NCCF’s Disaster Relief Fund supports ongoing legal help after Helene
More than a year after Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina, many of the challenges facing residents are very different. Often it is legal and financial hurdles: navigating FEMA appeals, insurance disputes, rental assistance, and the complicated paperwork that determines whether someone can rebuild their home.
Recognizing the long arc of recovery after major disasters, the North Carolina Community Foundation awarded $2.4 million from its Disaster Relief Fund to support long-term legal services for residents with low incomes in western North Carolina. The three-year investment includes $1.4 million for Pisgah Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm serving the western part of the state, and $1 million for Legal Aid of North Carolina, which serves clients statewide.
“Legal services after a disaster are complex and nuanced. The farther you get away from the storm, the more complicated the issues can become. Legal Aid of North Carolina has years of disaster recovery experience across the state, and Pisgah Legal Services has deep connections in western North Carolina. Together, they can reach more residents and provide the expertise needed for long-term recovery.”
– Ret Boney, NCCF’s Disaster Relief Fund program director
Attorneys from both firms mobilized quickly after Helene, meeting with residents in shelters and affected communities to navigate immediate legal and practical challenges. Jonathan Perry, managing attorney for Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Morganton office, recalled, “Sometimes I would go and sit in shelters for eight straight hours with people waiting around the corner with every number of legal issues you could imagine.”
While the initial response focused on immediate needs, the legal challenges have only grown more complex. More than a year later, many residents remain stuck in the recovery process.
According to Julia Horrocks, managing attorney at Pisgah Legal Services, long-term recovery has brought a wave of denied or stalled FEMA applications, leaving people confused about their eligibility and next steps.
“Folks are still stuck in the process, and a lot of them don’t understand why,” Horrocks said, noting that messaging from FEMA and insurance companies can be unclear. As a result, attorneys continue filing appeals, navigating insurance disputes, and helping residents move forward when the system itself becomes a barrier.
The collaboration between the two nonprofits has been essential. “We’ve been able to work together with Legal Aid of North Carolina to reach more people in western North Carolina than either organization could on its own,” said Jaclyn Kiger, executive director of Pisgah Legal Services. “This generous funding from NCCF allows us to maintain staff in the communities that were hardest hit and ensures low-income residents have consistent access to legal help.”
Ashley Campbell, CEO of Legal Aid of North Carolina, said the investment reflects a clear understanding of how long disaster recovery takes. “We have been involved in cases involving Hurricanes Matthew and Florence sometimes six, seven, eight years after the storm,” she said. “When the community foundation made this investment in long-term disaster response, it reflected their understanding that folks need years, not months, to recover.”
And Perry noted that people who live in western North Carolina often don’t ask for help. “When they do reach out, it’s because they really need it,” he said. “It shouldn’t just be for those who can afford an attorney. We aim to be here for everybody, regardless of means.”