Equal Justice Works Fellows to Host Disaster Legal Aid Trainings

Throughout the month of March, Equal Justice Works Fellows in the Disaster Resilience Program will host trainings in partnership with various organizations, government agencies, and legal services providers to educate communities on legal services available to disaster survivors.

These disaster legal aid trainings are part of the first-ever Disaster Resilience Awareness Month organized by Equal Justice Works. In collaboration with other leaders in the field—the ABA Young Lawyers Division Disaster Legal Services Program, the American Red Cross, Pro Bono Net, and the National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center—Equal Justice Works is dedicating the month of March to spread awareness about disaster-related challenges and share resources for disaster survivors and lawyers.

The upcoming free sessions will be held virtually and are as follows:

• March 2: Addressing the Unique Needs of Immigrants During Disasters
  Time: 1 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. CT
  Fellow Maria Vazquez at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will share information on how to best support and assist immigrant individuals in the disaster preparation and recovery process. This session will be available on Catholic Charities’ Facebook page on March 2.

• March 4: Disaster Preparedness Awareness for Refugees and New Arrivals
  Time: 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT
  Fellow Robert Flores at YMCA International Services will speak with Kimberly Haynes, executive director for South Texas Office for Refugees about issues and barriers facing refugees and other humanitarian new arrivals when it comes to disaster preparedness and recovery. This session will also discuss what resources are available for refugees to overcome these barriers. Register here.

• March 9: A Disaster Survivor’s Guide to SBA Loans
  Time: 1 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. CT
  Fellow alum Brittanny Perrigue Gomez at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and Fellow Brianna Williams at Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida will discuss how Small Business Administration (SBA) loans can be used to help people after a disaster strikes. Register here.

• March 10: After a Disaster: ID Theft, Scams, and Insurance
  Time: 4 p.m. ET /3 p.m. CT
  Fellow Stephanie Duke at Disability Rights Texas will team up with Consumer Action to address ID theft, how to protect yourself as a disaster survivor, potential protections as a beneficiary of an insurance policy, and share consumer resources. This session will be prerecorded and shared on Disability Rights Texas’ Facebook page on March 10.

• March 15: Disaster Services and Accessibility within the American Red Cross
  Time: 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT
  The American Red Cross will speak with Fellow Stephanie Duke at Disability Rights Texas about its inclusive practices, and discuss functional and access needs for individuals and families and how the American Red Cross can accommodate. This session will be prerecorded and shared on Disability Rights Texas’ Facebook page on March 15.

• March 17: What You Need to Know About Applying for Disaster Housing Assistance
  Time: 4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT
  The National Low Income Housing Coalition will chat with Fellow Stephanie Duke at Disability Rights Texas about housing assistance following a disaster and the potentially available housing options under FEMA’s housing program, HUD Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery assistance, and Urban Redevelopment Authority obligations for renters. This session will be prerecorded and shared on Disability Rights Texas’ Facebook page on March 17.

• March 22: How to Apply for FEMA Assistance
  Time:  7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT
  FEMA has several individual assistance programs designed to support disaster survivors. Fellow Hannah Dyal at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and FEMA Emergency Management Specialist Teresa Lien, will discuss benefits available to those impacted by disasters. Register here.

• March 25: Title Clearing & Property Protection During a Disaster
  Time: 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT
  Fellow Meghan Smolensky at Lone Star Legal Aid will team up with AARP to share information on how to legally protect your property and assets before a disaster hits. This session will provide resources for how to best prepare you and your family for the next disaster and discuss ways to avoid scams during recovery efforts from Winter Storm Uri. Register here.

If you are interested in joining us for Disaster Resilience Awareness Month, please follow us on Twitter at @EJW_org. For more information about these trainings, please reach out to [email protected].

The Equal Justice Works Disaster Resilience Program is funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, the Bigglesworth Family Foundation, and individual contributions.