WTC Records Folder 0129 Disaster Miscellaneous label, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

SEP-19-2001 12:2? 718 237 8737 P.03/06

The Legal Aid Society Disaster Recovery Plan for Survivors

The Legal Aid Society, with offices in every borough of New York City, is in a unique position to address the multiplicity of legal needs of survivors of the World Trade Center fi tragedy. As the country's largest legal services provider, with substantial civil and juvenile practices in addition to our role in criminal defense, our staff qualified and is

experienced in precisely the areas of the law expected to be in greatest demand- The legal issues are so diverse — banking, death benefits, health and other insurance, immigration, custody, guardianship, small business recovery, and many others -- that the Society's capacity to provide comprehensive services will be of enormous benefit to those struggling to go forward in the aftermath. The Society has significant numbers of staff we can dedicate to this crisis intervention and recovery effort, as well as deep ties with the private bar which will give us access to pro bono assistance. The following is a broad outline of our proposal and the assumptions upon which it is based.

The Clients Several thousand lower income individuals working in or near the World Trade Center -- cleaning staff, waitresses, vendors, messengers, small shop owners, and others -- were injured or presumably killed, and left devastated families and loved ones behind. Additional thousands are now without financial reserves and at least temporarily unemployed because their employers axe dislocated or because they simply no longer have an employer. Small business owners need help with business recovery, bankruptcy, and other issues. In the coming months, there also are likely to be additional layoffs affecting clients in related industries as has already happened with several major airlines. Some of these individuals, families, and small entrepreneurs were previously income- eligible for our services, but did not need them; others who could not qualify for Legal Aid on Monday, September 10th, became eligible overnight. The Legal Aid Society has the unusual breadth of legal expertise, experience, and resources in each borough to reach out and serve all of these clients on the fullest range of their legal problems. This is a proposal to do just that.

The Services This crisis has given rise to a multitude of legal problems. Clients face particularly complex circumstances because so many have to contend with several, interdependent issues. Among the great strengths of The Legal Aid Society's staff members are not only their expertise but their ability to patiently help clients sort their problems, prioritize them, help complete confusing paper work, and give complete relief to the distraught and pained_ some of the predictable issues include:

Basic necessities. Families need to access bank accounts in the name of the missing and presumed deceased, and the ability to deal with credit cards and other bills. They will have a host of basic questions about probating wills, applying for Letters of Administration, securing benefits, and filing claims. We give practical

NYC-WTC 000137459