Iowa Legal Aid: Free Legal Assistance for Low-Income Iowans
Iowa Legal Aid offers free legal assistance to low-income Iowans, covering a range of civil legal issues such as family law, housing, consumer rights, and more. Services are provided through regional offices across Iowa, with easy application processes and multilingual support available. Learn how to access legal help and assistance through Iowa Legal Aid to address various legal challenges.
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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 through Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 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 iOS 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 9thStreet Suite 230 Des Moines, Iowa 50314 jgaul@iowalaw.org (515) 243-1193, ext. 1646
