(FLORIDA) - Relentless rain has inundated South Florida this month, flooding neighborhoods, stranding drivers, and canceling flights — and the threat isn't over. NOAA National Weather Service forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center predict above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic this year, putting coastal states like Florida on notice. In the wake of these disasters, Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS) stands ready to provide critical legal assistance to those affected.
During the initial weeks following a disaster, FRLS focuses on urgent housing issues and income protection. Our team of dedicated disaster attorneys and paralegals assists qualified residents at no cost with:
- Housing: Lease terminations, evictions, utility shutoffs, security deposits, repair issues, FEMA applications, and insurance claims.
- Document Replacement: Birth certificates, driver’s licenses, social security cards, and deeds.
- Income Protection: Wage theft issues, unemployment applications/appeals, public benefits applications/appeals, and U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loan applications.
“As a non-profit law firm, FRLS offers free legal help and representation to qualified disaster victims across 13 counties in Florida, ensuring that vulnerable communities receive the support they need to recover and rebuild,” said Iola Mosley, Interim Executive Director of FRLS.
As the recovery process continues, FRLS expands its services to address more complex housing and consumer issues, as well as family and education matters. This includes:
- Housing & Consumer: FEMA/SBA appeals, landlord-tenant issues, FEMA/U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rent subsidy renewals, displaced public housing/tenant issues, foreclosure prevention, real property title clearing and probate, Section 8 portability, mobile home questions, repair and contractor scams, insurance scams and claims disputes, and price gouging.
- Family & Education: Access to public education while displaced, powers of attorney for care of a child or senior, guardianships and supportive decision-making, emergency custody modifications, parenting order modifications due to new home/school locations, and domestic violence issues, including protective orders.
Even years after a disaster, FRLS continues to provide vital legal services to ensure long-term stability and recovery. Our long-term support includes:
- Housing: Foreclosures, landlord-tenant issues, flood insurance disputes, FEMA recoupments, and other housing disputes.
- Consumer: Disaster tax relief applications and bankruptcies.
- General Civil: Civil and disability rights cases and legal counsel for community organizations.
"Our dedicated team of disaster attorneys and paralegals works tirelessly to protect the rights and interests of disaster victims," said Mosley. "We pursue fraudulent contractors, assist with insurance claims and FEMA appeals, and ensure landlords comply with the law after a storm. Our mission is to provide the necessary legal support to help communities recover and thrive after a disaster."
For more information about the services offered by Florida Rural Legal Services and to determine eligibility for free legal assistance, please visit https://www.frls.org/hurricane-services or contact us at 1-888-582-3410 from Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Disaster legal services are funded through grants from Legal Services Corporation, American Red Cross, Equal Justice Works, and Community Foundation of Sarasota County.
About Florida Rural Legal Services:
Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS) is a non-profit law firm providing free civil legal assistance to low-income families and elderly individuals in 13 counties throughout Florida. Our mission is to ensure access to justice for those who need it most, particularly in times of disaster and crisis. FRLS' free disaster legal services are funded by grants from the Legal Services Corporation, the American Red Cross, and Equal Justice Works.