WTC Records Folder 0129 Disaster Miscellaneous label, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

SEP-19-2001 12:2? 718 237 8737 P.05/06

Immigration. Individuals whose immigration status was contingent on specific employment arrangements may find themselves unable to comply with these arrangements because the employer no longer exists or can no longer retain them. The Legal Aid Society's Immigration lawyers have expertise in arranging the interventions that would be needed to help these clients.

Small Businesses. The area around the World Trade Center included many small businesses whose survival is thrown into question by the disaster of last week. Insurance claims, small business loans, access to SBA and emergency resources, and filing for bankruptcy are just a few of the business-related issues that small entrepreneurs will need to consider. For some there will be a host of (re)start-up issues. Small businesses in other parts of the city may also be affected as for instance where suppliers or distribution systems are interrupted. The Legal Aid Society's expertise includes business law experience in providing advice and counsel to small businesses.

The Resources

While the scope of the project is not entirely clear at this point, we suggest as a starting point support for a mixed group of 35 attorneys and paralegals at an average cost in salaries and fringe benefits of $75,000 for a fiscal year. This totals approximately $2.5 million. Because we have an apparent State budget shortfall of approximately that amount for this fiscal year, we have some ability over the course of the year to absorb this adjustment in the nature of our work. We can begin immediately with a citywide hotline operation, to be backed up by a strong commitment in each borough and in a special unit to be established. We expect to build our resource commitment as quickly as possible, beginning immediately, with the expectation that the intensity of this effort will be reduced later in the year. Our cost estimates do not include facilities, equipment, and other overhead, since we are already operational and have taken these costs into consideration.

Service Delivery Plan

Telephone Hotline. This can be set up very quickly, wherever we are able to get equipment connected. We will fully staff the hotline on an extended hours schedule to provide immediate advice and referral on very basic issues, with follow-up by our own staff or pro bono help as needed.

In the Borough Offices. We can begin very quickly after the hotline is in operation to advertise and provide services in our neighborhood offices in each of the boroughs. Services would be delivered through drop-in counseling, community education programs, assistance with forms and procedures, as well as telephone advice as appropriate.

NYC-WTC 000137461