Michigan Legal Aid

Disaster Relief Resources

Information and assistance for people affected by hurricane damage

These resources have been compiled for individuals and families displaced by the hurricane who now reside in Michigan.

General Legal

• Katrina Legal Aid Resource Center site
• Press Release re: Katrina Legal Resource Center
• The LawHelp organization also offers links to relief resources
• Disaster Assistance Legal Resources from the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
• National Legal Aid and Defender Association Disaster Relief page
• Recovering from Hurricanes and Other Natural Disasters - Legal Rights
• Information on Local Legal Services in Louisiana

Housing

• National Low Income Housing Coalition summary of HUD Transitional Housing Plan for evacuees
• HUD 9/23/05 Press Release regarding transitional housing plan
• Help with finding housing or listing housing available to hurricane victims:
• http://www.hurricanehousing.net/
• http://www.hurricanehousing.org/

Public Benefits

• Michigan Public Benefits access for survivors
• Issue Alert regarding MI Department of Human Services policies allowing refugees to obtain food stamps, Medicaid, Family Independence Program assistance and State Emergency Relief
• The Coalition on Human Needs is posting links on obtaining Medicaid, Head Start, UI and other benefits for hurricane victims
• Social Security Information for People Affected by Hurricane Katrina
• Unemployment claims information for displaced people
• Food assistance for hurricane displaced people

Michigan agencies and organizations

• Michigan Evacuee Assistance Overview
• Michigan Evacuee Assistance Information
• Michigan Homeland Security
• Information for displaced people seeking drivers licenses and ID's in Michigan
• Michigan Red Cross chapters
• More Disaster Information for Advocates at Michigan Poverty Law Program Site
• State Bar of Michigan

Federal Government

• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation hurricane response information for consumers and bankers
• Federal Emergency Management Agency

• English and Spanish documents regarding immigrant eligibility for FEMA assistance
• Assistance eligibiity chart- English
• Usted podría obtener asistencia por desastre
• Questions and Answers for Undocumented Immigrants Regarding FEMA Assistance
• REQUISITOS DE ELIGIBILIDAD PARA LA ASISTENCIA POR DESASTRE
• Help After a Disaster: Applicant’s Guide to the Individuals & Households Program

• Hurricane Katrina Recovery at FirstGov.gov
• IRS Tax Relief information
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Emergency Service Information

Insurance materials

• Insurance Claims Links for Louisiana
• Louisiana Insurance phone numbers
• Settling Insurance Claims After a Disaster
• Flood Insurance Claim Checklist

Miscellaneous

• Katrina People Finder Project
• Disaster Recovery - What You Should Do
• Obtaining a Replacement Louisiana Drivers License/State ID

To locate free or low cost legal assistance:

• Visit the Michiganlegalaid.org home page and search for local assistance by entering your zip code in the box marked “Find a lawyer, organization or related service to help you with your problem.” or

• Look under "attorneys" in the yellow pages to find your local legal aid office, or

• Contact the Michigan State Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 968- 0738. 

• Persons age 60 or older, regardless of their income, may be able to receive free advice from the Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors by calling (800) 347-5297.