IOWA LEGAL AID RESOURCES Webinar for Iowa Community

IOWA LEGAL AID RESOURCES Webinar for Iowa Community Action Association February 15, 2018

IOWA LEGAL AID �Offers free legal assistance with civil, non-criminal, legal problems affecting low-income Iowans �Types of cases Iowa Legal Aid handles: � Family Law/Protection from Abuse � Housing and Foreclosure � Landlord-Tenant � Consumer and Debt Collection � Utilities

IOWA LEGAL AID �Health Care �Government Assistance �Legal Help for Senior Citizens �Disaster preparation and recovery

IOWA LEGAL AID �Ten regional offices serving all 99 counties in Iowa �Des Moines �Council Bluffs �Sioux City �Mason City �Waterloo �Dubuque �Davenport �Ottumwa �Iowa City �Cedar Rapids

IOWA LEGAL AID �Telephones are answered state-wide � 1 -800 -532 -1275 �Dedicated Spanish language line �Other languages available through an immediate phone interpretation service

IOWA LEGAL AID �Legal Hotline for Older Iowans �Iowans aged 60 or over � 1 -800 -992 -8161 �Dedicated Spanish language line �Other languages available through an immediate phone interpretation service

IOWA LEGAL AID �How can someone apply for services? �Call 1 -800 -532 -1275 during intake hours � Mondays � 1: 30 through Fridays from 9: 00 a. m. to 11: 00 a. m. and p. m. to 3: 30 p. m. , except for Thursday afternoons � Emergency intakes are taken at any time

IOWA LEGAL AID �Walk in to any regional office and apply for services �Apply online �Apply through our website: www. iowalegalaid. org

IOWA LEGAL AID �What happens after a person applies for services �An intake worker will determine if they are eligible for services �An intake attorney will speak to them and answer their legal questions �If more help is needed, our staff will review the case to determine whether we can offer more assistance

What is a disaster? �A sudden event, such as an accident or natural catastrophe, that causes great damage or loss of life �Can be large scale disasters (Iowa flooding in 1993 and 2008) �Can be medium scale disasters (Iowa flooding in 2016) �Can be small scale disasters (hail storms, tornadoes) �Can be individual (house or apartment fires)

Four projects under the Iowa Legal Aid disaster grant:

First project: �Develop relationships with non-legal disaster responders �Educate them on the critical role that access to an attorney can play in a disaster survivor’s recovery �Educate them on the common disaster legal problems faced by disaster survivors �Create a simplified referral system to Iowa Legal Aid

Second Project �Create educational materials to allow disaster survivors to identify legal problems they are facing �Educate disaster survivors on how to contact Iowa Legal Aid for assistance �Educate Iowa Legal Aid’s client community on how to self-advocate in preparing and recovering from a disaster

Third Project �To recruit and train Iowa Legal Aid staff attorneys and volunteer attorneys to represent disaster survivors with their legal problems immediately after a disaster occurs

Fourth Project �To enhance our use of technology to meet the needs of disaster survivors �Updated Disaster Relief page on Iowa Legal Aid’s website �Disaster mobile friendly website �Disaster mobile app (Both android and i. OS compatible) �Twitter

Disaster Declaration Checklist �Activated when the governor issues a state disaster declaration or where there is damage caused by severe weather �Activated in response to a large scale fire (Eddy apartments, Elliott apartments in Des Moines) �Emails are sent to: �County Emergency Manager �Community Action program that serves that county (disaster case managers) �Red Cross �COAD/VOAD (if operating)

Informational Materials Provided �Flyers �How to Recognize Common Legal Problems Faced by Disaster Survivors �Is a Disaster Legal Problem Beneath the Surface? �Iowa Legal Aid informational brochure �How to Make a Referral to Iowa Legal Aid

How Iowa Legal Aid Can Help �Informational Materials for Disaster Survivors �Attendance at community or responder meetings �Intake or educational events at emergency shelters �Participation in community resource fairs �Legal advice to disaster survivors about their situation �Extended representation in court or administrative agencies

Common disaster legal issues �Disaster survivors may experience legal problems for years after the disaster � There is a general timeline for when disaster legal issues arise �Iowa Legal Aid is able to assist disaster survivors months and years after the disaster occurs

Immediate legal issues �FEMA: Applying for benefits and appealing FEMA denials or insufficient awards �State Disaster Assistance: Applying for benefits and appealing denials or insufficient awards

Immediate Legal Issues �Disaster Food Stamps: education, applications and appealing denials �Insurance: Applications and appealing denials

Immediate legal issues �Home repairs: hiring a reputable contractor �Landlord-Tenant: Termination of leases, habitability issues, repair issues, security deposits �Replacing lost documents: immigration, identification, government benefit cards �Education issues: where can displaced children go to school

Continuing legal issues �Contractor issues: scams, quality of work, payment issues, mechanic’s liens �Foreclosure: inability to pay mortgage on damaged home due to repair costs and alternative housing costs

Continuing legal issues �Tax Issues: Casualty loss deductions, taxability of benefits �Disaster assistance and how it affects a disaster survivor’s eligibility for need based programs (Section 8, SSI, food stamps)

Long term issues �FEMA recoupments and overpayments �Property buyouts �Bankruptcy �City code ordinances

Contact for additional information: �Lisa Gavin 317 Seventh Avenue SE Iowa Legal Aid Suite 404 Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401 Lgavin@iowalaw. org (319) 364 -6108, ext. 1306 Josh Gaul Iowa Legal Aid 1111 9 th Street Suite 230 Des Moines, Iowa 50314 jgaul@iowalaw. org (515) 243 -1193, ext. 1646