COVID-19

Michigan Indian Legal Service: Building Trust and Increasing Justice Through Presence in Tribal Communities

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:19:57 +0000

Michigan Indian Legal Service: Building Trust and Increasing Justice Through Presence in Tribal Communities sierra-chacona… Tue, 04/22/2025 - 11:19

In this case study, learn how Michigan Indian Legal Services establishes trust within tribal communities by maintaining an active in-person presence.

Building Trust and Increasing Justice Through Presence in Tribal Communities

Grantees will learn how Michigan Indian Legal Services (MILS):

1. Builds trust and relationships with tribal nations through consistent in-person presence,

2. Maximizes its capacity to serve as many constituents as possible, and

3. Navigates and overcomes service delivery challenges.

Hear from Cameron Fraser, MILS's Executive Director, about lessons learned and replicable practices for LSC grantees serving Indigenous populations.

View Case Study

"Having coworkers be involved in the [Native communities] and a part of the families helps a lot and ensures that we are providing a competent place for people to get legal services."

Cameron Fraser

Executive Director, MILS

More Providing Legal Services Resources

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Model Practices and Innovations Resources

Outreach COVID-19 Native American Rural

Michigan

Traveling the Distance to Train Tribal Lay Advocates

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 14:24:26 +0000

Traveling the Distance to Train Tribal Lay Advocates sierra-chacona… Thu, 08/08/2024 - 10:24

In this case study, learn how the Montana Legal Services Association expanded its legal aid capacity in rural and tribal communities through the Montana Tribal Advocacy Incubator Project.

Montana Legal Services Association: Traveling the Distance to Train Tribal Lay

Grantees will learn how the Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA):

1. Built the Tribal Advocacy Incubator (TAI) Project to expand legal aid capacity;

2. Developed an education program to recruit, train, and mentor tribal lay advocates; and

3. Addressed gaps in training and quality representation by standardizing practices.

Hear from Kathryn Seaton, Tribal Law Attorney at MLSA, and Valerie Falls Down, TAI Project Coordinator, about partnering with tribal courts to recruit, train, mentor, and support tribal lay advocates to provide legal assistance to low-income Native Americans.

Read Case Study

“The Montana Legal Services Association’s Tribal Advocacy Incubator Project originated with an understanding: Montana’s legal community is small, and the number of people who practice tribal law is even smaller.”

Kathryn Seaton

Tribal Law Attorney, Montana Legal Services Association

More on Providing Legal Services

Visit this MPI topic page to explore resources on effective legal service delivery models.

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More Model Practices & Innovations

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Outreach Strategic Planning Training COVID-19 Native American Rural

Montana

Eviction and COVID-19 Cases

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 16:37:11 +0000

Eviction and COVID-19 Cases sierra-chacona… Wed, 08/07/2024 - 12:37

In this case study, learn how Idaho Legal Aid Services and Legal Aid of Western Michigan implemented action plans to help clientele in danger of losing housing during COVID-19.

Model Practices and Innovations: Eviction and COVID-19 Cases

Grantees will learn how Idaho Legal Aid Services (ILAS) and Legal Aid of Western Michigan (LAWM):

1. Accommodated the influx of housing and eviction assistance requests during COVID-19;

2. Created informative videos to educate the community about the eviction process; and

3. Spearheaded a statewide eviction diversion program (EDP) to provide early intervention.

Hear from Jacob Workman, Managing Attorney at ILAS, and Karen Tjapkes, Director of Litigation at LAWM, about managing an influx of civil legal aid requests and the expanding number of low-income individuals and families receiving eviction assistance during COVID-19.

Read Case Study

"The most successful eviction diversion programs established under Michigan’s new eviction diversion structure brought together local housing agencies, legal service programs, district courts, Health and Human Services offices, and other stakeholders.”

