Groups offering legal help to flood, disaster victims

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By Charlotte Eby | Tuesday, June 24, 2008 7:23 PM CDT | () comments

DES MOINES — Two Iowa organizations are offering free legal assistance to victims of Iowa’s recent flooding and disasters.

Seniors and low-income Iowans facing legal issues related to floods are being offered help by Iowa Legal Aid.

The Iowa State Bar Association is sponsoring a hotline for flood or disaster victims, regardless of income, that matches callers with an attorney who can answer their questions.

Dennis Groenenboom with Iowa Legal Aid said they have seen an immediate need for legal help in landlord-tenant issues as Iowans whose homes were flooded sought help in understanding their rights.

“The calls have been increasing as each day goes by, which is what you would expect, as people get past the crisis and they start dealing with these other issues,” he said.

Now he expects the need to move toward seeking aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Iowa Legal Aid is offering help for those seeking federal assistance or handling appeals of denials for assistance. They will offer advice on filing or pursuing insurance claims, or civil matters relating to the disasters.

Iowa Legal Aid can help those who meet asset and income guidelines, generally 125 percent of the federal poverty rate, or those who are 60 and older.

Other callers who don’t meet those guidelines will be referred to the Iowa State Bar Association.

Bar association spokesman Steve Boeckman said the legal help line, established after the tornado that hit Parkersburg, was designed to provide callers with a quick legal answer.

“There are some areas that we suspect people may need help with, such as securing FEMA or other government benefits, or making life or medical or property insurance claims and home repair contracts, that kind of thing,” he said.

The hotline also will help callers with disaster-related issues such as replacing damaged or lost wills or other important documents, advice on consumer protection matters, mortgage foreclosure or landlord/tenant issues.

Those with more extensive legal needs will be encouraged to find an attorney in their community.

The bar association’s help line is in partnership with the Polk County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project and the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.

Charlotte Eby can be contacted at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com.