Photograph by
Bill McCormack
More than 70 attorneys and law students participated in the Jan. 29 training at the MBA's Boston office.
MBA hosts training to represent New Orleans residents in FEMA appeals
On Jan. 29, 2008, the MBA welcomed the New Orleans Legal Assistance Project (NOLAP) to the Boston office for a training session. At the session, attorneys and law students learned how to work on behalf of Gulf Coast residents who want to challenge decisions of FEMA terminating rental assistance benefits or seeking recoupment (repayment) of assistance monies previously paid.
Background
FEMA rental assistance was paid to about 1 million households affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. As of November 2006, FEMA claimed that it had identified overpayments to 60,000 households. Many of these households are now subject to recoupment collection efforts by FEMA. FEMA recoups overpayments by having the Treasury Department offset against recipients' Social Security checks and tax refunds-funds that poor people need to survive. Many of the FEMA recoupment decisions are not in compliance with FEMA regulations or are based on factual errors. In addition, many residents may be entitled to hardship waivers.
How to help
Attorneys who attend the training will be asked to represent New Orleans residents who are subject to recoupment, or have had FEMA benefits improperly terminated or denied. Law students will work under the supervision of an attorney who is certified to provide emergency pro bono assistance to low income New Orleans residents. Information on how non-Louisiana attorneys can become certified is found in the NOLAP brochure available below.
Each case involves contacting the resident, obtaining permission to get the FEMA file, and filing an administrative appeal with FEMA on behalf of the resident. It is anticipated that the time commitment for each case will be approximately 10 hours.
Program materials
Contact information
Steven Fischbach
(401) 274-2652, ext. 182
Fax: (401) 453-0310
nolapbos