Pro Bono News

Top Legal Aid Funder Lands $15M Marked For Disaster Relief

Sunday, June 09, 2019

Top Legal Aid Funder Lands $15M Marked For Disaster Relief

"After Superstorm Sandy ravaged America’s Eastern Seaboard in October 2012 and caused nearly $70 billion in damages, Congress granted the Legal Services Corporation just $1 million dollars to allocate toward legal aid services related to the storm.

The next four years of supplemental disaster bills included no federal funding for legal aid at all, but in 2018, Congress set aside $15 million for LSC to spend on the limited purposes of mobile resources, technology and pro bono outreach for those hit by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, plus California wildfires.

On June 3, the U.S. House of Representatives voted for the second year in a row to earmark $15 million for LSC — this time without limitations on how it could be used.

According to LSC President Jim Sandman, the back-to-back $15 million allocations demonstrate how much Congress has come to appreciate the importance of legal aid when disaster strikes.

“I hope it reflects a normalization of funding for legal aid,” Sandman said. “It’s great news.”..."

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