Legal Aid
ReBuild NC warned hurricane survivor he could have to repay all of his benefits, as much as $250K
This is part of a series of stories about financial waste at ReBuild NC. Vernon Harrell told them to look in the attic. His family home in Kinston did not flood in Hurricane Matthew, but copious amounts of rain from the historic storm leaked through the roof. Please look in the attic, Harrell told the […]
Legal Aid lawyers carved out of tuition assistance program in latest budget
Under the latest state proposal budget, the North Carolina Legal Education Assistance Foundation would still provide tuition assistance for prosecutors and public defenders — but not Legal Aid lawyers. The carveout, located on page 413 of the most recent version of the state budget Republican lawmakers will vote on this week, restricts NC LEAF funds […]
Legal Aid of North Carolina executive director George Hausen
For over four decades now, advocates at Legal Aid have provided free legal help to low-income North Carolinians in civil cases involving basic human needs like safety, shelter, income and many other issues.Toll-Free Helpline: 1-866-219-LANC
Advocates: there’s still time for North Carolina families to get $335 “extra credit grants”
While many have raised serious and legitimate questions about the wisdom of the so-called “Extra Credit Grants” program North Carolina enacted earlier this year as a partial relief measure in response to the pandemic (most notably whether it makes sense to give money to families who are faring just fine during the crisis, while making […]
Amazing new website explores how legal aid will be critical to Florence recovery
If you get a few minutes, be sure to check out the new Hurricane Florence recovery website “Rebuilding Lives in the Carolinas”. The site, which was put together by an array of legal aid and legal services supporters in both North and South Carolina, explains “how civil legal aid is helping North and South Carolinians […]
Civil rights groups launch court challenge to Greensboro panhandling ordinance
This just in from the folks at the ACLU of North Carolina: Three people who have experienced homelessness and a national advocacy group today filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block a Greensboro ordinance that criminalizes “aggressive” panhandling and many activities protected by the First Amendment. The plaintiffs are being represented by the American Civil […]
Speaker Moore’s big whopper about legal aid
As a growing number of editorials in the state’s major news outlets have noted in recent days, House Speaker Tim Moore’s unilateral, backroom decision to slash funding for Legal Aid of North Carolina is an example of modern North Carolina politics at their absolute worst. This is from last Tuesday’s edition of Raleigh’s News & […]
Best editorial of the weekend: 10 things state lawmakers should do to mend their ways
The best editorial of the weekend actually turned up a day early this week. Friday’s Capitol Broadcasting Company essay on WRAL.com did a great job in listing the “10 items N.C. legislators need to repeal, repair or replace.” Here’s the list: Take an open and non-partisan approach to the court’s orders to draw new legislative […]
Final budget delivers hits to legal services, emergency judges, Department of Justice
It’s only been a little over 24 hours since the North Carolina General Assembly introduced its final budget and its already well on its way to a House vote after passing the Senate on Tuesday. There is plenty to read in the 438-page document and plenty to get confused about. Below are a few highlights […]
House budget provision, to be voted on today, would eliminate over $1M funding for legal services to ‘those most in need’
A provision of the House budget, which will be voted on today, would eliminate more than $1 million in legal services programs. The Access to Civil Justice Act funds all traditional legal services programs, including Legal Aid Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC), Legal Services of Southern Piedmont and Pisgah Legal Services. The Act has been around for at least […]
The best editorial of the weekend
There were several fine editorials in the state’s major newspapers over the weekend. The Charlotte Observer rightfully called for the resignation of the nation’s Attorney General in light of the blatant perjury in which he engaged during his confirmation hearing. Both the Winston-Salem Journal and Greensboro News & Record lauded Governor Roy Cooper’s education budget […]
The best op-ed of the weekend
Not surprisingly, it was Gene Nichol’s regular contribution to Raleigh’s News & Observer in which he shines a light on the General Assembly’s cold and shoddy decision to punish poor people by slashing the state’s already inadequate Legal Aid budget. As is so often the case with conservative attacks on Legal Aid, this year’s budget […]