WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014The Legal Services Corp. has announced that\u00a0Micronesian Legal Services, Inc. will receive $1.2 million to help low-income people throughout Micronesia with disaster-related legal needs.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, Congress passed the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019. The bill provides $19.1 billion in supplemental disaster funds to address damage caused by hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, and other natural disasters that occurred from 2017-2019. LSC received $15 million to support the delivery of legal services to individuals affected by disasters<\/p>\n
Legal aid is essential in helping survivors get back on their feet.\u00a0When disaster strikes a community,\u00a0the vulnerabilities of low-income people are amplified,\u00a0and the need for legal assistance becomes even more critical.\u00a0Survivors need experts who understand the legal issues involved and who can help them secure temporary housing, file insurance claims, replace important legal documents, negotiate with landlords to make necessary repairs, and more.<\/p>\n
LSC\u2019s grant will allow\u00a0Micronesian Legal Services to create\u00a0a team to help low-income survivors of Super Typhoon Yutu and Typhoon Mangkhut by providing direct legal services, conducting community education, and collaborating with other disaster-services partners. The organization will also implement technology enhancements to better serve the affected population.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLegal services providers are a critical component of comprehensive disaster relief for survivors facing wrongful evictions, denials of insurance claims and benefits, and consumer scams,\u201d explained LSC president James J. Sandman. \u201cWe are grateful to Congress for providing funds to ensure that low-income disaster survivors get the help they need in the aftermath of a disaster.\u201d<\/p>\n
Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP)\u00a0congratulated Micronesian Legal Services on the award. \u201cMicronesian\u202fLegal\u202fServices\u202fhas been central to the response to Typhoon Mangkhut and Super Typhoon Yutu, helping survivors through the\u202flegal complexities of obtaining federal aid,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd, as was the case for so many recovery workers, the people of Micronesian Legal Services\u202fwere helping others, while repairing their own homes and lives and recovering from the extensive damage to their offices.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMaking sure the Marianas was fully eligible for assistance in this year\u2019s disaster appropriation was at the top of my agenda for 2019. It is good to see the money Congress appropriated in June now reaching those we intended to help,\u201d\u00a0Sablan added.<\/p>\n
Micronesian Legal Services is one of 12 recipients of disaster funding totaling\u00a0more than $14 million.<\/p>\n
LSC is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974 to provide financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. (PR)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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