Hurricane Sandy hits, and the Legal Aid Society Staff provides comprehensive disaster relief in its aftermath. Our own headquarters at 199 Water Street was closed due to damage from the flooding and the 400 Legal Aid staffers who work there had to be relocated to other offices and alternative locations. Nevertheless, our staff provided much-needed legal assistance for homeless and displaced New Yorkers at disaster centers, community-based organizations, and through our Mobile Justice Unit van.

Our disaster relief services targeted the most affected communities in Far Rockaway, Coney Island, Red Hook, and Staten Island. Legal Aid Society staff assisted affected New Yorkers with FEMA and Disaster Unemployment Insurance claims, replacing medications and access to health care, obtaining Food Stamps and public assistance, landlord-tenant, public housing, federal Section 8 matters and homeowner/foreclosure help, assistance with loans and other small business matters, school transfer and transportation issues, and family law and immigration matters.