Excerpt from Case Study

More on Providing Legal Services

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Intake Leading and Managing an Organization Strategic Planning Technology COVID-19 Housing / Evictions

Idaho

Building Bridges Across the Digital Divide

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 16:12:49 +0000

Building Bridges Across the Digital Divide sierra-chacona… Wed, 08/07/2024 - 12:12

Learn how Legal Services of North Florida launched mobile units to reach low income residents facing digital challenges in this case study.

Legal Services of North Florida: Building Bridges Across the Digital Divide

Grantees will learn how Legal Services of North Florida (LSNF):

1. Implemented digital solutions and outreach for increased legal aid demands;

2. Created and sent mobile units to areas recovering from natural disasters; and

3. Increased housing assistance cases and digital intake capacity

Hear from Leslie Powell-Boudreaux, Executive Director of LSNF, and Charlotte Waters, Communications Director, about measures SNF took to increase its online intake capacity, manage case logistics, and educate court personnel about digital challenge facing its clients during natural disasters.

Read Case Study

”LSNF’s multimedia outreach on social media, radio, and printed fliers throughout Hurricane Michael’s recovery efforts and COVID-19 contributed to a large increase in housing assistance applications, particularly for evictions.”

Charlotte Waters

Communications Director, Legal Services of North Florida

More on Providing Legal Services

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Intake Outreach Strategic Planning Technology COVID-19 Disasters Rural

Florida

Expanding Services to Bridge the Digital Divide

sierra-chacona@lsc.gov — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 15:29:17 +0000

Expanding Services to Bridge the Digital Divide sierra-chacona… Mon, 07/29/2024 - 11:29

Learn how Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota established legal kiosks and mobile legal aid offices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dialing Up: How Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota Expanded Its Services to Bridge the Digital Divide

Grantees will learn how Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota (LSNM):

1. Assisted communities cut off by the digital divide;

2. Instituted resource, technology, and emergency staffing infrastructure; and

3. Established legal kiosks and mobile legal aid offices.

Hear from Anne Hoefgen, Executive Director of Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota (LSNM), and Kelly Wencl, Communications & Outreach Coordinator, about approaches to increase accessibility, rapid assistance, community partnerships, and outreach to communities cut off by the digital divide.

View Case Study

"LSNM focused on ‘pandemic positives’: learning how to serve people and use resources better based on lessons gleaned from these challenges."

Anne Hoefgen

Executive Director, Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota

More on Providing Legal Services

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More Model Practices and Innovations

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Intake Outreach Strategic Planning Technology COVID-19 Rural

Michigan

Talk Justice: Episode Sixty

richardsons@lsc.gov — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 15:59:15 +0000

Talk Justice: Episode Sixty richardsons@lsc.gov Wed, 06/21/2023 - 11:59

Talk Justice: Episode Thirty One

richardsons@lsc.gov — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 15:58:49 +0000

Talk Justice: Episode Thirty One richardsons@lsc.gov Tue, 03/22/2022 - 11:58

Talk Justice: Episode Twenty Three

richardsons@lsc.gov — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 18:16:17 +0000

Talk Justice: Episode Twenty Three richardsons@lsc.gov Tue, 11/23/2021 - 13:16

Talk Justice: Episode Eighteen

richardsons@lsc.gov — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 16:13:59 +0000

Talk Justice: Episode Eighteen richardsons@lsc.gov Wed, 09/15/2021 - 12:13

Disaster Grants Program

admin — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 12:53:38 +0000

Disaster Grants Program admin Thu, 04/15/2021 - 08:53

LSC's Disaster Grants program provides funding to LSC-funded organizations providing services to survivors of government-declared emergencies and coordinating preparation efforts for future natural disasters.

Mission

The LSC Disaster Grants Program provides funding and support to LSC-funded legal aid organizations, enabling them to help low-income disaster survivors access essential legal services. The program educates survivors, legal aid organizations, and the disaster community about available disaster legal services. Additionally, it provides crucial disaster preparation and response information to survivors, organizations, and legal advocates.

See our Grant Highlights

Overview

Legal services providers are a critical component of comprehensive disaster relief, offering vital support to survivors long after other responders have departed. LSC's 2022 Justice Gap report revealed low-income Americans did not receive any or enough legal help for 92% of their civil legal problems.

