing rejections by federal assistance programs. Most recently they’ve been dealing with landlords who have had tenants leave for storm repairs but later refuse to allow them back in. Western Regional Manager Jonathan Perry says each day brings new challenges for survivors.
"The question of what do I do with my mortgage, because not only was their house destroyed, but their land was swept away as well," said Perry. "We are seeing a lot of issues of people that can’t prove that their personal property was destroyed. It’s sort of a catch-22. You don’t have a single form of identification. How do you get any governmental assistance? How do you prove who you are?"
Thursday’s disaster relief clinic takes place in Burnsville with a focus on Disaster Unemployment Assistance, housing, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) applications. On Friday, it will be an unemployment insurance and general relief clinic in Old Fort.
Survivors of Hurricane Helene can also receive direct assistance by contacting Legal Aid of North Carolina’s dedicated Disaster Relief Helpline at 866-219-5262.