The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announced today that it is awarding $527,051 to Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma (LASO) to support the delivery of legal services to low-income Oklahomans impacted by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in 2022. LASO will also receive a grant for $42,391 to cover costs already incurred from providing services related to these natural disasters.
LASO is one of 14 organizations around the country receiving grants for this purpose. LSC, the largest funder of civil legal aid in the United States, received $20 million of supplemental funding in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 passed by Congress to support this widespread natural disaster response.
After extreme weather events, victims often require immediate legal assistance to file for FEMA and insurance benefits, deal with landlord/tenant issues, access unemployment, or apply for replacements of important documents needed for education and medical benefits. Legal issues caused by disasters can persist for years. Cases involving FEMA appeals, bankruptcy, public housing and domestic violence can emerge, and disaster victims are vulnerable to predatory scams and fraud.
“Disaster response involves so much more than physical repairs, as millions of Americans find out each year when their home or family is impacted by one of these devastating events,” said LSC President Ron Flagg. “Legal aid providers are integral in helping low-income families access vital services and resources that set them on the path to recovery.”
LASO will use the funding to enhance its services to disaster survivors throughout the state. Staff members will provide legal services to disaster-impacted clients in Oklahoma via direct representation and dozens of substantive clinics. They will also boost disaster-related education through improvements to the Oklahoma Disaster Legal Help website. LASO will continue to develop successful faith-based outreach to educate Oklahoma faith communities and leaders about the critical nature of post-disaster civil legal services.
LASO will also develop curriculum and training materials with other LSC-funded disaster response programs to assist organizations who are new to the disaster response field.
Representative Tom Cole (OK-4) commended LASO on the grant and its vital disaster relief work.
“The tornadoes and severe storms and flooding from last year deeply affected many lives across our state,” said Rep. Cole. “As many are still trying to recover from the destruction, I am delighted that the Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Indian Legal Services will receive these substantial grants to help Oklahomans and our state’s Native communities get back on their feet. These worthwhile investments will certainly bring some good back to Oklahoma.”
Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974 to provide financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. The Corporation currently provides funding to 131 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