As the leading funder of civil legal aid for low-income disaster survivors in the United States, LSC plays a unique and vital role in ensuring access to justice in the wake of disasters. LSC ensures legal aid organizations across the country to address a wide range of legal challenges for survivors, including housing issues, insurance claims, FEMA appeals, and document replacement.

LSC's approach to disaster legal aid has evolved significantly, encompassing preparedness, immediate response, and long-term recovery. LSC broad work to address the justice gap includes continuing to adapt to meet the changing needs of low-income disaster survivors, addressing challenges such as reaching rural and remote areas, supporting survivors with disabilities, and addressing employment obstacles in disaster-impacted communities.

As natural disasters become more frequent and severe, LSC's role in coordinating and supporting legal aid efforts remains crucial. By fostering collaboration among stakeholders and providing essential resources, LSC ensures that Americans receive the legal assistance they need before, during, and long after disasters strike.

Learn More ��˶�� Disaster Legal Services

Grant Types

Disaster Relief Emergency Grants (DREG)
Disaster Supplemental Appropriation Project Grants
Disaster Supplemental Appropriation Incurred Costs Grants
The Midwest Legal Aid Disaster Coordination Project (MLDCP)

Disaster Relief Emergency Grants provides funds as needed to LSC grantees in areas with government-declared emergencies. Those funds are for responses to damage sustained or a surge in demand for legal aid because of the emergency.

Apply

Disaster Supplemental Appropriation Project Grants fund civil legal aid activities and other necessary expenses in response to natural disasters that occur within a timeframe specified by Congress, typically one or two calendar years. Projects usually last 24 to 36 months, enabling LSC grantees to develop comprehensive strategies for addressing the complex legal needs that emerge in the aftermath of disasters.

Apply

Disaster Supplemental Appropriation Incurred Costs Grants reimburse eligible LSC grantees for expenses already incurred in response to natural disasters that occurred within timeframes specified by Congressc, generally one to two calendar years. Eligible costs are expenses incurred from the date of the disaster until the start of a Disaster Supplemental Appropriation Project Grant. These grants allow LSC grantees to recover resources mobilized for immediate and ongoing disaster response and recovery efforts, enhancing their ability to address disaster-related legal needs for low-income residents in their communities quickly.

Apply

The Midwest Legal Aid Disaster Coordination Project (MLDCP) is a disaster resiliency initiative supporting LSC Basic Field grantees across ten Midwest states, aiming to enhance preparedness in low-income communities and strengthen disaster legal aid response capabilities in the region. The project offers project grants and mentorship grants while fostering collaboration among LSC grantees, volunteer attorneys, and disaster response organizations.

Apply

Resources

Legal Aid Disaster Resource Center

The Legal Aid Disaster Resource Center is a national website designed to help legal aid and other service organizations more effectively meet the civil legal needs of disaster survivors. The website serves as a one-stop resource for disaster training materials and expertise, offering practical tools, resources, and a nationwide knowledge bank to assist attorneys, volunteers, and disaster survivors in responding to and recovering from disasters across the country.

Visit Legal Aid Disaster Resource site

Heartland Disaster Help

Heartland Disaster Help is a comprehensive online resource providing real-time disaster risk assessment and recovery guidance for residents in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. The website offers localized information on floods, windstorms, extreme heat, and wildfires, including preparation tips, recovery recommendations, and local aid organization directories, while also providing valuable content applicable nationwide.

Visit Heartland Disaster Help site

LSC Disaster Task Force Report

The LSC Disaster Task Force Report provides comprehensive guidance on strengthening legal aid response systems for disaster-affected communities, with recommendations focusing on integrating legal services into emergency management, training providers, and improving disaster preparedness for vulnerable populations. Created through extensive field research and stakeholder input, this resource outlines concrete steps for legal services providers to build sustainable approaches in helping low-income individuals and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

See the task force report

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the U.S. government agency responsible for coordinating the response to disasters that overwhelm local and state resources. FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation to reduce the loss of life and property and protect communities nationwide from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.

