Disaster Legal Services

 

The Disaster Legal Services Program (DLS) supports the National Preparedness Goal (NPG) Mission Area of Recovery and the specific capability targets of economic recovery and health and social services. The objective and goal of DLS is to provide legal assistance to low-income individuals who, prior to or as a result of a presidentially-declared major disaster, are unable to secure legal services adequate to meet their disaster-related needs.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
97.033
Federal Agency/Office
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
C - Direct Payments For Specified Use; J - Provision of Specialized Services
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 12 grants 1,900 disaster survivors. 10 grants 2,100 disaster survivors.
Fiscal Year 2017 12 grants 2,100 disaster survivors.
Fiscal Year 2018 12 grants 3000 disaster survivors.
Fiscal Year 2019 14 grants 3500 disaster survivors.
Fiscal Year 2020 Program enabled free legal advice for disaster-related matters to disaster survivors
Fiscal Year 2021 6 new Disaster Legal Services programs were initiated in FY2021.
Fiscal Year 2023 Under Disaster Legal Services, attorneys with the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division provide confidential assistance to low-income disaster survivors on issues related to disaster recovery. No information about survivors who utilize the DLS program is shared with FEMA. As of mid-July 2023, 11 DLS programs had offered legal assistance to survivors in 10 states, tribes, and territories.
Authorization
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Section 416, Public Law 93-288, 42 U.S.C. 5182
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
FEMA enters into a contract with the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division to cover the administrative costs of implementing and managing the Disaster Legal Services program.
Beneficiary Eligibility
The Disaster Legal Services program provides free legal advice for individuals impacted by a presidentially-declared major disaster that includes Individual Assistance. Legal advice is limited to cases that do not produce a fee. This free legal advice for disaster-related matters includes, but is not limited to, assistance with insurance claims; landlord/tenant problems; home repair contracts; consumer protection matters; mortgage foreclosure problems; replacement of wills and other important legal documents; drafting of powers of attorney; estate administration; preparation of guardianships and conservatorships; and referrals to local and state agencies for additional assistance.
Credentials/Documentation
Not applicable.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. FEMA makes a formal request to the National Director of the Disaster Legal Services (DLS) program indicating the intent to implement the DLS program.
Award Procedure
Administrative funds are made available through a contractual agreement as outlined in the Memorandum of Agreement between FEMA and the American Bar Association on behalf of its Young Lawyers Division.
Deadlines
Not applicable.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
None.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
None.
How are proposals selected?
Not applicable.
How may assistance be used?
The Disaster Legal Services program provides free legal advice for individuals impacted by a Presidentially-declared major disaster that includes Individual Assistance. Legal advice is limited to cases that do not produce a fee. This free legal advice includes assistance with insurance claims; counseling on landlord/tenant problems; assistance with home repair contracts; assistance in consumer protection matters; counseling on mortgage foreclosure problems; replacement of wills and other important legal documents; drafting powers of attorney; estate administration; preparation of guardianships and conservatorships; and referrals to local and State agencies for additional assistance.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: Refer to Program guidance.
Auditing
Subpart F, Audit Requirements
Records
Maintain records in keeping with federal guidelines and per program guidance at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/177489.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The length of the program is generally tied to the need for services and varies with each disaster. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Payment based on project need. Payment based on Project need.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of addresses for FEMA's Regional Offices.
Headquarters Office
Federal Emergency Management Agency Individual Assistance Division
500 C Street, SW, Sixth Floor
Washington, DC 20472-3100 US
FEMA-HQ-CSS@dhs.gov
Phone: 202) 646-2500
Website Address
http://www.fema.gov
Financial Information
Account Identification
70-0702-0-1-453
Obligations
(Provision of Specialized Services) FY 22$80,000.00; FY 23 est $90,000.00; FY 24 est $100,000.00; FY 21$30,000.00; FY 20$120,000,000.00; FY 19$1,001,940.00; FY 18$65,000,000.00; FY 17$43,795.00; FY 16$50,000.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
None.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Federal Disaster Assistance Regulations, 44 CFR ? 206.164; and Disaster Legal Services Handbook; and the Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2019 14 grants 3,500 disaster survivors
Fiscal Year 2020 Under a presidential major disaster declaration designated for Individual Assistance, a state, tribe, or territory may request a DLS program. FEMA partners with the American Bar Association-Young Lawyers Division (ABA-YLD) to provide confidential legal assistance to survivors who are unable to secure legal services to meet their unmet disaster-caused needs without a cost-share. No survivor information is shared with FEMA.
Fiscal Year 2021 Following an incident, a state, tribe, or territory may request the inclusion of DLS in their presidential major disaster declaration designated with Individual Assistance. FEMA partners with the American Bar Association-Young Lawyers Division (ABA-YLD) to provide free confidential legal assistance to survivors who are unable to secure legal services to meet their disaster-caused legal needs. No survivor information is shared with FEMA.
Fiscal Year 2023 Following a presidential major disaster declaration designated for Individual Assistance, a state, tribe, or territory have requested Disaster Legal Services in their disaster declaration request.

 



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