Op-Ed (Florida)
Hala Sandridge
Tampa Bay Times
October 19, 2017
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Tags: Funding: State & Local, Pro Bono
Organizations mentioned/involved: Florida Bar Foundation, Bay Area Legal Services (Tampa) (BALS), Gulf Coast Legal Services
DETAILS
On the heels of Hurricane Irma — and with new arrivals from Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria — the need is even greater for attorneys to step up for the greater good. The past couple of months have clearly demonstrated the fragility of our lives, and as many in our state face challenges, those lacking financial resources are at a distinct disadvantage.
For most of us, when the lights and appliances turn back on, the crisis is over. But for low-income disaster survivors, it’s often just the beginning. Civil legal help is a critical element of long-term recovery. Without it people can be denied insurance, federal disaster relief or veterans benefits because their documents have been lost or destroyed or because they lack clear title to their property.