Visit FEMA's site

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

The National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD or NVOAD) is a coalition of major U.S. voluntary organizations dedicated to disaster-related work, providing skilled services across the full spectrum of disaster management from prevention to recovery. National VOAD coordinates and facilitates collaboration among its member agencies to ensure comprehensive and efficient disaster response and recovery efforts.

Visit NVOAD's site

ABA Disaster Relief

The American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness is a specialized body focused on addressing legal challenges arising from disasters. The committee works to equip legal professionals and the public with critical resources, promoting awareness, preparedness, and resilience in disaster-related legal matters across the United States.

Learn more about ABA

"The recovery process does not end in the weeks immediately following the disaster. Instead, it may extend for many years, and community organizations may be faced with aiding survivors with long-term issues including contractor fraud, insurance and benefits issues, title disputes, social service eligibility disputes, replacement of significant documents, and housing issues such as evictions and foreclosures."

Disaster Task Force Report

COVID-19 Disaster Grant Disasters Grant Program

small

richardsons@lsc.gov

COVID-19

Michigan Indian Legal Service: Building Trust and Increasing Justice Through Presence in Tribal Communities

Building Trust and Increasing Justice Through Presence in Tribal Communities

: Ensuring Tribal Justice: How Oklahoma Indian Legal Services Advocates for Native Populations

Montana Legal Services Association: Traveling the Distance to Train Tribal Lay Advocates

Anishinabe Legal Services: Capital Fundraising Campaign

More Providing Legal Services Resources

More Model Practices & Innovations

Traveling the Distance to Train Tribal Lay Advocates

Montana Legal Services Association: Traveling the Distance to Train Tribal Lay

“The Montana Legal Services Association’s Tribal Advocacy Incubator Project originated with an understanding: Montana’s legal community is small, and the number of people who practice tribal law is even smaller.”

Moving Beyond Lawyer-Based Solutions with Community Justice Workers

Transforming Volunteer Training with the Pro Bono Training Institute

Capital Fundraising Campaign

More on Providing Legal Services

More Model Practices & Innovations

Eviction and COVID-19 Cases

Model Practices and Innovations: Eviction and COVID-19 Cases

"The most successful eviction diversion programs established under Michigan’s new eviction diversion structure brought together local housing agencies, legal service programs, district courts, Health and Human Services offices, and other stakeholders.”

Library Partnerships During Disaster Recovery

Expanding Services to Bridge the Digital Divide

Building Bridges Across the Digital Divide

More on Providing Legal Services

More Model Practices & Innovations

Building Bridges Across the Digital Divide

Legal Services of North Florida: Building Bridges Across the Digital Divide

”LSNF’s multimedia outreach on social media, radio, and printed fliers throughout Hurricane Michael’s recovery efforts and COVID-19 contributed to a large increase in housing assistance applications, particularly for evictions.”

Expanding Services to Bridge the Digital Divide

Library Partnerships During Disaster Recovery

Free Course: Navigating Civil Legal Issues of Natural Disasters

More on Providing Legal Services

More Model Practices & Innovations

Expanding Services to Bridge the Digital Divide

Dialing Up: How Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota Expanded Its Services to Bridge the Digital Divide

"LSNM focused on ‘pandemic positives’: learning how to serve people and use resources better based on lessons gleaned from these challenges."

Building Bridges Across the Digital Divide

Eviction and COVID-19 Cases

Library Partnerships During Disaster Recovery

More on Providing Legal Services

More Model Practices and Innovations

Talk Justice: Episode Sixty

Talk Justice: Episode Thirty One

Talk Justice: Episode Twenty Three

Talk Justice: Episode Eighteen

Disaster Grants Program

Mission

Overview

Grant Types

Resources

Legal Aid Disaster Resource Center

Heartland Disaster Help

LSC Disaster Task Force Report

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

ABA Disaster Relief